Colonels take over Guinea - The Post Sekou Toure Coup
Headed by a Colonel Lansana Kante the military Committee for National Redress has obviously by-passed the established military command which had General Toure Kounde, a cousin of the late President, as its Chief of Staff.
It has pledged itself to the restoration of human rights and democracy in place of the late President's dictatorial style of government and repression of human rights.
The coup came three days after President Sekou Toure had been buried on Friday March 31st and acclaimed a national hero. The country's sole political party, the Democratic Party of Guinea and the national assembly have been dissolved, a 10pm-6am curfew was in force, the public station has changed its name from Radio of the Revolution to Radio Conakry.
No mention has so far been made of Mr Lasana Beavogoui, President Toure's Prime Minister, who was poised to take over leadership of the country.
The military, however, announced that a fierce struggle for power had ensued soon after the death of President Toure.
The full text of a communique by the military committee broadcast on Radio Conakry is reproduced below:
"People of Guinea, it was with great fervour that you have just laid to rest one of your eminent sons to whom Africa and the whole world made it a point to pay a deserved tribute. The immortal work of Ahmed Sekou Toure was that he led our country to national independence and that he ensured in Africa and on the international scene the radiance of your noble ideals and aspirations.
Although on the international scene his work was crowned with success, this was not the case, however, within the country where, under the influence of some of his dishonest comrades-in arms and the feudal pressure of his family, your hope of witnessing the creation of a more just and equitable the country. society fled away very early, swept away by a bloody and merciless dictatorship which brushed aside your bright hope.
Today, when you have not yet even dried away your tears, a fierce struggle for his succession has started among his companions whose hands are still soiled with the blood of innocent people. His companions, who are thirsting for power, are guilty of the generalised corruption of the govern- ment and its institutions.
Your national army which has always remained faithful to you and which always shared your lot in discipline and self-sacrifice during these 26 years of a painful pilgrimage - has therefore decided to take over the administration of the country in order to create the bases for a genuine democracy and thus avoid all personal justice, solidarity. dictatorship in the future.
We must here bow very respectfully before the memory of all the worthy sons who, throughout these 26 years of our independence, lost their lives simply because they wanted to express their opinions on the country's future. We firmly promise that these martyrs will be rehabilitated and immortalised in our history.
In the meantime and until further notice, the following measures come into immediate effect: All party organs are dissolved; the Constitution is suspended; the National Assembly is dissolved; all mass organisations are banned; the airports and borders are closed to all traffic; public gatherings are forbidden; and a curfew from 2200 to 0600 hours is imposed throughout the country.
The commanders of military zones are appointed general governors of their provinces and are requested to appoint military governors for the regions under their care. They must also ensure coordination between the security services police, gendarmerie, customs service, guards, militia and the army - to help establish the new administration.
The Military Committee for Redress feels it has only done its duty. It calls for the sense of discipline and order people in order to avoid any acts of which has always characterised our violence against any citizen and it assures them of its determination to ban corruption, cheating despotism and demagoguery from the country forever and to make a reality at last of the motto of our emblem - work, justice, solidarity
It must be understood that each citizen should remain at home today. There will be no work, no market, no traffic."
