PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION AT AMCONGEN LAGOS

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLAS LAGOS 002494 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS/OSAC ABUJA FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC SUBJECT: PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION AT AMCONGEN LAGOS 1. At approximately 1345, 45-50 military retirees arrived at AmConGen Lagos carrying a placard stating that they had not received benefits in six months. The demonstrators were asked to move across the street from the Consulate General which they did. Two leaders of the group met with RSO and ARSO to request assistance from the international community in obtaining their benefits. The leaders presented a leaflet that announced the payment of benefits only to medically discharged pensioners who had been authenticated in November 2002. The demonstrators were upset because some of their number did not qualify for the benefit payment. RSO accepted the leaflet and advised the demonstrators that the ConGen would be apprised of their request for assistance. The demonstrators left peacefully. The demonstration lasted approximately seven minutes. AmConGen security personnel did not observe the pensioners stopping at any of the other diplomatic compounds on the crescent. 2. This was apparently a spontaneous demonstration by the pensioners. There was no threat to visa applicants or ACS visitors. While noisy, the demonstrators were peaceful and once their concerns were heard, they left. HINSON-JONES