At the trial of the Conakry stadium massacre, the floor was given to the civil parties on Wednesday, December 21. Much less expansive than the previous days, Moussa Dadis Camara refused to answer certain questions from the lawyers. As president of the transition at the time, he is, according to the civil parties, one of the main responsible for the bloody repression of the opposition meeting which left more than 150 dead.
With our correspondent in Conakry, Matthias Raynal
Sixth appearance and Moussa Dadis Camara has lost his verve.
” Are red berets trained to kill or to maintain order? ? asks a lawyer for the civil party. ” I do not know “. ” You don’t know as a red beret… »
The captain locks himself in silence. ” But know that, in law and more precisely here in this trial, who does not say a word consents » : the lawyer repeats this sentence several times. As if to emphasize that by dodging questions, Moussa Dadis Camara risks accusing himself.
” All these frameworks report to you ! »
” Mr. President, following the massacre, you ordered the removal of bodies and the cleaning of the 28 September stadium. It was to hide the evidence ? » « The stadium is managed by a ministry, this is the answer to your question “, says the former president. ” I know that the stadium has a director, a Minister of Sport, but all these executives report to you ! Dadis refuses to answer, again.
Moussa Dadis Camara already seems tired, tired even by the lawyers’ questions. ” Are you ready to tell your part of the truth ? » « Like always. » « Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, when did you learn that the leaders were going to organize an information meeting? ? » « I had already spoken about that, I don’t want to come back to it any more. »
The head of the junta, in power between 2008 and 2009, shuts himself up in silence. He clings to his version : the massacre at the Conakry stadium was, he says, ” orchestra by his aide-de-camp, his Minister of Defense and President Alpha Condé.
” No republican institution was attacked »
” You spoke to the pole of the examining magistrate of the thesis of a conspiracy against you. When a head of state is the victim of a conspiracy, he proceeds to the immediate arrest of the so-called plotters. Did you do it, Mr. President ? asks a lawyer for the civil parties. Dadis does not answer.
The board continues: The presidency was not attacked, no republican institution was attacked, how do you explain that ? Wasn’t it you who plotted against the demonstrators, Mr. President ? »
The hearing ended shortly after 5 p.m., the case was adjourned to January 9, 2023. The trial will resume after the holidays. Defense attorneys have yet to comment. Moussa Dadis Camara should therefore appear several more times.