US embassy cable - 02LAGOS2494

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