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ACTION AF-08
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-04 H-01
INR-07 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15
USIA-06 AID-05 OMB-01 TRSE-00 /072 W
--------------------- 010455 /53
R 150851Z DEC 76
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2884
INFO AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY ACCRA
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY COTONOU
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY LAGOS
AMEMBASSY LOME
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
AMEMBASSY PARIS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE OUAGADOUGOU 4009
E.O. 11652: N/ATAGS: PINT, UV
SUBJ: UPPER VOLTA NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
1. UPPER VOLTA PUT OUT A MAJOR EFFORT IN ITS NATIONAL DAY
CELEBRATIONS DECEMBER 11. THE TOTAL EFFECT WAS A FESTIVE ATMOS-
PHERE OF GROWING SELF-CONFIDENCE AND NATIONAL PRIDE, WITHOUT IGNOR-
ING THE PROBLEMS OF POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT. A SENSIBLE PEOPLE
HAD A SENSIBLE CELEBRATION, BUT ONE WHICH WAS AT THE SAME TIME FUN
AND MEANINGFUL.
2. THE PARADE IN OUAGADOUGOU WAS MUCH LARGER AND LONGER THAN
PREVIOUS YEARS. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED NOT BY REGIMENTATION, BUT
BY COORDINATION OF PARTICIPATION BY SEEMINGLY EVERY GROUP AND
SCHOOL IN TOWN, ALONG WITH GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND OF COURSE
MILITARY UNITS. THE PLURALISM AND OPENNESS OF VOLTAN SOCIETY WAS
PALPABLE IN THE EVENT. THOSE WHO WERE MARCHING ENJOYED MARCHING,
AND THOSE WHO WERE WATCHING ENJOYED WATCHING.
3. ABOUT 2,000 TROOPS PASSED IN REVIEW, WHICH HAD BEEN THE TOTAL
STRENGTH OF VOLTAN FORCES BEFORE THE MALI BORDER INCURSION IN
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1974-75. NO MILITARY EQUIPMENT WAS SHOWN OTHER THAN INDIVIDUAL
WEAPONS CARRIED BY TROOPS. ONLY ONE BATTALION WAS ARMED WITH
MODERN AUTOMATIC RIFLES, WHICH ILLUSTRATES THAT UPPER
VOLTA INCREASED THE MANNING LEVEL OF ITS ARMY DURING THE BORDER
DISPUTE, BUT LITTLE ELSE. THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE TROOPS
IN THE PARADE WAS LTC SAYE ZERBO, FORMER MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS. THE PARADE WAS LED OFF BY AN ALOUETTE HELICOPTER (FLOWN
BY A FRENCH PILOT) WHICH FLEW OVER LOW, TOWING A HUGH VOLTAN FLAG.
4. THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH ON RADIO ON DEC. 10 WAS A STANDARD
STATE-OF-THE-NATION TYPE OF SPEECH (SEPTEL). CONTRARY
TO RUMORS CIRCULATING HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HE DID NOT
ANNOUNCE A CHANGE OF CABINET MINISTERS.
5. MANY OTHER EVENTS WERE ROLLED INTO THE TWO-DAY CELEBRATION
PERIOD TO MAKE THE OCCASION AS FESTIVE AS POSSIBLE: OPENING A
FRENCH-DONATED RADIO-T.V. STUDIO, A SOCCER MATCH, A PRESIDENT'S
RECEPTION, A CULTURAL SHOW OF MUSIC AND DANCE, AND THE
DIPLOMATIC CORPS FORMALLY PRESENTING ITS WISHES TO THE PRESIDENT
AND HIS CABINET.
6. IN SUM, THE VOLTANS HAD A NATIONAL PARTY. THE PURPOSE
WAS NOT TO IMPRESS OUTSIDERS, ALTHOUGH OUTSIDERS WERE WELCOME.
IT WAS NOT TO RALLY PUBLIC OPINION BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT,
ALTHOUGH THERE AMY BE A SECONDARY EFFECT IN THIS DIRECTION.
THE MAIN IDEA WAS SIMPLY FOR THE VOLTAN PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE
HAVING MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR WITH THEIR HOUSE REASONABLY
WELL IN ORDER.
GRAHAM
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