Amnesty plan unconstitutional

President Kumba Yala could find it difficult to follow on his promise to grant amnesty to those reported to have been involved in a December 2001 coup plot because it would be unconstitutional, a diplomatic source in the capital, Bissau, told IRIN. Parliament is the only institution with authority to grant the amnesty announced by the president. Yala had, however, bypassed the parliament when he announced on Monday that he plans to grant the amnesty. An amnesty cannot also be granted while cases are still pending before the courts, the source said, adding that the trial of the accused had not yet begun. Guinea-Bissau's largest opposition party, the RGB, in addition to citing the unconstitutionality of Yala's plan, has proposed that the amnesty include political and military crimes committed since 1980, the Portuguese news service Lusa reported on Thursday. The party has also called for a national debate and the creation of a truth and reconciliation commission to iron out lingering socio-political problems, Lusa said. The proposed amnesty come at a time when, according to the government, another coup attempt had just been foiled in May. But like was the case in December, the announcement surprised many because there were no visible signs of unrest, the source said. In a speech on Monday before representatives of the international community, Yala accused The Gambia of being behind the latest coup attempt and threatened to invade the neighbouring country. But the opposition parties, the source said, have instead accused Yala of instigating internal and external unrest in neighbouring countries. "There is an uneasy calm", the source said on Thursday, adding that "all the ingredients for instability" were present in the country.