UNOCI Condemns Increasing Violence by Ouattaran Forces
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LEMONDE.FR with AFP | 09.06.11 | 4:26 p.m.
Updated 09.06.11 | 5:19 p.m.
The UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) has declared Thursday, June 9,“particularly concerned” by the “multiplication” of recent violence committed by members of the armed forces of the president Alassane Ouattara in the south the country. UNOCI “is particularly concerned at the increasing incidents of violent attacks by elements of FRCI (Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire) against several villages,” said Guillaume Ngefa, Division of Human Man of UNOCI, at a press conference in Abidjan.
Deploring the use of “heavy weapons” to maintain order, he has demanded“immediate and impartial investigation” into these incidents have occurred in recent days in locations around Abidjan, south-west and center-west, regions known from many supporters of former President Laurent Gbagbo . The former head of state was arrested April 11 after an offensive FRCI, supported by the UN and France, after more than four months of a crisis arising from his refusal to cede power after his defeat at the polls in November 2010.
A Becouesin (50 km north of Abidjan), elements of FRCI “raided the village and made use of deadly force. They then arrested twenty young (…). Along the way, they beat another person who has died from his injuries, “said Mr. Ngefa. Yakassé A-Me (50 km north of the economic capital), “an old man collapsed and died while trying to flee into the bush for fear of being arrested by elements of FRCI who had launched an operation sweep, “he said.” These incidents have been at least forty-five wounded, including three gunshot, “said the UN official. According to him, “the heavily armed reinforcements FRCI (…) stormed the village by shooting and beating young people”, forcing residents to flee into the forests.
A Domolon (55 km south-east of Abidjan), a foray FRCI “resulted in some thirty wounded with machetes and lacrosse,” “large-scale looting” and a massive exodus of population in the bush. The restoration of security is one of the sites most urgent government Ouattara. Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, he pledged to bring the FRCI “as quickly as possible” in barracks. It must accelerate the parallel back on the field of police and gendarmes.
