UN bemoans rights abuses
2006-03-16 21:42
Abidjan - The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast (ONUCI) on Thursday denounced the persistent impunity of human rights violators in the crisis-ridden west African country.
Rights violations in both the north and south of the divided country "were not seriously investigated by the relevant authorities .... highlighting the persistence of impunity in Ivory Coast," said ONUCI, calling for "diligent measurements to quell this scourge".
"The strained political climate ... had serious effects on the enjoyment of fundamental rights in the steadily deteriorating security situation," said the UN human rights report covering the period August to December 2005.
In the south of the country which is under governmental control, people suspected of being linked to rebels or believed to be themselves rebels were tortured or detained, said the report.
Cases of disappearances were reported, while bullet-riddled corpses were regularly discovered, confirming cases of summary executions.
Several groups of people were intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.
Government forces loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo and unidentified armed bands "were the main perpetrators of these acts", said the UN.
It also expressed concern at the presence of groups of young people organised in militia, whose "harmful" acts contributed to an environment of fear and insecurity.
The human rights situation in the rebel-controlled north remained alarming with cases of torture and detention.
Local media were accused of running articles "likely to block the peace process" in a country divided into two since a 2002 insurgency.