Tuesday, April 19, 2011

COTE D'IVOIRE - EXCLUSIVE: In Duekoue, massacres disrupt the reconciliation

A week after the arrest of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and leaving the arrival in power of his rival Alassane Ouattara, Côte d'Ivoire tries to initiate a process of reconciliation.

Just after taking office effective April 11, the president promised to Ouattara Ivorians that justice in their country would consider "all those who have committed crimes in the same way."

At a press conference, he also announced he would seek the intervention of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to "initiate investigations" into the massacres committed since the presidential election on November 28, 2010 .

If the entire Ivorian territory was the scene of fighting between pro-and pro-Ouattara Gbagbo, the west has been particularly affected.

Caroline Dumay, special correspondent for FRANCE 24, visited the region of Duekoue, where Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire, Ouattara of armed support, and their supporters are accused of committing hundreds of crimes.

For now, no clear picture is known. But the government Ouattara evokes the figure of 330 deaths in the region.Red Cross for its part has 800 victims in one of the Carrefour district of the city of Duekoue.

Civilian casualties

According to sources, the number of victims varies from one to three now but one thing is certain: the massacres have occurred. One witness, who requested anonymity, described FRANCE 24 one of the photos he took of a civilian killed before his eyes: "This gentleman here, was killed in front of me. It is a sick . He had surgery. I think it is simply out of the hospital to find something to eat and he was shot in front of me. "

The UN has also condemned these abuses.Officials of the UN mission on site say they have witnessed killings on March 28 last, but said they could not intervene.

The forces of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) are still very cautious about the different assessments published, like Colonel Zeidane, who told FRANCE 24: "I can not comment on this figure of 800.It belongs to those who have advanced to justify this figure. "The UN staff in Côte d'Ivoire confirms nevertheless have proceeded with the burial of 198 bodies.

Ethnic conflict

On site, other witnesses tell of gunmen carried out identity checks in order to sort the population according to ethnicity. Gaetan Mootoo, researcher for Amnesty International, said: "In the vicinity of the bridge Guémon, we found identity cards on the floor.We wonder where do these identity cards and why people heading to a place to protect themselves were forced to show their cards. "

In Duekoue, the neighborhood of Carrefour, like many others, was the scene of heavy fighting. Populated mostly healed, ethnic Christian traditionally considered favorable to Laurent Gbagbo, the sector is now devastated. The majority of residents took refuge at the Catholic mission in the city under protection of a battalion of Moroccan peacekeepers.

This "manhunt" which appear to have been victims Gueré beyond the scope of political confrontation Ouattara Gbagbo.Its causes are ethnic, religious and social.

Cure them, landowners, are accused of having formed militias to terrorize the Dioula ethnic group Muslim neighbor who traditionally cultivated these lands on behalf of Gueré. This repression has resulted in numerous conflicts between the two groups in recent years.

It is currently impossible to determine by whom and for what reasons Duekoue massacres were perpetrated. Several investigations are underway, but Duekoue, as in the surrounding villages, dozens of people are still missing the call.