Highlights

-Mixed Brigade members stage protest by leaving their post in Zou;
-Kako villagers angry at gendarmes over racketeering;
-Human Rights, UNPOL investigate alleged rights violations

Mixed Brigade

Members of the Zeale Mixed Brigade left their current location in the western town of Zou and moved to Bangolo on 14 November 2007 without informing the Integrated Command Centre. There is already a Mixed Brigade based in Bangolo. According to UNOCI peacekeepers, the decision was taken by the gendarmes in Zeale Brigade because, they claim, their living conditions are poor and they have not received their salaries for seven months. [Comment: There is fear that the absence of a Mixed Brigade at Zeale could constitute a serious threat to security in the region. Early this week, soldiers deployed by the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) staged demonstrations over the non-payment of their allowances and salaries, during which they set up roadblocks on the Man-Duékoué road]

Mobile Courts
Despite assurances yesterday by the Chief of Operations at the ICC that allowances will be paid to soldiers providing security at Mobile Court hearings, those in the Vallée du Bandama [central Côte d'Ivoire] have not all been paid. As a result, the hearings did not open for the fifth day running this morning. According to one of the Mobile Court teams in Bouaké, the allowance that was paid was only for a short period of time and drivers were not paid.

Security

The chief of Kako village, along the San Pedro-Tabou axis, yesterday told an UNOCI patrol that, three days ago, some bandits set up a roadblock and demanded money from people. The villagers complained to the local Gendarmerie unit, who did not react. The situation in the area is currently calm, but people are still very angry about the attitude of gendarmes to their problems.

Military

The fortnightly quadripartite meeting at the ICC was held today in Yamoussoukro Tomorrow a meeting will again be held with the four generals (UNOCI, Licorne, FDSCI and Forces Nouvelles) in Bouaké in connection with security arrangements for President Laurent Gbagbo's visit to the northern towns of Korhogo, Ferkessedougou, Boundiali and Tengrela on 26 November 2007.

MORBATT and PAKBATT will exchange their areas of responsibility as part of the new redeployment plan for UNOCI troops. The incoming MORBATT contingent, which will begin arriving in Côte d'Ivoire on 28 November 2007, will be deployed in and around Duékoué, Bangolo and Logoualé and the PAKBATT contingent will move to Bouaké to take up the positions now occupied by MORBATT.

In southwestern Côte d'Ivoire, SENBATT provided a security escort from San Pedro to Okrouyo via Soubre to a team comprising Human Rights staff and UNPOL who were investigating alleged violation of human rights.

MORBATT yesterday conducted a joint night patrol with UNPOL in Bouaké.

Peacekeepers from UNOCI and the UN Mission in Liberia yesterday held a coordination meeting on border issues.

Rescue operation exercise

UNOCI's Air Operations section yesterday conducted a Fire and Rescue Operation at Daloa Airport. BANBATT military and medical units and the local aviation authority participated in the cordon and evacuation drill exercise.

Arms embargo

Military Observers from the west central town of Daloa yesterday conducted two arms embargo training sessions at the 2nd Regional HQ. Security escorts were provided to the embargo training team by Daloa and Bonoufla camps.

Civil Affairs

On 15 November 2007 following a request from the regional director of the Ministry of Family, Women and Social Affairs, the Civil Affairs Office in San Pedro met with the chairperson of a widows' association in San Pedro. The meeting focused on issues related to poverty reduction. The chairperson presented a poultry farming project for possible support through UNOCI's Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme.

On the same day, the Civil Affairs Office in Yamoussoukro met with a representative of UNFPA's office in the city to follow up on their collaboration on a maternity centre in Raviart in the Tié-Ndiékro area. UNOCI provided funding for the rehabilitation of the centre through its Quick Impact Project, which has already been completed and now UNFPA plans to donate medical equipment to make the maternity centre more operational. A batch of 15 medical kits are ready for distribution.

The Civil Affairs Office in Bouaké yesterday met with the Registrar of the University of Bouaké to discuss how the university was operating. According to the Registrar, the university is far from operating normally. The Registrar said, however, that he was pleased that Government has provided the university with a separate budget for the 2006/2007 academic year. The delays encountered by the university with regard to its academic calendar were due to strikes in Abidjan, which prevented lecturers from going to teach in Bouaké. Despite there being only one teacher to two classes, registration at the university has totalled 2,849 students over the last three academic years.

The Civil Affairs Office in Korhogo met with the Préfet of Ferkessédougou on 15 November. During that meeting the Préfet explained how the Préfecture was functioning. He said he was pleased that there is high appreciation and awareness of the importance of central administration. People are constantly seeking advice and help from the administration to the extent that, on some days, the Préfet continues to meet people until very late. The Préfet is also the central authority in the preparations for the upcoming visit of the Head of State. Currently, the entire corps préfectoral in Ferkessédougou has reoccupied its offices, which are still operational. However residential accommodation for staff has had to be rented.

Human Rights

On 15 November, a judge at the Juvenile and Family Court opened a criminal investigation against the father of an 11 year-old boy from Benin who has been the victim of exploitation. In addition to being forced to work as a house servant, the boy was beaten up by his father who collected his "salary". The Regional Human Rights Office in Daloa referred the case to the Juvenile and Family Court judge, who decided to take action.

On 14 November, a Human Rights Division (HRD) delegation led by HRD chief Mr. Simon Munzu, meet with the Minister of Planning and Development, Mr. Antoine Bohoun Boaubré, to discuss cooperation between UNOCI and the Ministry in the field of human rights. The two parties agreed that human rights were central to the current efforts to end the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire. They also agreed to apply the human rights-based approach to the Government's development planning and programming and to the impending annual review of the UN's assistance in Côte d'Ivoire. The Minister designated one of his staff as a focal point to liaise with the HRD in this connection. Finally, the Minister requested the HRD to conduct special training on the human rights-based approach for the staff of his ministry.

On 15 November, the Regional Human Rights Office in Yamoussoukro organized a conference for 100 participants on "the role of the youth in the culture of peace". The conference was held on the initiative of the NGO "Jeunesse Panafricaine Démocrate" to commemorate Ivorian National Peace Day organized by the NGO. The Office distributed copies of international human rights conventions, notably those relating to the right of the child.

Miscellaneous

UNOCI Sector East headquarters has agreed to provide transport for the UNDP's Millenium Goal Goodwill Ambassador Ms. Comba Gawlo, the world-renowned Senagalese singer who will arrive in Bouaké this evening with her band. She will give a public concert tomorrow evening at the Place du Carnaval in central Bouaké. The concert aims to promote the Millenium Development Goals, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS awareness.