Highlights

-Guiglo and Duékoué reported calm after weekend demonstrations
-UNOCI Force Commander to meet Adzopé local authorities following demonstrations
-Human Rights situation remains fragile in Cote d'Ivoire, according to UNOCI
-Participants at weekly meeting in Danané express concern over increase in crime

Demonstrations

Guiglo and Duékoué were this morning reported calm after widespread demonstrations in the two towns by militias protesting against non-payment of money due to them as part of the dismantling of militia process. On Saturday 22 September 2007, a large group of militiamen gathered in the centre of Duékoué and Guiglo. They were dispersed by soldiers from the Ivorian National Armed Forces (FANCI). The militias had warned earlier in the week that they would prevent the start of the mobile courts unless they receive what they believe they are owed by the government for agreeing to disarm.

UNOCI's Force Commander General Fernand Amoussou is due to meet members of the local authorities in Adzope following reported demonstrations in Adzope and Divo over the possible redeployment of UNOCI peacekeepers in these areas. A UNOCI special patrol which went to the Divo area on 21 September 2007 to determine the feasibility of a proposed site for the redeployment met with the Sub-prefect, representatives of political parties and Young Patriots. After an hour and a half of negotiations, the local authorities agreed, but the Young Patriots maintained their opposition to any UNOCI presence in Divo. However, after exchanging with the participants, the patrol inspected three sites for future UNPOL posts, but found only one was found suitable.

Security

The weekly joint coordination meeting between UNOCI military and UNPOL and Licorne held on 22 September 2007 in Danané expressed concern about the increase of criminal activities during the past week. Participants noted that in many cases, the local security forces were involved.

A joint MILOB/UNPOL team sent to Zaliohouan in the Daloa area to monitor the security situation and the movement of armed forces in the area as well as to expand contact with local authorities, was informed by residents that along the road from Gonaté to Zaliohouan, many incidents of armed robbery had recently occurred. According to villagers, the bandits operate in groups of 5-6 persons, are dressed in military uniforms and demand a 'tax' for moving on the road. The last such incident reportedly took place two weeks ago.

Military

BANBATT and Licorne this weekend conducted a joint patrol around Saraina and Tieme in the Odienné area.

Clean-up operation

A large number of UNOCI peacekeepers along with water trucks and tractors joined some 500 volunteers in Bouaké this morning at the start of a ten-day clean-up campaign in the northern city. The cleaning operation is aimed at reconciliation and inter-community building and Mission welcomed the spirit of social cohesion.

Human Rights

On 21 September, the Human Rights Division published its seventh report on human rights in Côte d'Ivoire covering the period from September to December 2006. During the reporting period, the human rights situation remained fragile depending on the progress or lack of progress in the peace process. Cases of violations related to the right to life, physical integrity, freedom of movement were frequently observed nationwide in addition to racketeering, arbitrary arrest and detention as well as extortion.

In the Government-controlled zone, members of the Ivorian Defence and Security Forces (FDS-CI) were responsible for extra-judicial killings, torture, ill-treatment, arbitrarily arrest and detention. Members of the special police forces of the Centre de Commandement des Operations de Sécurité (CECOS) used excessive force that led to extra-judicial killings of alleged robbers. In the Forces Nouvelles area the continuous absence of the administration of justice contributed to several human rights violations by the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN). The civilian population were subjected to unlawful arrest, detention, ill-treatment, extortion and racketeering by FAFN members, Dozos (traditional hunters), highway men or other unidentified armed groups.

Cases of forced prostitution were reported in the region of Vavoua, Séguéla, Danané and Guiglo where several young girls from Nigeria and Mali were brought to Côte d'Ivoire with the promise to work as maids or bartenders and ended up in brothels. A well-organized network of traffickers also brought children to Côte d'Ivoire to work in cocoa and coffee plantations. In the former zone of confidence, armed groups, traditional hunters and members of local militias committed killings, abductions and forced disappearances as well as attacks against public properties. In the area of promotion, UNOCI's Human Rights Division in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Rights created 60 human rights clubs in schools (Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo, Yamoussoukro, Daloa and Odienne)