Highlights

-UNOCI organizes public forum in Duékoué
-Mobile Courts resume after allowance dispute is settled
-Pupils demonstrate against teachers' strike in Zuenoula

Information and sensitization

UNOCI's Public Information Office today organised a public forum on the theme "Traditional Chiefs in the Ivorian Peace Process" in Duékoué in western Cote d'Ivoire. During the ceremony, held in the town's square, the Mayor welcomed UNOCI to Duékoué and praised the role played by the Mission in bringing peace to Moyen Cavally region. The Prefect of Moyen Cavally, which includes Duékoué, asked UNOCI to continue to support the peace process and the ongoing redeployment of the administration. Representatives from UNOCI's sections as well as UN agencies took part in the gathering. The UN agencies promised to work hand and hand with UNOCI in an effort to bring lasting peace to Cote d'Ivoire. Speaking on behalf of the traditional chiefs, Mr. Oula Kpai Bernard made a commitment to work with all communities in the region to bring about peace and social cohesion.

Representatives from UNOCI's Public Information Office yesterday gave a presentation on the Mission's civilian and military activities at the American School in the Riviera area of Abidjan during the school's celebration of United Nations Day. More than 200 people attended the event.

Mobile Courts

The Chief of Operations of the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) has reported that the money for soldiers' allowances has been received and has already been distributed to troops providing security at the Mobile Courts. His announcement follows demonstrations in Bangolo by the soldiers on 13 November 2007, during which the main road between Duékoué and Man was blocked.

DDR

A training workshop on disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion (DDR) funded by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and organized with help from UNOCI's DDR section, started at the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) in Yamoussoukro yesterday. The workshop, which ends on 22 November 2007, is aimed at reinforcing the technical capacity of the ICC.

Arms embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers' yesterday successfully conducted an arms embargo inspection at the airbase in Abidjan and at the Forces Nouvelles "Anaconda" battalion headquarters in Bouaké.
Demonstration

Pupils from the Lycee Moderne in Zuenoula yesterday held a demonstration against a strike by their teachers, which started when school reopened in September 2007. Three of the pupils were arrested by the local police, but were released after the demonstrators moved to the Police Commissioner's office and demanded their liberation.

Military

MORBATT last night carried out a joint patrol with UNPOL in Bouaké while JORBATT carried out a joint patrol with Licorne in Abidjan.

Civil Affairs

On 14 November 2007 the Civil Affairs Office in San Pedro met with the city's mayor to discuss the living conditions of the people in Bardo, particularly those living in slums in the suburbs of the city. The Mayor indicated that he is looking for funds to finance planned housing and hence resolve the conflicts associated with anarchy in housing construction.

On 14 November the Civil Affairs Office in Yamoussoukro met with a representative of an NGO, la Matrice, which helps women in Yamoussoukro, including about 200 IDPs, to fight against poverty. The meeting explored the possibility of a Quick Impact Project as a possible support for proposed income-generating activities for these IDPs, who wish to settle in Yamoussoukro. The IDPs completely lost their livelihood in their places of origin during the crisis.

As the redeployment of rural extension services has greatly expanded since February 2007, the Civil Affairs Office in Korhogo met Agence Nationale du Développement Rural (ANADER) on 14 November to discuss the organisation's involvement in Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) proposals in need of its expertise. The Office discovered that as ANADER enjoys complete autonomy in its operations, it requires a subsidy for intervention in services that are largely social. In the absence of Government subsidies, most rural farming associations cannot afford to pay costs associated with this. ANADER suggested that the sponsors of QIPS should incorporate costs for technical and extension services. In this, regard, the Office will pursue discussions with sponsors on how this could be done.

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné and the Chief Security Officer of the Forces Nouvelles (FN) in Touba (northwest) conducted a joint mission to Bambadougou, situated in the Bafing region, 106 km south of Odienné, to assess the situation generated by ongoing clashes between Peuhl cattle breeders and the indigenous population. The mission found that 16 houses belonging to the Peulhs were destroyed by village youths and 75 Peulhs expelled from the village fled to Borotou (93 km south of Odienné) on 11 November 2007. The Peulh community leader indicated to the mission that the indigenous population has been opposed to their settlement since their arrival four years ago. According to reliable sources, the objective of the violent campaign was to expel the Peulh community from the region. The mission will continue to monitor the situation closely while an awareness-raising campaign on human rights and social cohesion will be held in the coming weeks.

On 13 November, the Korhogo Regional Human Rights Office reported that two boys aged 15 and 16 were released from custody in the local police station on 9 November after the Office met with Police Commissioner Diomandé Moussa to discuss their case. During the meeting, the Office advocated the application of article 37 paragraph (b) of the Convention of the Rights to Child which states: "The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time." In another development, on 13 November, Forces Nouvelles authorities arrested and detained Mr. Doumbia Bakary, alias « Abou », a Dozo (traditional hunter), who was involved in the ill-treatment of Mr. Ouattara Siléplé on 13 October [Ref: sitrep of 23 October 2007] at Korhogo police station. On 23 October, the Regional Human Rights Office referred the case to Forces Nouvelles. The Office also expressed concern about the impunity that is enjoyed by the Dozos in FN-controlled areas

On 13 November, the San Pedro Regional Human Rights Office conducted training on international human rights standards and mechanisms for 30 members of the human rights club in the Lycée College Inagohi in the southwestern town of San Pedro. The Office briefed them on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the sources of human rights. The second part of the session focused on practical exercises on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Humanitarian

BANBATT yesterday transported tables and chairs for Zaibo Primary School from Daloa to Zaibo. Both towns are in the centre west.