Highlights

-UNOCI Force Commander makes second visit to Ouaga in a week
-Villagers call UNOCI after spate of robberies in the San Pedro/Sassandra area
-Young Patriots and Militias in Moyen Cavally threaten demonstrations against mobile courts

Military/Political

UNOCI's Force Commander General Marcel Fernand Amoussou is in Ouagadougou today for consultations with the Facilitator of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, President Blaise Campoare, for the second time this week. He traveled along his counterpart of Licorne, Général Bruno Clément-Bollé

Security/crime

A UNOCI patrol was yesterday sent to Niabably, Ledjiar and Kokolopozo villages along the San Pedro - Sassandra axis after receiving calls from villagers complaining about security problems and lack of adequate response from the local law enforcement authorities. The patrol was tasked to show UNOCI presence, monitor Ivorian Defence and Security Forces' activities, observe security situation, sensitization of local population about UNOCI mandate. On interacting with the population of the three villages, the patrol discovered that there had been a spate of violent robberies in the general area, especially along the Safa-Manois - Sassandra axis. Last weekend 15 - 16 September 2007, a number of people from Ledjair were robbed along the road leading to the village by masked men armed with knives and other weapons who demanded money from them. Villagers said that they reported the matter to local police but they did nothing.
UNPOL Bouake reported this morning that on a visit yesterday to the northern town of Ouangolodougou they were alerted to the case of a man who had killed his two-year old son. The case has been handed over to the Forces Nouvelles authorities.

Demonstration

A delegation of four men representing Young Patriots and four militia groups (APWE, FLGO, UPRGO and MAIMCA) led by Roland Bah, president of the Young Patriots in Duékoué yesterday told UNOCI that they were planning massive demonstrations all over
Moyen Cavally area against the mobile courts which should start on 25th September 2007. The men said that they were dissatisfied with the financial compensation they received during the dismantling of the militia process. They also asked for an interview on ONUCI-FM to explain their grievances.
Volunteer teachers this morning demonstrated in Ferkessedougou on the main road between Ferkessedougou and Korhogo against the non-payment of their allowances. According to UNOCI police and military, the demonstration did not cause any major disruptions.

UNOCI/UNMIL

Issues such as integration of communications systems and the refugee situation in Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia were among those discussed at a meeting in Pedebo village, Liberia, between UNOCI and UNMIL military and civilian staff.
A six-man team of French engineers arrived in San Pedro yesterday to recce the site opposite the present SENBATT Camp for possible extension and relocation of all UNOCI offices in the city.

Arms embargo

UNOCI Military Observers (Milobs) were yesterday denied permission to conduct an arms embargo inspection at the Docteur Company in the city due to commemoration activities to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Ivorian crisis on 19th September 2002. Meanwhile, on the same day, Milobs from Teamsite Gagnoa accompanied by UNPOL and escorted by SENBATT conducted a successful arms embargo inspection at Gendarmerie location in Guitry.

Human Rights

Three Burkina Faso nationals have told the Regional Human Rights Office in Bouaké that they were brought last June to Côte d'Ivoire with the promise to work for two months in cocoa and coffee plantations in Buyo (located in the Corso area, about 170 km from San Pedro). Upon their arrival, the man who brought them confiscated their identification papers, adding that they had to work for at least 12 months before being freed. The group succeeded in escaping from San Pedro to Bouaké on 19 July and on 19 September, the men requested the assistance of the Office in Bouaké to facilitate their safe return to Burkina Faso.
On 18 September, the Regional Human Rights Office in Duékoué met with the Forces Nouvelles (FN) Deputy Commander of the compagnie de la gendarmerie in Man to discuss the plight of two individuals arrested and detained in relation to inter-community clashes over the land tenure between the local population and the Burkinabé community in Zorolé village (located 179 km from Duékoué). As a result of the incident, two Burkinabés have been reported missing. [Comments: Land disputes between the local population and the so-called "allogènes" (immigrants from Burkina Faso, Mali and
Ivorians from other parts of the country) are frequent, leading often to targeted killings and looting of properties.]

Miscellaneous

The population of Bouna has been without water and electricity since 14th September 2007 due to the breakdown of two generators in the town. A technical team was due to arrive in the town yesterday to carry out repairs.
BENINBATT yesterday played a soccer match against a civilian team from Zeaglo as part of a tournament entitled "Tournoi de football pour la paix et reconciliation total" which was organized in Guinkin village. BENINBATT won the match 2