Highlights

-Regional phase of UNOCI's schools Caravan launched in San Pedro
-A rehearsal of UNOCI's contingency plan carried out in Zuenoula
-SENBATT troops receive UN medal
-Villagers in Kossandougou plead with BANBATT not to dismantle camp
-UNOCI, ICC and UNDP delegation visits DDR sites in the west of Cote d'Ivoire
-UNOCI's Human Rights Office conducts training on social cohesion for women's organization

Schools Caravan

UNOCI's Public Information Office today launched the regional phase of its school caravan programme at the Lycee Moderne Inagohi in San Pedro in the south of Cote d'Ivoire. Speaking at the launch ceremony, which was attended by some 1000 pupils from 19 schools, the Director of Public Information Mrs Margherita Amodeo urged the children to become messengers of peace, stressing that their future depended on this. The representative of the local education authority welcomed UNOCI's initiative in launching a schools caravan to promote peace and thanked the Mission for choosing Bas Sassandra as the first region outside of Abidjan to receive the caravan. The first leg of the Schools Caravan, which is a series of information and sensitization sessions to raise awareness about the Mission's mandate among school children, was launched in Abidjan on 14th February 2007 and had covered 16 schools.

Military

A rehearsal of UNOCI's contingency plan was carried out within the camps of BANBATT in the Zuenoula area yesterday. A platoon from Zuenoula Camp reinforced the Gohitafla Camp. The purpose of the operation was to make the participants accustomed to this type of operation and to respond within shortest possible time in case of emergency.

A medal parade for the Senegalese battalion was today held at their camp in San Pedro. Speaking during the ceremony, UNOCI's Force Commander General Fernand Amoussou praised the work of the troops and told them that the UN Medal was a symbol of the Organisation's appreciation for the work they have been doing. The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Force Commander and Sector West Commander.

Arms embargo

A series of arms embargo inspections were yesterday successfully conducted by UNOCI soldiers at the Ivorian Armed Forces (FANCI) Task Force Unit co-located with the Republican Guard in a camp in Yamoussoukro, the Forces Nouvelles (FN) 2nd battalion camp in Katiola, the FN Unit in Seydougou, the Naval Base in Abidjan and the Ivorian Defence and Security Forces Gendarmerie camp in Sassandra. TOGOBATT, SENBATT and BANBATT provided security escort during the different inspections.

Security

A large group of villagers yesterday gathered in front of BANBATT's camp in Kossandougou near M'bahiakro in the east of Cote d'Ivoire to plead with the peacekeepers not to dismantle the camp. The villagers said they feared the security situation would deteriorate and they would be forced to pay taxes after UNOCI's departure. However, after discussions with representatives of the local authorities and the villagers, the Sub Prefect from Prikro assured the villagers that he would to ensure security in the area. The villagers requested a Mixed Brigade for their security, before expressing their gratitude to UNOCI peacekeepers for their contribution to peace and security in the area. After the lengthy discussions, the peacekeepers were allowed to dismantle their camp. They will now be based in Daoukro as part the Mission's military re-deployment plan

DDR

A delegation comprising representatives from the Integrated Command Centre (ICC), UNOCI UNDP arrived in Duekoué yesterday from Toulépleu durings its three-day mission to inspect the disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion (DDR) sites rehabilitated by UNOCI in the west. The delegation was received by the Military Governor of Moyen Cavally who welcomed them to the region and expressed the hope that the Mission would result in a clearer understanding of the mechanism for collecting weapons from ex-combatants and former militias. The head of the delegation, Colonel Atoumbre from the ICC, wanted to know what measures had been taken by the local authorities to sensitize people on the DDR process. The delegation is also scheduled to visit DDR sites in Guiglo and Blolequin.

UNOCI's DDR section in collaboration with UNDP has organised a training session on DDR for soldiers working at the ICC in Yamoussoukro from 14 to 22 November 2007. The training is aimed at strengthening the technical knowledge of members of the ICC.

Redeployment of administration

The Sub-Prefect of Ouangolodougou was installed yesterday, according to UNOCI Military who participated in the ceremony.
UNOCI's Chief of the Electoral Assistance Division, Ahmedou Seck yesterday asked Civil Affairs officers in Sector East to closely monitor the participation of prefects and sub prefects during the Mobile Court hearings as part of the certification process. Mr Seck and his delegation are in the Bouake area to monitor the Mobile Court hearings.

Human Rights

On 4 November, in collaboration with the "Association des Femmes Victims de Guerre de Duékoué" (AFVG), the Regional Human Rights Office in Duékoué conducted a one-day awareness-raising campaign on social cohesion and respect of human rights for women associations. The aim of the event was to explore ways to combat discrimination and to prevent inter-community clashes in the Moyen Cavally region. 45 women, including leaders of the Burkinabé, Malian, Guinean, Nigerien, Baoulé, Dioula, Senoufo, Wê and Guéré communities attended the session. In the same context, the Office met with the leader of the Burkinabé community of the Moyen Cavally region who warned the Office that the ongoing discrimination against Allogène and Allochtone returnees may lead to violent inter-community clashes. The Office is planning to meet the authorities to discuss what measures could be taken to prevent such clashes.

On 5 November, the Regional Human Rights Office in Korhogo reported that a group of ten dozos (traditional hunters) led by a dozo named Djakaridja apprehended a 64-year old Malian cattle breeder and took away four of his sheep. No further action was taken by the Forces Nouvelles against these dozos. The victim requested the assistance of the Office which intends to meet with the dozos Chief to discuss the case.

On 5 November, the Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné and UNPOL met with the Commander of the Gendarmerie of Odienné to review pending human rights cases, including the murder a 20-year old peulh, on 25 October at Nienesso (located 20 km south of Odienné) [Ref: Sitrep of 30 October]. The Commander indicated that the case was still under investigation.

On 6 November, the Regional Human Rights Office in San Pedro, UNHCR, the Association Nationale des Victimes de Guerre de Côte d'Ivoire and the Croix-Rouge of Côte d'Ivoire met with a group of IDPs living in the department of San Pedro. The aim of the exercise was to gather the latest information which would then be used by the Regional Protection Cluster to facilitate the safe return of IDPs to their homes. The Office found that the majority of the IDPs had fled the Sous-Prefecture of Zou, in the Department of Bangolo (18 Montagnes) between 2002 and 2003 as a result of human rights violations that were committed in the area. The IDPs finally expressed their wish to return to the area where they used to live.

Miscellaneous

After two days of interruption as a result of demonstrations organized by the students organization FESCI against private schools in Yamoussoukro, the schools reopened today. However the public school teachers, who FESCI accused of teaching in private schools during their strike, are still on strike.