BAN VOICES CONCERN AT PATTERN OF POLITICAL KILLINGS IN GUINEA-BISSAU

BAN VOICES CONCERN AT PATTERN OF POLITICAL KILLINGS IN GUINEA-BISSAU
New York, Jun 5 2009 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his concern at the "emerging pattern of killings" of high profile personalities in Guinea-Bissau, where a presidential candidate and a member of parliament were gunned down today, just months after the country's president and his chief of staff were assassinated.

Mr. Ban is "dismayed" by the news of the assassinations of Baciro Dabo, a candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections, and Helder Proenca, a Member of Parliament and former Minister of Defense, along with others, his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3904">statement.

Coming so soon after the assassinations in March of President João Bernardo Vieira and his Chief of General Staff, General Batista Tagme Na Waie, "these criminal acts are a tragic setback for efforts to restore the rule of law and democratic processes in the country, but they should not be allowed to deter the forthcoming presidential elections," the statement said.

"These developments underscore once again the importance and urgency of conducting a thorough, credible and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assassinations in Guinea Bissau," it added.

Mr. Ban called on national authorities, including the military, to ensure that the human rights of all citizens are upheld and protected.

Today's statement added that the UN will be consulting with national authorities and the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau to explore what more needs to be done to end impunity and restore respect for the rule of law in the country.

In a report released last month, Mr. Ban had said that assassinations in March highlighted the need for the West African nation's justice, defence and security sectors to be reformed. The country has struggled in recent decades to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, and also to sustain economic growth and political stability amid a series of civil conflicts, coups d'état and uprisings.
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SUPPORT FOR GUINEA-BISSAU’S ELECTIONS, FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY VITAL – UN ENVOY

The United Nations envoy to Guinea-Bissau today urged continued support for national reconciliation and the fight against impunity in the West African country, which is gearing up for elections following last month's double assassinations of the President and of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

President João Bernardo Vieira and General Batista Tagme Na Waie were killed in early March, and the country is now being led by Interim President Raimundo Pereira.

The Commission of Inquiry into the attacks began its work on 12 March. A parallel inquiry has been set up by the military to investigate General Tagme's assassination.

"A sound commission of inquiry is essential to end the cycles of violence and impunity in the country," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Joseph Mutaboba told the Security Council, as he briefed the 15-member body on the latest developments.

He noted that the Prosecutor General has expressed concerns about the lack of security for members and witnesses against threats and intimidation, and over the lack of cooperation from the military with regard to information exchange on the military inquiry.

In addition, the military commission detained a number of military and civilians. According to the Guinea-Bissau League of Human Rights, some of the detainees show signs of physical mistreatment, the Special Representative reported.

Describing the security environment in the country as "volatile," Mr. Mutaboba called on the Council to send a signal to the Government and the Security Forces that they are responsible for protecting and upholding the human rights of the people of Guinea-Bissau.

Mr. Ban, in his recent report on Guinea-Bissau, reiterated his call for a "credible and transparent process of investigation" into the incidents, and urged the country to maintain the rule of law while simultaneously protecting the rights of defendants and ensuring that they receive a fair hearing.

Regarding the elections that are now scheduled for 28 June, Mr. Mutaboba noted that many people question the appropriateness of elections so soon after major violence and before the socio-political and military environment has had time to settle.

"We support elections as part of the democratic process and respect for the Constitution, but we must take on board those perceptions and be aware that there is a growing disconnect between the population and the democratic process, which in the eyes of many, treats the population as electoral fodder and gives them nothing in return.

"It is important therefore that the population must see some quick improvements in their lives if democracy is to mean anything to them," he stated.

The Special Representative said that the Government was forced by the events of early March to focus its energies on managing the political and military crisis. At the same time, it is also grappling with a precarious fiscal situation and faces enormous difficulties in clearing salary arrears and tackling the social issues that it promised to resolve.

"There is an urgent need to focus on the basic needs of the military and the population in general," he stated, highlighting in particular the need for security sector reform, as well as tackling the challenges of organized crime and drug trafficking.
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RECENT GUINEA-BISSAU KILLINGS UNDERSCORE URGENT NEED FOR REFORM, SAYS BAN

Last month's assassinations of Guinea-Bissau's president and his chief of staff have highlighted the need for the West African nation's justice, defence and security sectors to be reformed, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.

President João Bernardo Vieira and his Chief of General Staff, General Batista Tagme Na Waie, were killed in early March.

This past November, renegade military elements attacked the residence of Mr. Vieira but he survived the attack, which occurred just one week after legislative elections were staged in a peaceful and orderly manner.

In the report made public today, the Secretary-General reiterates his call for a "credible and transparent process of investigation" into the incidents.

He also calls on the country to maintain the rule of law while simultaneously protecting the rights of defendants and ensuring that they receive a fair hearing.

The West African country has struggled to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, and also to sustain economic growth and political stability amid a series of civil conflicts, coups d'état and uprisings in recent decades.

Interim President Raimundo Pereira has pledged to organize presidential elections in 60 days, and Mr. Ban appeals to the international community as a whole "to not abandon the country at this critical moment and to provide technical and financial assistance."

Last November's elections have shown how Guinea-Bissau's people "voted for hope and improvement in their daily lives," he writes. The instability over the past ten years "has been a major stumbling block to peace and development, and has resulted in the squandering of opportunities for recovery," he adds.

The report calls on all political actors to "put aside political ambition" and cooperate in finding solutions to meet the needs of the country's people.

In a related development, Mr. Ban's Special Representative in Guinea-Bissau, Joseph Mutaboba, condemned the 30 March attack on Francisco Fadul, the President of the Audit Court, at his home by uniformed armed men, apparently in connection with critical statements he made on the radio the previous day.

The envoy also spoke out against the illegal arrest late last month – and apparent mistreatment in custody – of a lawyer by the armed forces.

"The Constitution of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau enshrines the right of all citizens to exercise freedom of expression without impediment, limitation or any form of censure," Mr. Mutaboba said in a press statement, calling on national authorities to ensure respect for the rule of law and human rights, both of which are the "cornerstone of a healthy democracy."

Guinea-Bissau is one of a handful of States on the agenda of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, which aims to help post-conflict countries avoid sliding back into war or chaos.
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BAN CONDEMNS ASSASSINATION OF GUINEA-BISSAU’S PRESIDENT

BAN CONDEMNS ASSASSINATION OF GUINEA-BISSAU'S PRESIDENT
New York, Mar 2 2009 2:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the killing of the president of Guinea-Bissau and his chief of staff, calling on the national authorities to maintain the rule of law and bring those responsible to justice.

"The Secretary-General is deeply saddened and dismayed by the assassinations of President João Bernardo Vieira and his Chief of General Staff, General Batista Tagme Na Waie," Mr. Ban said in a statement released by his spokesperson.

"He remains in close contact with his Representative for Guinea Bissau, Joseph Mutaboba, who along with others in the international community is working to promote peace, political stability and development in the country," the statement added.

The Secretary-General's statement noted that the assassinations occurred soon after successful legislative elections which "paved the way for enhanced UN support to the country's peacebuilding efforts."

Guinea-Bissau is one of a handful of States on the agenda of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, which aims to help poor countries avoid sliding back into war or chaos.

The West African country has struggled to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, and also to sustain economic growth and political stability amid a series of civil conflicts, coups d'état and uprisings in recent decades.

This past November, renegade military elements attacked the residence of President Vieira but he survived the attack, which occurred just one week after legislative elections were staged in a peaceful and orderly manner.

At that time, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council both condemned the failed assassination attempt and urged all political groups to resolve their differences peacefully.
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