By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
CONAKRY, Guinea – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has launched an international inquiry into the violence against Guinean protestors last month.
On September 28, gunmen opened fire on a stadium full of anti-government protestors killing 157 and wounding more than a thousand others.
Earlier this week the UN Security Council condemned the violence because Russia was opposed and Moscow was uncomfortable getting involved with the domestic politics of an individual country. According to the UN, the inquiry will “investigate those incidents with a view to determining the accountability of those involved.”
Algerian diplomat and jurist Mohamed Bedjaoui will chair the inquiry. Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, leader of Guinea’s military government, has said that he will cooperate with the UN’s efforts.
The inquiry team will be filled out with Burundi’s Francoise Ngendahyo Kayirwamirwa and Mauritius’ Pramila Patten. Kayirwamirwa has previously served on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and Patten is a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
Prior to traveling to Geneva and Guinea, the commission members will travel to New York City to meet with the Secretary General, said spokeswoman Michele Montas.
Guinea’s military junta warned that any sanctions imposed on the country might cause chaos in the country, warning that the international community was pushing the country into a situation “that could degenerate.”
The African Union, the United States, and the European Union have joined in imposing fresh sanctions on the junta. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is attempting to mediate the situation and Guinean leadership has agreed to give ECOWAS priority. Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore will be the mediator.
“The president (Dadis Camara) has said that he is putting the fate of Guinea in the hands of mediator Compaore,” said his spokesman.
International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said that he is also investigating.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Guinea Junta Warns Sanctions May Cause Chaos – 30 October 2009
Al Jazeera – AU Imposes Sanctions on Guinea – 30 October 2009
All Africa – Ban Announces Members of Commission to Look Into Bloody Guinean Crackdown – 30 October 2009
AP – Guinea Protestors Freed After Being Forced to Eat – 30 October 2009
UN News Centre – UN Chief Ban Launches Inquiry Into Guinea Violence – 30 October 2009
Xinhua – UN Announces Establishment of Int’l Commission to Probe Guinea Incidents – 30 October 2009
