For Immediate Release:

Côte d'Ivoire: Government Targeting Civilians

(New York, November 28, 2002) - The government of Côte d'Ivoire has
responded to an army rebellion by committing abuses against innocent
civilians, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Government forces have killed and arrested individuals on the basis
solely of their ethnicity, religion or support for the opposition party.

The 16-page report, "Côte d'Ivoire: Government Abuses in Response to
Army Revolt," documents security force raids after the attempted coup
which began on September 19, 2002. The raids targeted entire
neighborhoods in which northerners or non-Ivorians were arbitrarily
arrested and their houses razed. Others were similarly targeted for
their political affiliation or presumed status as an "assailant," a word
used by the government to describe anyone it views as supporting the
army mutiny. The term "terrorist" was also widely used. Local human
rights defenders are also living in fear, and many have gone into
hiding.

"Legitimate security measures are one thing, but targeting individuals
just on the basis of their ethnic group or religion is completely
unacceptable," said Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the Africa
Division of Human Rights Watch. "Even in a time of emergency, basic
human rights must be respected."

Human Rights Watch researchers visited Côte d'Ivoire in late October,
following the attacks launched by dissident soldiers on September 19.

Human Rights Watch also expressed concern at reported abuses by the
dissident soldiers-calling themselves the Patriotic Movement of Côte
d'Ivoire (Mouvement Patriotique de Côte d'Ivoire, MPCI)-who launched the
attacks and remain in control of several towns. Although researchers
could not visit rebel-held areas, due to security concerns, there are
credible reports in those areas of unlawful killings and detentions.

Government policy has deliberately exacerbated tensions among Ivorians
of different ethnic and religious backgrounds over the last few years,
and also failed to address the violence and intimidation that marred
presidential and parliamentary elections of late 2000.

"This downward spiral in respect for human rights is not inevitable,"
said Takirambudde. "The way to stop that spiral is to bring to justice
the people who are responsible for abuses. Without such action, Côte
d'Ivoire could plunge into the sort of brutal war well known to
neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone."

In mid-October, people dressed in military uniform killed several dozen
civilians-Ivorian Muslims, Malians and Burkinabés-in Daloa, soon after
the government gained control of the town. In the face of international
criticism, the government has ordered an inquiry into this mass killing.

Human Rights Watch called on the government of Côte d'Ivoire to take
steps immediately to halt abuses. In particular, the Ivorian government
should:

· Publicly acknowledge and condemn the unlawful killings of alleged
"assailants" and opposition sympathisers, provide comprehensive public
information on their killings and compensation to the families, and
facilitate access for the families to the criminal justice system; make
public statements that no person should be arrested or attacked on the
basis of ethnic, religious or national identity.
· Suspend from active duty, investigate, and prosecute where appropriate
all members of the security forces accused of unlawful killings, arrests
or extortion.
· Ensure that the criminal justice system effectively responds to
allegations that human rights abuses have been committed, paying
particular attention to bringing to justice those responsible for
assaults motivated by suspicion of foreigners, Muslims, or northerners.

Human Rights Watch also called on the rebel forces to ensure that all
its combatants are instructed to respect the human rights of all
civilians and to treat all captives in accordance with international
humanitarian law.

A ceasefire officially came into force on October 18, 2002 and appears
to be holding-though both sides have been strengthening their military
positions. There are hopes that peace talks mediated by the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may lead to an end to
hostilities and a resolution of the main issues underlying the crisis.
Human Rights Watch urged ECOWAS to ensure that an end to impunity for
human rights abuses be a key part of any peace agreement.

The report "Côte d'Ivoire: Government Abuses in Response to Army
Revolt," is available online at
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/cotedivoire/.

For more information, please contact:
In London, Bronwen Manby: +44-20-7713-2789
In Freetown, Maxine Marcus: +232-22-235-077/ +232-76-663-126
In New York, Peter Takirambudde: +1-212-216-1834
In Brussels, Jean-Paul Marthoz: 322-732-2009

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Jeff Scott
Africa Division
Human Rights Watch
Phone: +1-212-216-1834
Fax: +1-212-736-1300
http://www.hrw.org/africa/index.php
en français, http://www.hrw.org/french/africa/