Alain Le Roy, FNs ansvarlige for fredsbevarende oprationer, opfordrede tirsdag Elfenbenskystens de facto præsident Laurent Gbagbo og hans støtter til at standse provokationerne mod de fredsbevarende styrker og til at standse menneskerettighedskrænkelserne.
NEW YORK, 21 December 2010: “The situation is at a critical stage on the ground,” said Alain Le Roy. What we see so far is a strategy by the camp of Gbagbo both to strangle and provoke the UNOCI [UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire].”
He said that Côte d’Ivoire’s national broadcaster, Rediffusion Television Ivoirienne (RTI), was sending out appeals instigating people to violence against UNOCI personnel, and that UNOCI personnel were being pushed out of their homes.
“All our suppliers have been threatened to stop their supplies to UNOCI, so that is a blockade against our people.”
“At the same time we hear a lot of provocation again from RTI, and we hear reports of people like the Young Patriots being given lots weapons, AK47s, to try to provoke UNOCI. There are a lot of reports of violations of human rights by forces loyal to Gbagbo. We are very concerned,” Mr. Le Roy told reporters in New York.
He said the UN was aware of Gbagbo’s latest statement in which he said he wanted peace to prevail in Côte d’Ivoire. The UN expected him to keep his word, Le Roy said.
“Acts of provocation should stop. Human violations must stop. We have a mandate to fulfil and we will fulfil that mandate,” he added.
Côte d’Ivoire has been plunged into political uncertainty after the incumbent president refused to concede electoral defeat following a presidential run-off poll held on 28 November. The UN has endorsed the victory of opposition leader and President-elect Alassane Ouattara, despite Mr. Gbagbo’s claim that he won.
Clashes between demonstrators and Mr. Gbagbo’s forces have led to numerous casualties with at least 50 people killed, 200 injured, 470 arbitrarily arrested and detained, and many disappearances, according to tentative UN estimates.
