Déjà-vu: Peace (dis)agreements that are detrimental to victims

FIDH publishes today a report of a mission of inquiry on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) entitled "Déjà-vu: Peace (dis)agreements that are detrimental to victims". This report is issued on the eve of the initiation of a new Political Dialogue in CAR between the different parties to the conflict that is ravaging for three years the Northern part of the country and in the context of the preparation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the confirmation of charges hearing of Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba for crimes he an his men are alleged to have committed in 2002/2003 in CAR.

The report insists on the fact that the Political Dialogue is being initiated in a context of still very recent combats between the Central African Armed Forces and rebel groups in the Northern part of the country, accompanied by serious human rights violations. The civilian populations in the north are victims of great physical and economic insecurity in the region, due to acts of violence committed by all parties to the conflict.

This report shows that although the FACA has put an end to their scorched earth policy, some of its units are still responsible for the summary execution of civilians, extortion of money and arbitrary arrests. In addition, several sources report arbitrary detentions, acts of torture and mistreatment of alleged rebels perpetrated in the detention centres by the Central African security forces.

Some rebels from the Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and Democracy (APRD) also execute civilians following summary judgement passed by courts of emergency and engage in kidnapping and looting.

Contrary to the public declarations of the Central African authorities, in particular President Bozizé, the FACA commit grave human rights violations with complete impunity. Even though the General Amnesty Law excludes international crimes, this report once more underlines the lack of willingness and capacity of the Central African courts to try the perpetrators of these crimes. Without the intervention of the International Criminal Court (ICC), victims will not have access to justice.

Fifteen years of peace agreements, pardons and amnesties have resulted in three political dialogues, yet the participants in past dialogues are the protagonists in today’s conflicts. The many declarations of intent in support of peace have never been followed up due to a lack of political will and the absence of any continuous significant support on the part of the international community.

The pursuit of lasting peace in CAR will remain fragile as long as there is no regard for victims and the following political reforms that are required: respect for fundamental freedoms, rebuilding the rule of law, the fight against impunity, the fight against corruption, the consolidation of a strong social and economic fabric.

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