UN wants Cote d'Ivoire in dialogue
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Xinhua, January 28, 2012
An independent expert working for the United Nations (UN) on the human rights situation in Cote d'Ivoire has appealed for the creation of a "political dialogue platform" to promote the country's democratic process.
Doudou Diene who is a Senegalese national, was speaking on Friday in Abidjan, just a week after the disruption of a meeting of supporters of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo by youths allied to President Alassane Ouattara's party, the Rally of Republicans (RDR) .
He said that such cases of violence are a drawback on the democratic progress that had been achieved through the legislative elections which were held last December.
He called for the respect of the fundamental rights, especially the freedom of expression and association, respect for political and cultural pluralism as well as the establishment of an impartial judiciary.
The UN official further called on the Cote d'Ivoire authorities to open "an impartial and independent" inquiry with a view of identifying those who were responsible for the disruption of the pro-Gbagbo meeting so that they can be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Appointed to the position in November 2011, the main objective of the UN's independent expert is "to make an independent evaluation of the human rights situation in Cote d'Ivoire."
He has already visited Cote d'Ivoire twice to meet with opposition and ruling party political actors as well as with civil society groups.
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