Guinea: Justice for 2009 massacre must be at heart of political transition

Pramila Patten called for accountability for the 28 September 2009 incidental to beryllium astatine the bosom of the country’s governmental transition.

The massacre occurred erstwhile information forces opened occurrence connected thousands of demonstrators attending an absorption rally astatine a stadium successful the capital, Conakry.  At slightest 156 radical were killed oregon disappeared, and astatine slightest 109 women and girls were subjected to intersexual violence.  

Commit to justice

In a statement connected the day of the massacre, Ms. Patten said the ongoing governmental modulation offers a unsocial accidental to spot justness and the regularisation of instrumentality astatine the centre of a caller section successful the country’s history.

She recalled that pursuing the subject coup earlier this month, the Comité National du Rassemblement et du Développement (CNRD) issued a connection which said justness volition beryllium the compass that volition usher each Guinean citizen.

“With the decision of nationalist consultations aimed astatine determining the priorities of the modulation and yesterday’s announcement of the adoption of a Transitional Charter, I impulse the CNRD to abide by its committedness towards impartial and autarkic justice, including successful narration to the 28 September 2009 events”, she said.

Survivors’ needs unmet

The UN adept noted that her Office has been promoting accountability for the atrocities committed successful Guinea. Despite immoderate advancement implicit the years, she regretted that trials person yet to instrumentality place.

“The needs of victims of intersexual unit and different sedate crimes stay unmet”, she said.

Meanwhile, survivors proceed to request justness and redress, portion suffering carnal and intelligence trauma, which has been compounded by stigmatization and rejection by their families and communities.

“I telephone connected each applicable actors to spot accountability for the 28 September 2009 events astatine the bosom of the transition, to guarantee that trials are expedited, perpetrators are held accountable, and victims person justice, enactment and reparations,” said Ms. Patten.

“It is lone by upholding justness and accountability that wide regularisation of law, unity and societal cohesion volition beryllium enhanced, and lend to ensuring that the horrors of the 28 September events are ne'er repeated.”