WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
WORLD & NATION
IVORY COAST
Human rights agencies concerned with Ivory Coast violence
Continued from Page I
There were so
Panglungtshang to CNN.
many."
Panglungtshang states both parties
are responsible for the deaths. However,
Ouatarra's supporters are denying any
involvement, according to CNN.
Deputy Head of the Human Rights
Division of the U.N. Mission in Ivory Coast
Guillaume Ngefa tells the Guardian that
Ouattara's supporters are blamed for 220 of
those killed, and Gbagbo's supporters are
blamed for 110 of the deaths in Duekoue.
Human rights agencies have
documented 462 deaths in addition to
the 800 in Duekoue, and as the violence
escalates they called on the international
community to become involved, according
to CNN.
"Abidjan is on the brink of a human
rights catastrophe and total chaos," said
Salvatore Sagues, Amnesty International's
researcher on West Africa in a press
release. "The parties to the conflict must
immediately stop targeting the civilian
population. The international community
must take immediate steps to protect the
civilian population."
Attempts to find a peaceful solution
through mediation have been ineffective.
The African Union appointed two
mediators. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila
Odinga was rejected by Gbagbo, according
to Reuters, and former Cape Verde
Foreign Minister Jose Brito was rejected by
Ouattara, according to the BBC.
Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of
Nigeria, Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, Ernest
Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, and Boni Yayi
of Benin have also made unsuccessful
attempts to mediate between Gbagbo and
Ouatarra, reports the BBC.
On March 30, Ouatarra's troops collided
with Gbagbo's forces near the presidential
palace in Abidjan in an attempt to take
control of the country and oust the former
president, according to Reuters.
Fighting continued throughout the
weekend and on Sunday, April 3, the U.N.
evacuated 130 members of its civilian staff
in Abidjan.
Two French nationals and at least three
others were kidnapped as the fighting
spread throughout the city, reports The
Jerusalem Post.
On Monday, April 4, France agreed to
assist the U.N. peacekeepers' operation to
destroy Gbagbo's weapons, according to
AP.
Two U.N. helicopters attacked two of
Gbagbo's military bases and French forces
targeted heavily armed areas near the
presidential palace and other Gbagbo-
controlled areas of the city, according to
The Washington Post.
U.N. officials told The Washington Post
the use of force was necessary due to those
loyal to Gbagbo firing on civilians and
U.N. peacekeepers.
The U.N. and French forces destroyed
rocket-propelled grenade launchers,
armored vehicles, heavy weapons depots,
and television transmitters, according to
Reuters.
Bodies lined the street leading into
Abidjan. Twelve corpses with bullet
wounds to the head were piled on a road
bank, and further down the corpses of
other soldiers lay in the middle of the
street, according to Reuters.
On Tuesday, April 5, Gbagbo and
his family retreated to an underground
bunker at his home as Ouattara's troops
surrounded the house, according to the
BBC.
Gbagbo's military chief. General
Philippe Mangou, ordered a cease fire,
according to Reuters. Three top ranking
Gbagbo officials agreed to stop fighting
and are seeking the protection of the U.N.,
reports The Washington Post.
By midday Tuesday, April 5, fighting
stopped as U.N. peacekeepers protected
and disarmed Gbagbo's soldiers, according
to Reuters.
Gbagbo began negotiating his surrender
to U.N. officials from his bunker, according
to Reuters.
The Washington Post reports that
the U.N. has requested Gbagbo sign a
document agreeing to cede his power as
part of the terms of his departure from
Ivory Coast.
Alassane Ouattara (left) lost the November elections in Ivory Coast to Laurent Gbagbo (right) but has refused to step down from power,
resulting in protests and violence. On April 2, at least 800 were reported to have been killed.
Thousands rally in London over government budget cuts
By Emily Cooper
Staff'Writer
On March 26, over 250,000 people rallied in London
against the government's budget cut, the largest budget
cut in the country's history since World War II.
According to the BBC, the Trades Union Congress
organized the main march.
The English government is planning on cutting 80
billion pounds, which is equivalent to $130 billion, from
public spending. Prime Minister David Cameron and
the English government are attempting to cut down the
country's deficit.
The budget cut is a solution to the government spending
large amounts of money on bailing out banks, according to
The Huffington Post.
A diverse group of people attended the rally, from school
nurses to teachers, firefighters to students, and campaign
groups. People of all different backgrounds, ages and
viewpoints have strong feelings involving this issue.
"These are the voices of the mainstream majority in
our country," said leader of England's Labour Party Ed
Miliband to Emn News. "The duty of my party is to stand
up for that mainstream majority."
Public spending and budget cuts are issues that affect
every citizen in England.
"My godchildren, aged between six and 14, are attending
the marches with their mother," Daniel Kent, a citizen of
the U.K., told the BBC.
"It shows that the people involved are genuine,
concerned citizens, protecting not only the welfare of
themselves but the welfare of the future, as well," said
Kent. "These protesters are real and must be heard."
This issue affects every generation, and children
especially, because spending issues can lead to issues for
future generations
According to Fox News, this is the largest rally in
London since the rallies against the Iraq war eight years
ago.
Most of the protesters marched peacefully, according
to police. However peaceful the rally was, however, more
"Yes, they are making vicious cuts. That's why
I'm marching, to let them know this is wrong."
Alison Foster, British schoolteacher
than 200 people were arrested.
"My husband and I were on the march," Elaine Graham
told the BBC. "We were near the front of the protesters,
and — although everyone was peaceful — they were very
angry."
As Graham described the rally: "As we passed Downing
Street, people showed their frustration and anger by
making noise and shouting toward Number 10 (home and
workplace of the Prime Minister). The messages on the
placards were deeply felt ... 'What am I to do now'? The
simplest of all — but it said it all — was 'Listen.'"
A few people were injured and hospitalized, including
five police officers, reported Fox.
It was reported by Fox that a small group of masked
people branched off from the protest and were seen
violently vandalizing stores and throwing light bulbs filled
with ammonia at police. Many of the violent protesters
were claimed to be anarchists.
Prior to the protest, Miliband worried that it would
result in anarchy.
"I don't think the activities of a few hundred people
should take the focus away from the hundreds of
thousands of people who have sent a powerful message
to the government today," said T.U.C.'s General Secretary
Brendan Barber to The Huffington Post.
"Ministers should now seriously reconsider their whole
strategy after today's demonstration. This has been Middle
Britain speaking," said Barber to CBS News.
The British people are hurt and angered by the decisions
their government is making regarding how their money is
being spent. However, the more important issue surrounds
the apparent lack of financial support being for things
many people feel strongly about.
"They shouldn't be taking money from public services,"
said Alison Foster, a 53-year-old schoolteacher. "What have
we done to deserve this? Yes, they are making vicious cuts.
That's why I'm marching, to let them know this is wrong."
The enormous turnout of people shows this is a serious
issue that cannot be ignored by the British government.
The people are angry about the way their money is being
spent — or, in this case, the way money is not being spent
at all.