National News Flashes - Guinea

From the 28th – 30th May 2009, the delegates of 19 African countries members of the World March of Women (WMW) met in Bamako, Mali, to prepare the WMW International Action of 2010, put together a regional action-work plan and to strengthen the WMW in Africa. During the meeting, a socio-political analysis of each country brought to light the fears of the Guinean participants; these fears being linked, amongst other things, to the tense climate between different actors involved in the management of the transition process which is working towards free and transparent elections in Guinea. The Guinean sisters warned us that without the finding of a quick, consensual solution, the situation could readily jeopardise the – already fragile – peace in this region of Africa. In the knowledge that the breakdown of peace and the increase of conflict victimises women and children first, the World March of Women Africa, loyal to the values in the Global Women’s Charter for Humanity (Freedom, Justice, Equality, Solidarity and Peace), share these fears with their Guinean sisters and join with them in demanding that the actors involved in the transition process sit down at the negotiating table for an honest and constructive dialogue that guarantees a transition free of conflict, and lasting peace in the country.  

Since May 2009, the violence and repression against Guinean civilians has become worse and worse. The 28th September, specifically, the army attacked – with extreme brutality and cruelty – the participants of a peaceful demonstration in the principal stadium of Conakry (capital of Guinea) against the probable presidential candidature of the Chief of the Junta that has been in power for ten months. The Guinean Human Rights Defence Organisation (OGDH) has received reports of 157 people killed and 1200 wounded, including women rape victims (at least 30). Eye-witnesses tell of cuts and wounds, public and gang rapes, the forcing of wood, rifles and bayonets in women’s genital organs. Worse still, these figures have been denied by the military, whose Health Minster, the doctor-colonel Cherif Abdoulaye Diaby, stated in a press interview that, “I don’t think there were any rapes”, and that the number of civilian deaths was 56.

We, activists of the World March of Women from the five continents, vehemently denounce the massacre of women and men on the 28th September, the brutal repression of civilians since the taking of power by the Junta in December 2008, and the extreme sexual and physical violence against women in the country. We demand:

•    The opening of an international enquiry to establish responsibilities for the violence of the 28th September, in order that the guilty are judged and punished, according to article 11 of UN Resolution 1325: “All States are responsible for the end of impunity and to prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, including sexual and other violence against women and girls”;

•    The opening of a national inquiry that is trust-worthy, independent and rigorous in order to identify the leaders of these tragic events, as well as those who carried out orders to massacre and rape, in order to bring them to justice and apply punishments according to Guinean law;

•    The withdrawal of the military from power and the immediate designation of a national unity government, charged principally with the organisation of presidential elections under the observation of the United Nations;

•    The return of all mortal remains to their families;

•    The release, without conditions, of all those arrested by the defence and security forces during the demonstration;

•    The release of women who were raped on the 28th September and remain in custody;

•    The safety of civilians, political and social leaders, as well as diplomatic representations in Guinea;

•    The presence of a temporary peace force to guarantee the security of the population.