Maldives calls for the Will of the People to be Respected in Cote d'Ivoire

23rd December 2010, Geneva;The Maldives and group of other members of the UN Human Rights Council including Nigeria (on behalf of the African Group), the US, Japan, France, the UK and Brazil, today convened a Special (emergency) Session of the Human Rights Council to discuss and act on the deteriorating human rights situation in Cote d'Ivoire. The emergency session came as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that close to 175 people have been killed, and many more abducted, tortured, arrested or silenced, following the recent disputed Presidential election. That election saw the challenger, Alassane Ouatarra, emerge victorious and be recognised as President by the national election commission, the UN and the international community. However, the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, has refused to step down and is using the country's security forces to intimidate the opposition and to remain in power.

The Maldives, as one of the sponsors of the Council Special Session, expressed concern at the growing violence and violations of human rights in Cote d'Ivoire. "The Maldives is particularly alarmed at reports of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detention" said H.E. Iruthisham Adam, the Maldives Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.

Ambassador Adam went on to echo the calls of the UN, the African Union, ECOWAS and others for the incumbent President, Laurent Gbagbo, to respect the will of the Ivorian people. "Free and fair elections are the fundamental measure of any democratic rule. Hence it is imperative that the integrity of the electoral process is upheld and democracy restored immediately".

In the meantime, Ambassador Adam called on all sides to restrain from violence, to protect human rights and uphold the rule of law, less Cote d'Ivoire slip back into civil war. Finally the Maldives expressed support for the mediation efforts of the African Union, ECOWAS, the UN and the OIC, and called for a settlement the reflects the political rights of the people of the country in full conformity with international law and the Ouagadougou Political Agreements.
ENDS