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July 2001
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Vol. 13, No. 5 (A)
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GUINEA
REFUGEES STILL AT RISK
Continuing Refugee Protection Concerns
in Guinea
Printable Version [pdf]
In February 2001, Guinean soldiers
came into our camp at Nongoa. They surrounded us and went everywhere in
the camp. We were told to stand outside our houses and they checked all
of the houses and opened everything. We were searched for marks [of rebel
tattoos]. They made us take all our clothes off, even the women. They even
looked at our thighs. The men who searched were in combat uniform with
guns and army cards. They spoke in French to each other and someone translated
into Kissi for us. They said while they were searching us, "if we find
any rebels among you, we will kill all of you here." All the time, they
promised us that.
Nongoa wasn't safe because it is near
the border. Rebels from Sierra Leone come to the border and tell us to
come back. At the border, they call to us and say if we don't come back
to Sierra Leone they will come over to Guinea and get us. It is very close
to the camp, and they can just shout to us from there. I don't feel safe
in Guinea now, and I am not happy here. When I was in Nongoa, the rebels
took over and I was left with nothing. Now I have no more courage to stay
in Guinea. I want to go to Sierra Leone, but my heart is not happy. There
are rebels there. I want to be under U.N. protection, and I hope that they
can help me.
Forty-one-year-old Sierra Leonean refugee,
April 2001
I.
Summary
II.
Recommendations
To
the Guinean Government:
To
the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):
To
Donor Governments:
III.
BACKGROUND
IV.
Protection Concerns for Refugees within Guinea
Screening
of Refugees for the Presence of Rebels
Harassment,
Extortion, and Other Abuse of Refugees
Arbitrary
Arrests, Poor Prison Conditions and Deaths in Detention
Forecariah
Prison
The
Massakoundou Arrests
Police
Detention Facilities
Inadequate
Registration and Identity Documentation
Refugees
Remaining in the Border Area
Acknowledgements
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