IV. PUBLIC RHETORIC INCREASES TENSIONS

Since the September attacks, the government has encouraged nationalistic fervor in the public media, and has failed to take steps to denounce or check attacks on foreigners, Muslims, or the political opposition. These statements and failures have exacerbated existing tensions among different elements of the population and encouraged popular attacks on groups deemed to be associated with the rebellion.

On October 6, parliamentarian Ben Soumahoro, the representative for Bako (northern Côte d'Ivoire), appealed to Ivorian patriots to: "Go and find Ouattara in his hiding place....⁹ No French soldier will fire on you, go and get him."¹⁰ This speech was made to a meeting of the National Coordinating Body of Ivorian Patriots (Coordination nationale des patriotes de Côte d'Ivoire) and reproduced extensively on the public broadcast media and in the written press. No official commented on this incitement to unlawful arrest or attack, or noted that it was contrary to the international human rights norms to which Côte d'Ivoire is committed.

That same day, a journalist with national television (Radio-télévision ivoirienne, RTI) stated that expelling Burkinabés from Côte d'Ivoire represented the "key to victory." He explained "We must simply send back just 500 000 Burkinabés so that the leader of the `land of honest men' [a reference to Burkina Faso], the current leader of the war against Côte d'Ivoire and his supporters, clearly understand the role of Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa."¹¹

On October 8, President Gbagbo spoke to the nation in different terms. His address appeared to mark a change in rhetoric and led to hope for a change of policy. President Gbagbo called upon the Ivorian people to rally behind him against the "enemy," but not to break the law. He told citizens not to loot shops and not to attack individuals. He went on to say: "Don't attack foreigners, don't attack your political opponents. Our struggle is not with them."¹²

Though this speech was encouraging, more needs to be done to ensure that the "struggle" is pursued with full respect for the law. Since the speech was delivered, further neighborhoods have been raided and burned. And on October 18, in line with the continuing persecution of RDR supporters, two RDR sympathisers in Abidjan were killed by members of the security forces while burying a relative.¹³ Many others have been arbitrarily arrested.

On October 15, Colonel Jules Yao Yao, the armed forces spokesperson, shamelessly announced the policy of killing suspected "assailants" in Daloa, which had recently been retaken from the rebels by government forces, in his nightly address on public television news. He said the curfew in Daloa should be strictly respected and "Anyone contravening this measure apart from members of the defense or security forces will be considered an assailant and killed without warning."¹⁴ In the following days, dozens of civilians with Muslim names were extrajudicially killed by people wearing military uniform. The government has acknowledged that these killings happened, but has claimed that their forces have no responsibility for these actions.¹⁵ Independent sources have challenged this claim and produced evidence that government forces were indeed responsible.¹⁶

Under international human rights or humanitarian law, there is no provision to allow a member of the security forces to shoot an unarmed civilian on sight unless in self defense.

On October 23, pro-government protestors critical of France apparently tried to reach Alassane Ouattara, who had taken shelter in the French ambassador's residence on September 19, immediately following the attacks that led to the current crisis. Protesters also gathered outside other French installations; after a crowd had been dispersed from the French military base (Base du 43eme bataillon d'infanterie de marine) by French troops using teargas and water cannon, some demonstrators began throwing stones at white motorists.¹⁷ The new Ivorian minister of the interior deplored these excesses. A few days later, President Gbagbo clarified that he did not consider Alassane Ouattara as being behind the attacks. "If I had any doubts about Mr. Ouattara, I would have had him arrested. I have nothing against Alassane Dramane Ouattara," Gbagbo told a delegation from the opposition RDR, according to a statement from the party.¹⁸

9 "Ben Soumahoro: `Allez-y chercher Alassane chez l'ambassadeur de France,'" Notre Voie (Abidjan), October 7, 2002. Soumahoro's position is striking given that he was elected as an opposition RDR member.

10 "Ben Soumahoro: `C'est ADO qui a fait le coup d'Etat de 99'" Le Nouveau Réveil (Abidjan), October 7, 2002.

11 Reporters sans Frontières, Reporters sans frontières demande au Conseil de sécurité de saisir la Cour pénale internationale, October 28, 2002.

12 "Rassemblez vous massivement mais sans voler aucun magasin et sans vous en prendre à aucun individu. C'est là la force des grandes nations. N'attaquez pas les étrangers, n'attaquez pas vos adversaires politiques. Notre combat est ailleurs. "

13 Human Rights Watch telephone interview, October 21, 2002.

14 "Tout contrevant à cette mesure en dehors des forces de défense et de sécurité, sera considéré comme assaillant et abattu sans sommation."

15 "Ivory Coast government opens inquiry on alleged atrocities," AFP, October 25, 2002.

16 Eyewitnesses quoted by Amnesty International, News Release, October 28, 2002, AFR 31/006/2002.

17 "France demands end to Ivorian attacks," news.bbc.co.uk, October 23, 2002.

18 "Ivory Coast opposition not implicated in coup: president" [Corrected 10/25/02], Agence France- Presse, October 26, 2002.