Efforts to Curtail University ViolenceIn recent years, there have been increasing efforts on the part of the Ministry of Higher Education, Ivorian civil society, and occasionally even FESCI’s leadership itself to curtail violence in the university context. The chief of staff for the minister of higher education told Human Rights Watch that the struggle against university violence is one of the ministry’s top priorities, and that the ministry wanted to generate more university-wide dialogue on the subject.211 In December 2007, the ministry organized a workshop bringing together members of major student organizations to discuss problems related to conditions in student dormitories, including student violence.212 While these and other efforts to initiate dialogue are laudable, students and professors interviewed by Human Rights Watch complain that when it comes to FESCI-perpetrated violence, university officials have often been unwilling to intervene, sometimes telling students that because there is little they can do about FESCI, students should settle issues amongst themselves.213 Greater willingness on the part of the ministry to impose disciplinary measures such as suspension, or referral to the police in cases of criminal activity, will be necessary in order to resolve many of the problems discussed in this report. Côte d’Ivoire’s leading human rights groups have long been involved in trying to conduct human rights education on campus and mediate student conflict. In January 2007 the Ivorian League for Human Rights (LIDHO) created a center for civic and non-violence education on campus called University Rights and Freedoms Watch (Observatoire des Droits et des Libertés en Milieu Universitaire, ODELMU). The Observatory leads sensitization campaigns intended to increase “dialogue, peace, and tolerance” on campus. Members of LIDHO interviewed by Human Rights Watch explained that thus far nearly every student organization on campus—with the exception of FESCI—has agreed to become a member of the Observatory.214 Human rights defenders interviewed by Human Rights Watch expressed frustration that even after all these initiatives, the headquarters of both LIDHO and APDH were ransacked by members of FESCI, but vowed to press on with education and mediation campaigns.215 While non-violence education and government-sponsored workshops are welcome and necessary, some human rights defenders interviewed argued these initiatives must be accompanied by efforts to tackle impunity and a strong signal from FPI party leaders that violence and criminal activity on the part of FESCI’s members will no longer be tolerated.216 A few reform efforts have come from FESCI itself, as reflected in one of FESCI’s chants:
In an interview shortly after his election to the head of FESCI in May 2005, Serge Koffi announced that he wanted to make FESCI into a “responsible union” and that the “introduction of machetes at the University had tarnished the image of the student.”220 After his election in December 2007, Serge Koffi’s successor, Augustin Mian, similarly stated that he was committed to ending the violence.221 In an interview with Human Rights Watch, Mr. Mian noted that:
In 2007 FESCI turned over several members accused of crimes to the police, including murder and assault. While these are welcome words and actions, criminal offenses perpetrated by members of FESCI from 2005 up through the present suggest that much work remains to be done. 211 Human Rights Watch interview with Alexis Ogou, Abidjan, August 23, 2007. 212 “Cissé Bacongo, ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur:‘Nos Étudiants sont en Train de Grandir’,” Fraternité Matin (Abidjan), December 6, 2007. 213 Human Rights Watch interviews, Abidjan, August, September, and October 2007. 214 Human Rights Watch interview with human rights defender, October 24, 2007. 215 Human Rights Watch interviews with human rights defender, October 23, 2007. 216 Human Rights Watch interviews, October 23 and 24, 2007. 217 “STT” is the nom de guerre of Serge Koffi, who served as Secretary General of FESCI from May 2005 to December 2007. 218 “KB” refers to Kacou Brou, FESCI’s leading doyen. See FESCI’s Structure and Organizational Culture, infra. 219 FESCI chant collected by FESCI member and student research assistant to Human Rights Watch, presented here in the original French:
220 “Yao Koffi Serge (Secrétaire général de la FESCI):‘Je ferai de la FESCI un syndicat responsible’,” Le Patriote (Abidjan), May 27, 2005. 221 “FESCI: Mian Augustin à la présentation de son équipe, plaide: ‘Que ce bureau ne fasse pas l`objet de querelles’,” Le Nouveau Réveil (Abidjan), January 23, 2007. 222 Human Rights Watch interview, Abidjan, March 26, 2008. |