A/HRC/17/48
weapons of war such as heavy weapons and grenades. Marks of shooting, the shattering of
projectiles and burns were visible on the bodies.
72.
For instance, in Péhé, the presence was noted of a blue cord around what remained
of the bones of the upper limbs of a body. Pieces of cord of the same kind were found in the
Carrefour district in Duékoué. In Abidjan, witnesses spoke again of people being burned
alive, using petrol and tires. In the west there are reports of many people having had their
throats slit.
Right to physical integrity
73.
The fact that there were many people injured demonstrates that the right to physical
integrity was violated. Such was the case, for example, during the violent repression of nonviolent civil demonstrations, particularly in Abidjan and Divo on 16 December 2010 and in
Duékoué on 3 January 2011, when weapons of war, including heavy weapons, were used
indiscriminately. Such was also the case in Bloléquin, Doké, Guiglo, Péhé, San Pedro and
Toulepleu.
74.
Other cases of violations of this right were noted by the Commission in the towns
and villages where it conducted investigations, including the beating of arrested or detained
persons. The Commission learned from the information provided by health-care
professionals that at least 1,740 persons who had been injured, most of them by firearms or
knives, had received care.
Violation of the right to freedom and security of person
75.
Arbitrary arrests and detentions by FDS and FRCI, together with the absence of the
effective possibility of taking proceedings before a court or any other competent judicial
authority, constitute a violation of article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights. In Doké, for example, Mr. X. and Mr. Z. were arrested by FDS. They were
tied up and taken away on the pretext that they were RHDP activists. When the village
chief explained that Mr. Z. belonged in fact to LMP, he was released. Mr. X. is still
missing. The Commission also saw for itself, in Abidjan, a number of cases of detention
exceeding the legal time limits in many police stations under the command of elements of
FRCI. It is clear that, during the period under consideration and in the places visited by the
Commission, due process was not ensured.
Freedom of movement
76.
The various roadblocks set up by organizations of the “galaxie patriotique” well
before 28 of November and tolerated by law enforcement services, as well as those set up
later by the FRCI, constitute violations of the right to freedom of movement. At these
roadblocks, other violations were committed, in particular rape and racketeering. The
roadblocks erected by the Jeunes patriotes and militia groups served as checkpoints for
identifying persons considered to be pro-Ouattara and restricted the movement of such
persons, confining them to particular areas for no reason. They also restricted the
movement of United Nations civilian personnel and foreigners living in Côte d'Ivoire.
Freedom of expression and information and incitement of hate
77.
In the context of the elections, most observers noted the professionalism and civic
sense of the Ivorian media in their coverage of the first round of the presidential elections.
However, the media put a negative slant on their campaign coverage for the second round,
taking partisan positions and reporting incendiary speech. On the pretext of defending
national sovereignty, the State media gradually developed a campaign calling for patriotic
resistance through virulent writings and reports tainted by xenophobia. RTI appears to have
GE.11-14375 (EXT)
17
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