AI press release on Niger: army kills and make civilians “disappear”

Amnistía Internacional publicou a semana pasada unha nota de prensa sobre os civís asasinados e “desaparecidos” polo exército de Níxer, que loita contra un grupo armado de oposición.

A nota de prensa leva por título “Niger: Executions and forced disappearances follow army reprisals”. Copio un extracto do seu contido:

[...] At least eight civilians were arbitrarily executed between 22 and 25 March 2008 after clashes between the MNJ and the Niger army. A number of soldiers were killed in the clashes and several army vehicles were blown up by antipersonnel mines. After sustaining these casualties and material damage, the army launched reprisals against the population, executing and arresting civilians and destroying property. [...]

Soldiers also attacked property, burning houses and camps, for example, in Dabaga and Tamazalak. The inhabitants of these two villages sought shelter in Agadez. Other villagers escaped into the mountains in order to avoid the main roads, where soldiers might question them.

Amnesty International has also learned that the military has threatened the elected representatives of the Dabaga region for allegedly communicating information about atrocities committed by the army.

The organisation is also concerned about the use of mines in this conflict, which has opposed the Niger security forces and armed elements of the MNJ since February 2007. Each side says the other is responsible for laying these mines, which have already claimed many civilian and military victims. [...]

Sobre a cuestión das minas non debemos olvidar quen as produce e quen as vende, e aí España ten parte de reponsabilidade. Ver por exemplo o artigo de Pere Ortega “El 11-M y Unión Española de Explosivos” (publicado en abril do 2004).

Algúns enlaces sobre minas:

• Cluster Munition Coalition
• Handicap International
• International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)
• Landmine Action
• Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
• United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)