Amnesty calls for independent investigation into rights abuses

With less than week before Madagascar's legislative elections, Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into alleged human rights abuses during the recent political crisis. In a report launched on Wednesday titled, 'Justice is selective', the rights group said hundreds of people had been arrested and detained for alleged crimes during the crisis, most of whom were supporters of former president Didier Ratsiraka. Almost a year ago, presidential elections sparked a major political struggle between Ratsiraka and his main challenger Marc Ravalomanana. Ravalomanana claimed the official results had been rigged and refused a second round of the elections. The ensuing political stand-off escalated in sporadic clashes between the opposing camps until Ratsiraka fled to France on 7 July. Soon after Ravalomanana swept to power, he said he intended to arrest Ratsiraka, and try him for encouraging violence in the country and for alleged embezzlement during his time in office. Ravalomanana, however, denied that a witch-hunt was going on to track down supporters of the old regime. The report implicated the country's security forces and supporters of both sides in committing numerous human rights abuses, including acts of extra-judicial executions and torture. "Justice for the victims of human rights violations and their families is crucial to prevent new abuses from being committed," the organisation said. Earlier this year Ravalomanana set up the National Reconciliation Committee (CRN) to address the post-election crisis. However, in August the CRN said it was concerned about the lack of transparency in several arrests in the provinces, as well as conditions in which detainees were being held. It also demanded official publication of the names of all those arrested, the circumstances of their arrest, the charges against them, and where they were being held. Amnesty said detainees were being held in overcrowded prisons with little consideration for their physical and psychological well-being. "For years local and international NGOs have denounced the inhumane conditions under which detainees are held in Madagascar's prisons ... despite a government programme, detention conditions are still far beneath acceptable standards," the report said. Amnesty recommended that the Malagasy government set up an independent commission to investigate rights abuses committed by both sides. The result of which, the organisation said, should be made public. Amnesty further called on the international community to assist the Malagasy authorities to fight against impunity and respect international standards of fairness in all judicial proceedings.