Law advisory body passes laws on illegal firearms, looting

Central African Republic's law advisory body, the National Transitional Council, voted 55 to 0 on Friday, adopting a bill banning the possession and use of illegal firearms and another outlawing looting of public or private property. The law on looting sets a 10-year to 20-year prison sentence, with hard labour and a 10-million to 20-million franc CFA (US $1 = 595 francs CFA) fine for looters and their accomplices. Repeat offenders found guilty of looting get a life sentence with hard labour, as well as a 10-million to 20-million franc CFA fine. These measures would only be taken against those who looted in times of conflict. Those who commit the crime during peaceful times would be punished according to the country's existing statutes, the new law states. Since its independence from France in December 1960, the CAR has experienced six massive lootings. There was widespread looting in September 1979 when French troops overthrew Emperor Jean Bedel Bokassa to install David Dacko; during the 1996-7 mutinies; and during the May 2001 coup attempt by former President Andre Kolingba. From October to November 2002, when current leader Francois Bozize first led a rebellion in the northern suburbs of the capital, Bangui, there was massive looting there by former rebels from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who were in the country to support President Ange-Felix Patasse. Bozize overthrew Patasse on 15 March 2003. Soon after the Bozize coup, the public and Bozize’s rebels looted private homes, shops and administrative buildings in Bangui, including the prime minister’s office and other ministers. None of these have been repaired, so far. The law on illegal firearms only permits authorised security, defence and paramilitary forces' personnel to bear arms. Anyone else found in possession of a firearm is liable to imprisonment for five years to 10 years, with a 5-million to 10-million franc CFA fine. Armed robbers caught red handed are liable to life imprisonment, with a 10-million to 20-million franc CFA fine. A similar sentence would apply to their accomplices. Any transport means used in robberies would also be seized. The army estimates that there are 50,000 weapons illegally in circulation, due to several years of military uprisings. This has contributed significantly to armed robbers in Bangui and in the north of the country. The council, which ended its two-weeks extraordinary session on Friday, passed the two bills while security and defence forces were being accused of human rights abuses in Bangui. State-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Friday that to reassure the public, Bozize had signed two decisions on Thursday sacking five presidential guards who allegedly gang-raped a woman on 28 October.