EU deplores rise in political tension

The European Union has called on all political forces in Cote d'Ivoire to avoid any acts liable to worsen the socio-political situation following a rise in tension in the West African nation. In a statement issued on Thursday, EU ambassadors called on political forces to stay the course of national reconciliation and disarmament, outlined in the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, a peace accord signed in Paris in January 2003. The ambassadors said there was an "urgent" need for the state-owned broadcaster, RTI, to broadcast throughout the country, for political parties to participate fully in government, and for bills on nationality and land ownership to be voted on at the national assembly. "These three elements would contribute to building the confidence of the international community", the statement said, ahead of the deployment of UN peacekeepers in the West African nation, which is scheduled to start next month. The EU statement followed a rise in political tension which began on 4 March, when the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI) suspended its participation in the national reconciliation government of Prime Minister Seydou Diarra. The PDCI, which ruled Cote d’Ivoire from from 1960 to 1999, said it was withdrawing because the government was "malfunctioning" and because President Laurent Gbagbo was using "underhand tactics" to undermine the authority of its seven ministers. Throughout the week, all major dailies carried reports alleging that another coup d'etat may have been in the offing in the country, which experienced its first military overthrow in December 1999. According to the dailies, several men had been held for questioning, including one who worked in the security detail of late military leader and de facto president General Robert Guei. The statement also coincided with the end of a strike by judges and magistrates who were protesting against a lack of security and respect for their institution. The strike was sparked by an incident last week in which members of pro-Gbagbo pressure groups, known as "Young Patriots" stormed Abidjan's main courthouse, vandalised it and assaulted a number of judges. The Young Patriots, who were protesting against the swearing-in of two new judges, accused Justice Minister Henriette Diabate of the opposition Rally of the Republicans party, of appointing RDR supporters to the bench. Lawyer Fatou Diakite, spokesperson for the magistrates, told IRIN on Thursday that they were going back to work because Gbagbo had agreed to improve their security. The PDCI is not the only group to have manifested dissatisfaction with the relationship between the president and the various factions represented in the government of national unity. Last year, the "New Forces" - Ivorian rebels who tried unsuccessfully to topple Gbagbo on 19 September 2002 and then launched an insurgency that has effectively split the country in two - also withdrew from government, accusing Gbagbo as hindering peace and reconciliation efforts. They later returned to the cabinet. The New Forces and five political parties, all signatories to the Marcoussis Agreement, have expressed support for PDCI's decision and held various meetings to work out their position on the latest impasse. On Wednesday, the PDCI and its six allies, now known as the Group of Seven (G7), reaffirmed their intention to hold a public rally on 25 March. They first announced their planned protest on 9 March, but at a cabinet meeting on 11 March, Gbagbo banned all public demonstrations until 30 April. The "G7" say they will march next Thursday because they had announced their march before the ban was imposed and because the constitution protects freedom of expression and assembly. At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government softened its stance by saying that public demonstrations were allowed in "closed places". The situation in Cote d’Ivoire has also caused concern in other circles. On Tuesday, UN Special Representative Albert Tevoedjre travelled to Daoukro, 242 km east of Abidjan, to meet PDCI leader and former head of state Henri Konan Bedie, to convince him to have the party’s ministers return to the cabinet. On Thursday, the PDCI's seats were still vacant. One week ago, the United States also condemned the latest rise in tension, called on the government to allow demonstrations and public rallies, and reminded Gbagbo that he was 'responsible" for the peace of the country. The United Nations has also urged the political parties to remain in the government. The latest bout of political tension comes three weeks before the United Nations opens its first full-scale peacekeeping mission in the former French colony. The UN is to deploy some 6,240 peacekeepers in Cote d’Ivoire. The ban on public demonstrations and the recent re-introduction of checkpoints across Abidjan are meant to allow the mission to begin working in a peaceful atmosphere, the government said on Thursday. Many of the checkpoints, which are manned by security forces, had been dismantled some weeks ago but their reestablishment was announced by Gbagbo last week.