OAU warns separatists

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on Tuesday said it would no longer recognise the travel documents of separatist leaders in the island of Anjouan as the first step in a series of sanctions against the breakaway island. It said that "in continued defiance" of the OAU and countries in the region, the Anjouanese leadership had failed to meet a 1 February deadline to sign an agreement aimed at reunifying the islands in the Indian Ocean archipelago. Instead, the separatist leaders of Anjouan had rejected the Antananarivo Agreement and held a referendum on independence on 23 January which had been "held in a climate of terror, intimidation and suppression of the freedom of speech". "Travel restrictions, non-recognition of their travel documents and passports, freezing of bank accounts and other financial transactions, inside and outside the Comoros, and blocking of all repatriation of funds by members of their families, external allies and sympathisers will form part of the first phase of the measures," the OAU said in a joint statement with the South African government. It said a list of individuals against whom travel restrictions should be imposed would be circulated to international organisations including the United Nations and European Union to ensure that the measures are effective. "The OAU refuses to be misled by the separatist leaders and their obvious maneuvers, aimed at delaying the implementation of the Antananarivo Agreement and ultimately derailing the whole process towards constitutional negotiations on the basis of the Antananarivo accord. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the so-called referendum and are determined to protect the integrity and sovereignty of a united Comoros. "In view of the above situation, the OAU and countries of the region are left with no choice but to implement a series of measures, initially directed at leaders of the separatist movement and their families; leaders and members of their armed militias; heads of the Anjouanese administrative machinery; key financial backers and business people linked to the separatist movement and supporters of the separatist movement, outside the island," the statement said. It added that "task teams will be established on the continent" to liaise and coordinate effective implementation of the agreed measures. The OAU said it will not accept the dismembering of the Comoro Islands. With the mandate of South Africa and the countries of the region to safeguard the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity of the Comoros Islands, it said no effort will be spared. "Even as we contemplate other more punitive measures against the separatist movement, we hope that the separatist leaders will still heed our call, even at this late hour, and sign the accord without any further delay," the statement said.