HRW condemns repression

Human Rights Watch condemned on Friday the ongoing repression of Mauritania’s opposition parties and political and rights activists, including the recent imprisonment of three members of the opposition Front populaire (FP). In a letter addressed to President Ould Taya, the international rights watchdog said the imprisonment of the detainees was politically motivated. HRW said their detention confirmed a pattern of repression and harassment which, since 1998, has caused the dissolution of the Union des forces democratiques-Ere nouvelle party, the questioning and imprisonment of leading activists, the muzzling of the press and the repression of public protests. The organisation also deplored the fact that two of the country’s main rights organisations, SOS-Esclaves and the Association mauritanienne des droits de l’homme have not been able to operate as the authorities have refused to recognise them. HRW called for the “unconditional release” of the FP members, including party leader Chbih Cheikh Ould Malainine. It urged President Ould Taya to promote liberties and democratic principles, stop the repression of those whose views differ from his government’s and resolve the problem of thousands of black Mauritanians who were forced to flee the country about a decade ago. For a copy of HRW’s letter to President Ould Taya see: www.hrw.org/press/2001/06/mauri-0622-ltr.htm