Deteriorating human rights situation

The Central African Republic's (CAR) "poor" human rights record worsened in some areas in 2001, particularly after the attempted coup in May, says the US State Department in its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices series, released on Monday. During and after the 28 May coup attempt, security forces committed with impunity numerous extrajudicial killings, the report states, particularly among the Yakoma ethnic group of the coup leader, General Andre Kolingba. The report cites several such cases: the reported torture and killing of a Yakoma colonel accused of deserting his post during the coup; the torture and killing of a sergeant who was returning to his military unit after being on leave during the coup; a Yakoma opposition leader accused of involvement with the coup who was arrested on 31 May and whose body was found in front of President Ange-Felix Patasse's house the following day; the killing of the same man's nine year-old son and two relatives on 31 May; and the killing of a constitutional court magistrate, three Yakoma gendarmes, a Yakoma university lecturer plus his son and cousin, and a Yakoma corporal. "Police and security forces are immune from prosecution for extrajudicial killings," the report states. "No action was taken against the responsible security force officers for any of these killings by year's end, and such action is unlikely. The government acknowledged that extrajudicial killings following the coup attempt occurred, but claims they were carried out by 'uncontrollable members' of the security forces." The special police Squad for the Repression of Banditry had continued to operate throughout 2001, the report stated, and reportedly engaged in torture. Medical staff confirmed that the squad often took the bodies of persons they had executed to a hospital for the families to pick up. "The squad's use of extrajudicial killing had both official government and popular support, and was seen as an effective means of reducing crime and increasing public security," the report adds. In September, the squad took Aristide Ndakala-Mandapy to the government television station to record his confession of committing several robberies. On 19 September, the station broadcast the tape, and on the 22nd the squad shot and killed him, leaving his body at the hospital. "Officials justify the unit's actions as a consequence of nonexistent prison facilities in [the capital] Bangui," the report continues. A further incident cited was the arrest and torture of Abdoulaye Aboukary Tembeley, journalist and president of the Movement for the Defence of Human Rights, following a poll he conducted on whether president Patasse should resign or remain in power in February 2001. The results were unfavourable to the president. The sole operating criminal court met only once for a period of two months during the year, due to a lack of funds. As a result, there was a large backlog of criminal cases, the report states. The courts of justice and the juvenile court barely functioned during the year, and are unlikely to function properly due to inefficient administration, shortage of trained personnel, growing salary arrears and a lack of material resources. Police conditions are also "extremely harsh". Police station cells are overcrowded, and the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing and medicine are in short supply, often being confiscated by prison officials for their own use. The government owes at least 16 months' worth of salary arrears to civil servants and 14 months of salary arrears to the military, according to the report.