State, interest groups, civil society pursue dialogue

Representatives of the state, opposition parties and civil society called this week for the creation of conflict-prevention and resolution mechanisms in Guinea-Bissau. The call, and other recommendations, capped a three-day National Dialogue on Democracy and Human Rights organised by the UN Office for Peace-Building in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS), in collaboration with the government. The National Dialogue also recommended that the government should not interfere in the judiciary, and that the trials of political prisoners should be speeded up. In his latest report to the UN Security Council on Guinea-Bissau, dated 26 March 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan noted that 47 military persons arrested following an alleged coup plot on 2 December 2001, were being held without trial in various military barracks. On the other hand, the president of the Supreme Court, his deputy and another court official - all of whom were detained after being dismissed by presidential decree on 10 September - were released on bail in February. Opposition politician Fernando Gomes, former president of the Guinea-Bissau Human Rights League, and the league's vice president were released on bail on 8 February, days after being detained on the orders of the government. The government had accused them of embezzling funds the league received from a Dutch foundation. The dialogue also recommended respect for press freedom. Two independent newspapers were forced to close in October 2001, but have since been authorised to resume publishing. The 15-17 April meeting also recommended that a law be passed to punish severely anyone who uses ethnic or religious arguments during election campaigning. Participants in the meeting included representatives of the government, parliament, the judiciary, the military, trade unions and religious bodies. [ The UN Secretary-General's report is available on http://www.un.org ]