Proposed government must respect human rights - Amnesty International

Somalia's proposed transitional government must be committed to respecting human rights, ending abuses and bringing to book perpetrators of past crimes in a country wracked by factional warfare for more than a decade, Amnesty International (AI) said on Wednesday.

The human rights watchdog's appeal came as the Somali National Reconciliation Conference drew close to creating a transitional federal government that is expected to end 13 years of anarchy and violence that have plagued Somalia since the collapse of the regime of former president Mohamed Siyad Barre in 1991.

The peace and reconciliation conference being held near the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, had entered the final phase of discussions on the formation of an all-inclusive Transitional National Assembly (TNA), which would elect a president, who would in turn appoint a prime minister to form a government.

The delegates at the peace talks, who included various political groups and faction leaders, were expected to select members of the TNA.

"A new government will be under obligation to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international and regional human rights treaties and conventions, particularly those signed by previous governments of Somalia," AI said in a statement.

"Somalia’s new government must be committed to human rights and make a clean break with the gross abuses of the past 30 years, even though some of the perpetrators are still dominating the power-sharing. New human rights abuses must not be tolerated and those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in the past, must be held accountable," it added.

AI appealed to the international community to give "firm and generous support" for human rights and reconstruction in Somalia. It called for the appointment of a United Nations human rights adviser for the country.

"A UN human rights adviser for Somalia is urgently needed. Measures should be taken to implement the frequently violated UN arms embargo and disband faction militias. Child soldiers should be demobilised and rehabilitated," said AI.

It called for the creation of safe conditions in Somalia before the return of refugees who fled the insecurity that followed the collapse of the state.

"Conditions for safe return and sustainable livelihood for refugees will require major improvements in security, safe humanitarian access and substantial post-conflict reconstruction," it said.

"There must now be a clear end to the arbitrary killings of civilians, kidnappings, rape and looting, which are still being carried out with total impunity by faction militias and gunmen. The resumption of statehood must guarantee human rights and personal security for all citizens, as they regain a recognised citizenship and return from isolation to the world community of nations," it added.

It said that those entrusted with the responsibilities of government in the transitional period should make it clear that they intended to promote and protect human rights. "New conflicts between local communities, clans or regions must be prevented. New violence and abuses must not be tolerated," said AI.