Eastern populations living in fear

Under current circumstances, people in both the west and the east of the country were unable to exercise their right to security, Garreton said. This was particularly the case in the east, where there was a climate of fear and a public sentiment of living under foreign occupation, he said. There were eight armies and at least 12 other armed groups active in the country, mostly in the eastern part, Garreton said, adding that people had expressed discontent that western governments and the UN had not used the term “aggression” in referring to the current conflict, he added.

Garreton said he had received good cooperation from the government and the rebels and was able to visit prisons and detention centres on both sides.