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STORY: GENEVA / UGANDA ELECTIONS
TRT: 01:57
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 FEBRUARY 2016, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT
RECENT - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Zoom in, Palais des Nations
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, press conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Cécile Pouilly, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“We are concerned by the tense post-electoral situation in Uganda. We have reports of at least two people killed and an unknown number of people injured, heavy military and police forces deployed in the streets of Kampala, and the arrest of four opposition leaders since Thursday elections.”
3. Wide shot, reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Cécile Pouilly, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Two other presidential candidates have also been reportedly arrested over the last few days. Mr. Mbabazi, from the Go Forward party, has been under house arrest since Saturday, and Mr. Abed Bwanika, President of the People's Development Party, was reportedly intercepted by police on Friday at Mutukula, close to the border with Tanzania, as he was attempting to leave the country with his family. Kampala’s Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, was also arrested on Saturday, as he was talking to the press about Mr. Besigye’s arrest.”
5. Med shot, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Cécile Pouilly, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Right before the election, actually, there was an internet shutdown. WhatsApp and Facebook. There was an internet shutdown, especially for WhatsApp and Facebook, and we had obvious concerns about this shutdown and the possibility for people to exchange news and also we understand that both applications have now been restored. You know, we feel that the rights of the citizens to exchange information have access to information, in this case were seriously hampered.”
7. Various shots, reporters
A spokesperson of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today (23 Feb) expressed concern about the tense post-electoral situation in Uganda following the presidential elections in which President Yoweri Museveni won a fifth term of office.
According to foreign observers, the poll was conducted in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
Cecile Pouilly, OHCHR Spokesperson told reporters today in Geneva that “we are concerned by the tense post-electoral situation in Uganda, with reports of at least two people killed and an unknown number of people injured, heavy military and police forces deployed in the streets of Kampala, and the arrests of four opposition leaders since Thursday’s elections.”
The main opposition leader in Uganda, Kizza Besigye of the FDC (Forum for Democratic Change), has rejected the result of Thursday's elections. He was arrested and released on three different occasions last week and was placed under house on Saturday without charge or judicial order. President Museveni, in power for 30 years, received nearly 61 percent of the votes, with Mr. Besigye taking 35 percent.
OHCHR’s Spokesperson reported further that “two other presidential candidates have also been reportedly arrested over the last few days. Mr. Mbabazi, from the Go Forward party, has been under house arrest since Saturday, and Mr. Abed Bwanika, President of the People's Development Party, was reportedly intercepted by police on Friday at Mutukula, close to the border with Tanzania, as he was attempting to leave the country with his family. Kampala’s Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, was also arrested on Saturday, as he was talking to the press about Mr. Besigye’s arrest.”
OHCHR is also concerned about the intimidating display of force used on Friday by Ugandan police and military forces to evacuate the FDC headquarters in Kampala, with tear gas and life ammunition reportedly used. According to OHCHR, journalists were harassed and intimidated by security forces. The freedom of information, a fundamental human right recognized in international law, was limited to the Ugandan population.
Cecile Pouilly said that “right before the election, actually, there was an internet shut down. WhatsApp and Facebook. There was an internet shut down especially for WhatsApp and Facebook. And we had obvious concerns about these shut downs and possibility for people to exchange news and also we understand that both applications have been restored. And you know, we feel that the rights to the citizens to exchange information, have access to information, in this case, was seriously hampered.”
OHCHR reminds the Government of Uganda of its obligations under international human rights law not to unduly restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Anyone who is arrested shall be informed of the reasons for the arrest and shall be promptly informed of any changes against him or her.
