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STORY: GENEVA / CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC VIOLENCE
TRT: 1:59
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 16 MAY 2017 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, Press Briefing Room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ ad Al Hussein is gravely alarmed over the expanding attacks by armed groups against the civilian population in several parts of the Central African Republic in recent months as well as attacks against UN Peacekeepers in the southeast of the country. The High Commissioner is particularly disturbed by the increase in targeted killings of civilians since the fighting between rival groups began in November 2016.”
4. Close up, journalist
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The resurgence of violence has also had a serious and direct impact on humanitarian actors. In just the first quarter of this year we have seen more than 45 incidence targeting humanitarians, making the Central African Republic one of the highest risk countries for humanitarian aid where as half of the population of the country is in fact dependent on humanitarian aid.”
6. Wide Shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“There is an ethnic dimension to this as well. Fulanis have been attacked on the basis of their ethnicity not on the basis of their religion so you’ve got the religious elements, you’ve got the ethnic elements and you’ve also got the economic elements clearly there is a lot of economic depravation.”
8. Close up, journalist
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The Special Court, yes it is preparing to start its work. The government of the Central African Republic has been very cooperative in the establishment and taking forward the reforms and the justice processes. Now I am sure you understand that the country is still in quite a difficult circumstance it’s still, the situation is very volatile. There is a lack of police presence in many parts of the country as well as the lack of military presence and that is why you see these pockets of violence erupting in areas where previously there was no violence, it is because there is a vacuum there.”
10. Close up, journalist
11. Med shot, journalist
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed alarm over the continued violence in parts of the Central African Republic as well as attacks against UN Peacekeepers, according to his spokesperson.
Speaking to media today (16 May) in Geneva, Shamdasani said “the High Commissioner is particularly disturbed by the increased in targeted killings of civilians since the fighting between rival groups began in November 2016.”
Recent reports by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicate that armed men used heavy weapons to attack the UN mission in CAR (MINUSCA). Investigations by MINUSCA’s Human Rights Division suggest that between March and May 2017 more than 121 civilians were killed, as well as six peacekeepers.
During the press conference, Shamdasani mentioned that the on-going violence is not only religiously motivated. She said, “There is an ethnic dimension to this as well,” adding that “Fulanis have been attacked on the basis of their ethnicity not on the basis of their religion so you’ve got the religious elements, you’ve got the ethnic elements and you’ve also got the economic elements.”
The High Commissioner strongly condemned the acts of violence and human rights abuses, including the killing of international peacekeepers. He called on the leaders of armed groups to cooperate with MINUSCA and Government authorities to bring to justice those of their fighters who have been involved in human rights violations and abuses.
Shamdasani said, “The Special Court, yes it is preparing to start its work, the Government of the Central African Republic has been very cooperative in the establishment and taking forward the reforms and the justice processes.”
The High Commissioner also noted the fact that the Special Criminal Court is preparing to start its work is a strong signal by the authorities and the international community that the continued climate of impunity is unacceptable.
