Central African Republic / Human Rights: “we know of actual cases of atrocity and killings, first by the seleka and now by the anti balaka”, Navi Pillay said

BANGUI, Central African Republic, March 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Navi Pillay, arrived in the Central African Republic on 18 March, for a three day visit, to discuss the dire human rights situation there with the interim Government and key international institutions and peace-keeping forces.

“We all feel that the situation is urgent and we want to act collectively and individually to do the best we can to find solutions to the crisis here. I watched out for Human rights violation and also for humanitarian needs as well,” she said.

“My team has gone around the country, so we know of actual cases of atrocity and killings, first by the Ex-seleka and now by the anti balaka, and we recorded them and submit the report to the Human Rights Council, and of course, I’m deeply concerned about the interreligious thrive, I’m very concerned about the incited language, hateful language, language such as we have to cleanse the place, we have to clear out all the Muslims because this kind of incitation could lead to greater conflict”, she added.

“So I’m here to offer my call and also to add my voice to the call for resources for the UN Country Team, for Misca, and for the people of the Central African Republic. As the Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mrs. Valerie Amos, said, donations are not coming in, in the way we’ve asked for, and it is crucially urgent that some of us also add their voices to that call to make these governments to donate funds urgently to the CAR”, she concluded.

In the CAR, Mrs Pillay will meet with the Head of State of the Transition, Catherine Samba-Panza, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Justice and Communication and Reconciliation. Her agenda also includes meetings with representatives of the African Union, Economic Community of Central African States and European Union. She will also hold discussions with the Ambassador of France, the Representative of the President of the Commission of the African Union and Head of the African Union peace-keeping force MISCA, as well as with the Force Commanders of both MISCA and Sangaris. In addition, the High Commissioner will visit sites of destruction and displacement, and meet some of the approximately 650,000 internally displaced people in CAR.

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