3 months ago, on October 20, an opposition demonstration, banned by the authorities, was violently repressed. The same evening, the transitional authorities announced a balance sheet of “50 dead and nearly 300 injured”. The main opponent Succès Masra, who has since been in exile, spoke of a much higher toll: nearly 200 dead. Since then, while various commissions of inquiry, international and local, are in progress, the power and the opposition refer the responsibility for the events. –
On the evening of October 20, Saleh Kebzabo mentioned: “ Masra’s thirst for power “, origin according to the Prime Minister of this attempted popular armed insurrection”. Gone since in exile, Succès Masra believes that the transitional authorities are no longer legitimate. ” They lost their soul by mass murdering people. Only the United Nations can ultimately get involved for a post-crisis agreement, which will allow us to reverse the commitments that the junta has not respected. »
Minister of Reconciliation, Abderaman Koulamallah considers on the contrary that the State has nothing to hide and that the authorities have no responsibility in the violence of October 20. “ I don’t have to comment on the rantings of someone who has absolutely nothing to say about these events which remain painful events. But whose responsibility the government is absolutely not engaged. »
Last November, the authorities accepted the establishment of a international commission of inquiry. Commission headed by the Economic Commission of Central African States and the transitional power. For the Minister of Reconciliation, this commission, which is continuing its work, is a good initiative. ” This commission did a good job, it received everyone. We are impatiently awaiting its conclusions and we are absolutely confident about the outcome of these conclusions. »
Many diplomats stationed in Ndjamena wonder about the will of this commission to succeed. In November Succès Masra, the president of the Transformers party who had called for demonstrations despite the ban, asked French lawyer Maitre Vincent Brengarth to report to the ICC.
“ For acts likely to qualify as a crime against humanity. From the moment we reach this intensity of evidence, we really do not see the reasons why the International Court could refuse to initiate an investigation in view of the gravity of the facts. »
The International Commission of Inquiry has given no date to present its report. The ICC has not yet responded to lawyers for Success Masra. Critical with the authorities as with the opposition, Mahamat Nour Ibedou, president of the human rights commission, believes that the two parties have their share of responsibility. ” We only work on what we have managed to confirm, because the government tends to minimize, and on the other side, we tend to maximize, you know. »
The Human Rights Commission also announces the publication of a report on the events of October 20 within 15 days.