The investigation into the violence that bloodied Chad on Thursday October 20 continues in Chad after the opposition demonstration. In addition to the dead and injured, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) warns of what it describes as ” deportation to the north of the country, for an unknown destination, of several hundred people arrested.
The dozens of people arrested after last Thursday’s banned protests could they have been taken to the prison of Koro Toro? This is the question posed by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), which warns of what it describes as “ deportations “. ” We are overwhelmed by the testimonies of parents at the level of Moussoro [une ville située sur la route entre Ndjamena et Koro Toro, ndlr]. They saw several vehicles carrying between 500 and 1 000 people being deported to an unknown destination in violation of all national and international rights ratified by Chad. Have we become a rogue state? », asks the representative of the NGO Dobian Assingar, who is asking the international community to act quickly, at the microphone of our correspondent in Ndjamena, Madjiasra Nako.
For him, measures are necessary so that the situation does not degenerate. The FIDH representative calls for a national and international leap forward: ” We call on the international community to take seriously what is happening in the country. The authorities, the government, the President of the Transition, the Prime Minister of the Transition, everyone must fully play their role as true leaders, because tomorrow, if things go wrong, they will find themselves before international justice. »
The Chadian Minister of Communication and government spokesman, Aziz Mahamat Saleh confirms that “ Several dozens of arrests took place, without giving the exact number. On the other hand, he denies that these people arrested were sent to the prison of Koro Toro (center-north).
” We come out of a dialogue where the question of justice was at the heart of the debaterecalls the Minister. We have a Keeper of the Seals who is also an opposition minister from the old regime and I don’t think this is the time to indulge in practices from another age. For the moment, it is necessary to locate the responsibilities, to make targeted arrests according to those who have committed acts and to make them available to justice. “.
An unprecedented repression
On Thursday, the demonstrators intended to challenge the two-year extension of the political transition period and the maintenance in power of Mahamat Idriss Déby, the son of the former president. The toll of the repression is estimated at around fifty dead, especially in Ndjamena, Moundou and Koumra, and around 300 injured, according to the new head of government, Saleh Kebzabo.
” This is one of the worst repressions we have witnessed for many years in French-speaking Africa. We can talk about massacrevalued Laurent Duarte, executive secretary of the NGO Tournons la page. »
In a statement titled “ Black Thursday in Chad: carnage, kidnappings and arrests », the Chadian Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (ATPDH) denounces the repression organized by the security and defense forces. Its vice-president Lazare Djekourninga announces the opening of consultations with victims to document the crimes committed last Thursday with a view to an international complaint.
For Laurent Duarte, the violence of the repression illustrates the deep nature of the regime, despite the so-called “inclusive” national dialogue. ” For us, there has been no real progress. Idriss Déby senior was already doing the same thing, that is to say that each time there were political tensions, we organized major dialogues which made it possible to co-opt, to buy off part of the opposition and to give a democratic veneerhe points out. Today, it is very clear, the best way to stay in power in Chad is to shoot opponents. »
The President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Angolan Gilberto da Piedade Verissimo began a mission to assess the situation in Ndjamena on Saturday. In particular, he visited some sites affected by the demonstrations and met Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo. At the end of the mission, Gilberto da Piedade Verissimo will prepare a report which will be submitted to the 2nd extraordinary session of ECCAS Heads of State scheduled for Tuesday, October 25 in Kinshasa in the DRC.
Shots of ” people in civilian clothes »
Regarding the violence, the Chadian Minister of Communication confirms the information according to which “ people in civilian clothes would have descended from vehicles, before opening fire on the crowd during the demonstrations. ” You have people in civilian clothes who have been filmed. Services are in the process of making all the regroupings in order to be able to make the arrestssays Aziz Mahamat Saleh. There really were deliberate attacks and it was insurrectionary. The objective was to seize power by all means, absolutely wanting there to be blood. »
The minister accuses the opponent Succès Masra, president of the Les Transformateurs party of having called for taking up arms. Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo had already questioned Success Masra as well as another opponent Yaya Dillo.
But the Chadian Minister of Communication and spokesperson for the government does not exclude the possibility of the involvement of supporters of the regime in these deadly shootings. The Minister specifies that among the fifty victims identified, “ no less than fifteen of members of the security forces were assassinated while trying to defend the places where they were on duty.
►Also listen: International Guest – Deadly demonstrations in Chad: “ The heart of power has not been questioned » through dialogue