U.N. to Impose Sanctions if G. Bissau Civilians Not Restored to Power
The U.N. Security Council on Saturday threatened the African nation of Guinea-Bissau with "targeted sanctions" if the country's military junta did not step down and return civilians to power.
The Council reiterated its "strong condemnation" of the April 12 military coup, and demanded the "immediate restoration of the constitutional order as well as the reinstatement of the legitimate government of Guinea-Bissau."
The Council, in a strongly worded presidential statement, said it "rejects the unconstitutional establishment" of a transitional council by the regime and its supporters.
"The Council stands ready to consider possible future measures, including targeted sanctions against the perpetrators and supporters of the military coup, should the situation remain unresolved," the statement read.
The group also "demands the immediate and unconditional release" of interim president Raimundo Pereira, prime minister Carlos Gomes Junior, "and all officials currently detained."
Those people "responsible for violent an illegal acts must be held accountable," the statement read.
The Guinea-Bissau junta has banned marches and warned of "severe repression" against any demonstration or march came amid growing international pressure on the coup leaders.
The Council said it was "deeply concerned by reports of violent repression of peaceful demonstrations."
It also called on the military "to protect human rights including the rights to freedom of movement, peaceful assembly and expression."
The African Union, which has already condemned the coup as "outrageous," suspended the West African country from the regional group.
The coup aborted a presidential run-off vote set for April 29, an election whose validity was already in doubt after several candidates, including first-round runner-up Kumba Yala, condemned the polls as fraudulent and declared a boycott.
Despite international calls for the run-off to go ahead, the army has dissolved all existing institutions and declared a National Transitional Council together with opposition parties.
The struck a deal with opposition parties for a two-year transition period, defying calls for a return to democracy.
But in an early sign that the international pressure was paying off, junta spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Daba Da Walna told Agence France Presse by phone from Bissau: "It was only a proposal, not an official announcement."
Since 1998, Guinea-Bissau has been through one war, four military coups and the murder of one president and four military chiefs of staff. No president has ever completed a full term in office.
This has allowed cocaine traffickers to exploit the struggling state as a transit point for cocaine being moved from Latin American into Europe.
Source: Agence France Presse
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