No longer is Ouattara a victim in the conflict between his party and incumbent presidential candidate Gbagbo, but has begun inflicting extreme violence in an effort to oust Gbagbo. Massacres in the West of the Ivory Coast have left up to 1000 people dead, sparking the UN to call on the warring factions not to attack civilians. Although the UN has removed non-essential staff from regions where they have been targeted, "France has ordered more troops into Ivory Coast to protect civilians as forces backing presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara prepared a "lightning" assault to remove Laurent Gbagbo from power". About 250 children have been displaced and are living in the forests.
At the very least I find it encouraging that the number of French troops will be increased, although UN troops being removed from certain locations is eerily reminiscent of the way violence was allowed to continue in Rwanda right before the infamous genocide. Why is violence labelled as genocide particularly heinous compared to other forms of violence? What makes it more evil and worthy of action or at least horror then the 5 million dead in the Congo? How far does violence need to escalate in the Ivory Coast before intervention is acceptable? And what form does that intervention take?
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/dont-target-civilians-un-tells-ivory-coasts-warring-sides/
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/un-evacuates-staff-after-attacks-in-ivory-coast/
"Supporters of Laurent Gbagbo and presidential rival Alassane Ouattara are trading accusations over the reported deaths of hundreds of civilians in the western Ivoirian town of Duékoué".
ReplyDeletehttp://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportID=92372