30 September 2009
Dakar — Guinean soldiers have been looting shops, breaking into homes and firing indiscriminately at people who ventured onto the streets of the capital Conakry, residents say, one day after scores were killed and hundreds injured in a military crackdown on a demonstration on 28 September.
"They are going around sowing terror," Lamine*, a resident of the Cosa neighbourhood, told IRIN. "This is clearly their intention - to terrorize the people."
He said he saw two young men shot dead when soldiers opened fire in Cosa on 29 September. The streets of Conakry were mostly deserted except for groups of police and military, residents said.
Several residents of Conakry told IRIN they saw soldiers breaking into shops and forcing their way into homes, stealing money, mobile phones and other belongings.
Most people IRIN spoke with were holed up in their homes, not daring to go out. "We are hostages of this military," one said. "There is absolutely nothing we can do."
Following the violent military crackdown on a 28 September demonstration against the candidacy of junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara, in which an estimated 157 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured, Camara told the media some elements of the army were "out of control".
On 29 September Camara called for two days of national mourning.
Shops closed
Shops, markets and most petrol stations remained closed the morning of 30 September. "People are just too afraid to open their businesses," Lamine said.
In many cases, he said, men instead of women - who usually do the food shopping - went in search of condiments and whatever they could find for the daily meal.
Guineans are among the poorest people in the world and most do not have the means to buy food for more than one day at a time.
"If this continues we will see people going hungry," Lamine told IRIN.
Petrol, usually about 4,500 Guinean francs (90 US cents) per litre, is being sold by youths on the street for 8,000-15,000 Gf, a local chauffeur told IRIN.
"Save us"
The international community has denounced the violent crackdown on the 28 September demonstration. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commission said on 29 September it "strongly condemns" the repression.
"I do not want to hear the international community simply spouting words like 'we condemn'," Conakry youth Amadou* told IRIN. "They must act. They must do something. Save us."
He said he wanted to see "a total embargo" imposed on Guinea and perpetrators of the violence brought to justice.
"If there is not an international arrest warrant put out on them they will kill all Guineans."
On 29 September Guinean Interior and Political Affairs Minister Frédéric Kolié said in a statement that 57 people had lost their lives on 28 September - 53 due to asphyxiation in a stampede and "four by stray bullets".
(*Not his real name)
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
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This is Guinea's Tiananmen Square and the world needs to STOP ignoring this situation and take the side of the Guinean people!!! Where is the international community? Why are only donors and other NGOs standing up!?!? Innocent people peacefully demonstrating for their rights to a democratic process...can the US get its troops over there and walk its talk?! Same for the UN and the EU...c'mon people, move into action and stand up for Guinea's future, freedom from violence, tyranny and oppression.
This is Guinea's Tiananmen Square!!!...everybody needs to stand up and support the people of Guinea, bring in troops, demand the junta to step down, charge them for war crimes and the UN-EU-UN must do everything they can to restore peace and a democratic process, or will they just relegate the conflict to ongoing tribal warfare that can't be solved without more useless development aid?
Obviously Camara has lost control over his military units. It is time for U.N to move in to prevent another west african tragedy.
The Captain "messiah" has shown his true COLORS OK ! Quick Brain Storm ! What if there were 10 protesters to each Soldier? What if the protesters were not being sponsored, Just wanted true representation! What if the protesters were unrelenting and continued for days and weeks and months? What if Capt Camara,s (Messiah) henchmen continued killing, BUT THE PROTEST CONTINUED ? Apply questions 1 2,3 and 4 to Gabon ! Apply Questions 1,2,3 and 4 to Equatorial Guinea ! I like questions 3, but I now imagine, if the protests had no Ethnic connotations? If question 3 had no Tribal connotations? Ok, what if the Middle and Upper class of Guinea joined the protests? What if, the killings still continued and Capt Camara stayed in Office? What if, as a means of last resort, the protesters stormed all Government Offices? What if, the soldiers fired, but the protesters continued? TIRED of what ifs?--->Not really ? Ok, then, what if the people of Guinea finally decided their own destiny, all by themselves, devoid of class, devoid of ethnic divisions, devoid of tribal identities, devoid of anarchy, shall I continue? Would that be the true emancipation? Fantasy Land, you say? The sad fact is, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT!
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