Guinea offers probe into protester deaths
Guinea鈥檚 military junta said it will launch an investigation into the deaths on Monday of 157 democracy protesters.
Anger and international criticism have simmered since soldiers opened fire on 50,000 demonstrators who gathered to protest military rule. The African Union, the European Union, and the United Nations have condemned the violence, while the United States harshly criticized what it called the government鈥檚 鈥漛razen鈥� use of force.
The government has since apologized for the deaths, saying they were an accident. But it has also banned any further 鈥渟ubversive鈥� activities and threatened the opposition with punishment.
Monday鈥檚 protests were a long-simmering backlash against Guinea鈥檚 military government, explains the 海角大神 Science Monitor:
The military junta of Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was originally welcomed by the public when it came to power in a bloodless coup on Dec. 23. 2008, following the death of then-president Lansana Conte.
But Mr. Camara's junta has faced increasing pressure from within the country 鈥� and from Western donor nations and from the African Union 鈥� as it has refused to step down. Just last week, the AU threatened possible sanctions against Guinea.
The opposition was galvanized after rumors surfaced last month that, instead of stepping down, Camara would run in presidential elections scheduled for January. Camara has said that he's yet if he will run, reports the BBC.
Since the incident, human rights groups have continued to report more casualties and crimes, saying that as many as 1,000 people were wounded and dozens of women raped. On Tuesday, soldiers were said to have of the opposition, killing many, according to The New York Times.
With tensions running high, Camara appeared on state television last night, promising to open an official inquiry into the violence. He earlier told Radio France Internationale, "Frankly it saddens me immensely. Frankly, it is very regrettable,鈥� according to the BBC, but he also tried to deflect responsibility, saying, 鈥淲e鈥檙e talking here about an uncontrolled movement. Even the chief of state can鈥檛 control this movement,鈥� quotes the New York Times.
Despite his conciliatory tone, Camara also had for any would-be protesters, saying they would be punished. He also accused protesters of looting a police station in the capital Conakry, according to Reuters.
Despite the warning, Guinea鈥檚 opposition has protesting, the BBC adds, quoting Alpha Conde, head of the Rally of the People of Guinea party, as saying:
鈥淲e want free and democratic elections, but considering what happened yesterday, we now want the government to go and for it to be replaced by a national government that can organise elections."
