[IRP] Tunisia: “Words must become reality, excessive use of force must end” - UN human rights experts

[Momoko Nomura]

Dear all, 
FYI.

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true 

Media centre

Tunisia: ?Words must become reality, excessive use of force must end? - UN 
human rights experts

GENEVA (14 January 2011) ? A group of UN independent human rights experts* 
urged the Tunisian Government to control the use of force against peaceful 
demonstrators, after 21 deaths were officially confirmed over the weekend 
of 8-9 January. Credible human rights organizations have reported a much 
higher number of killings since the beginning of the protests in 
mid-December.
The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, 
Christof Heyns, warned that ?the killing of innocent civilians is a clear 
violation of international law and is totally unacceptable in any 
society.?
The statement made by the President yesterday that security forces should 
not use live ammunitions against demonstrators is an important step, but 
these words must become reality. ?Excessive use of force against 
demonstrators must end,? the human rights experts said. ?We are deeply 
shocked by the excessive use of force, despite the largely peaceful nature 
of the demonstrations against price increases, unemployment, alleged 
corruption and restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms.?
?Security forces should scrupulously comply with international principles 
governing the use of force and firearms,? Mr. Heyns said. ?They should, as 
far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of 
force, and react in proportion to the seriousness of the situation.?
El Hadji Malick Sow, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary 
Detention, called for ?an immediate cessation of all arbitrary arrests? 
and urged the Government ?to follow through with its commitment to release 
all the persons arrested who have peacefully taken part in the 
demonstrations.?
The group of experts expressed particular concern that ?journalists, 
bloggers, political activists and human rights defenders denouncing human 
rights violations in the country and advocating, in particular, for 
freedom of expression have been the subject of widespread arrest, 
intimidation and torture.?
?I deplore the measures taken by the Tunisian authorities to limit media 
coverage of the protests,? stated the Special Rapporteur on freedom of 
opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, including interferences by the 
Tunisian Internet Agency with websites. ?Freedom of expression in Tunisia 
must be fully guaranteed?, he stressed.
Noting the dismissal of the Interior Minister and the Minister of 
Communications, the experts urged the Government to take all necessary 
measures to ensure that any person responsible for any violation relating 
to the protests is brought to justice. The experts suggested the 
establishment of a special commission to conduct transparent, independent 
and prompt investigations into the violence and killings.
Furthermore, the experts called on the Government to adopt all necessary 
measures to prevent the recurrence of these acts and to safeguard and 
guarantee full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of its 
citizens, in particular their right to physical and psychological 
integrity, their freedom of opinion and expression, and their right to 
peaceful assembly.
The experts are closely following the situation in Tunisia, where 
widespread demonstrations have been taking place on a daily basis since 17 
December throughout the country. Over the last few days, violence has 
reportedly escalated since protests have expanded to criticize limitations 
on fundamental rights and freedoms.
The experts note the recent visit of the Special Rapporteur on the 
promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while 
countering terrorism and encourage the Government of Tunisia to continue 
to cooperate with the special procedures mechanisms of the Human Rights 
Council.
(*) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to 
freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Frank La Rue; Special Rapporteur on 
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Mr. Christof Heyns; 
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Ms. 
Margaret Sekaggya; Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary 
Detention, Mr. El Hadji Malick Sow; Special Rapporteur on torture and 
other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Juan 
M?ndez.
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom 
of opinion and expression:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/opinion/index.htm
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/executions/index.htm
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders: 
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/index.htm
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: 
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/detention/index.htm
Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading 
treatment or punishment:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/torture/rapporteur/index.htm
OHCHR Country Page ? Tunisia: 
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/TNIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests, please contact Ms. Momoko Nomura 
(Tel.: +41 22 917 9304 / e-mail:mnomura at ohchr.org) or write to 
freedex at ohchr.org.

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