March, 22 2012, 03:20pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
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Mali: Coup Heralds Period of Uncertainty on Human Rights
Leaders of the military coup against President Amadou Toumani Toure's Mali government must release the prime minister and other politicians from custody and take steps to protect human rights, Amnesty International said today.
At least three members of the government including the prime minister, Cisse Mariam Kaidama Sidibe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, and the Minister of the Territorial administration, Kafougouna Kone, were arrested on Thursday.
WASHINGTON
Leaders of the military coup against President Amadou Toumani Toure's Mali government must release the prime minister and other politicians from custody and take steps to protect human rights, Amnesty International said today.
At least three members of the government including the prime minister, Cisse Mariam Kaidama Sidibe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, and the Minister of the Territorial administration, Kafougouna Kone, were arrested on Thursday.
It is thought they are being held at the military camp in Kati 20 km from the capital Bamako.
The president of the Economic and Social Council and the president of the High Council on Territorial Communities plus former prime minister, Modibo Sidibe, have also been arrested and are reportedly being held at the national police camp (camp de la police nationale).
As the country plunged into a period danger and uncertainty, Amnesty International's researcher on West Africa Gaetan Mootoo said: "With the suspension of all the legal institutions and the curfew that has been imposed, all the basic safeguards for the respect of human rights have been put on hold."
Three people were killed by stray bullets fired by soldiers in the centre of Bamako and their bodies were taken to Gabriel Toure hospital where 28 people injured during the coup are also being treated.
Shops have been looted and vehicles have been seized by soldiers throughout Thursday.
The coup comes against the backdrop of a two month rebellion by Tuareg armed groups in the north of the country.
Since the outbreak of this conflict, some 200,000 people have fled their homes, including approximately 100,000 who found refuge in neighbouring countries including Niger, Algeria, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.
"We call on the soldiers who have staged this coup to release immediately the political leaders and to prevent any violation of human rights and to restore the rule of law", said Gaetan Mootoo.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
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