UN condemns crackdown on unarmed Egyptian protestors
Geneva, 20 Dec – (ANA) - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has condemned the brutal suppression of demonstrations by military and security forces which left at least 11 people dead and over 500 injured in the Tahrir Square of the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
“The graphic images of protesters, including women, being brutally clubbed and assaulted, long after the point when they are showing any resistance, are utterly shocking,” Pillay said. “People lying motionless on the ground are shown on film being smashed on the head and body with sticks. These are life-threatening and inhuman acts that cannot possibly be justified under the guise of restoration of security or crowd control.”
Pillay recalled that less than a month ago she had already deplored the use of excessive force, including live ammunition, by security and military forces against peaceful protestors, which by 23 November had reportedly resulted in the death of some 30 protestors.
“Some of those who were filmed this weekend, including those viciously clubbing and kicking an apparently unconscious half-naked woman, should be easy to identify. Consequently, there must be arrests and prosecutions,” the High Commissioner said. “It seems that Egyptian security forces, and their political and military commanders, have learned nothing over the past year, including the fact that actions like these simply fuel further anger and protests and make a resolution of Egypt’s political, social and economic problems more difficult to achieve.”
The High Commissioner once again called for an impartial and independent investigation into all instances of abuse and violent repression against protestors that have occurred in recent months, including killings, torture and the use of excessive force by security and military forces. She emphasized that the violence must stop, that such acts cannot remain unpunished and that those responsible, no matter what their rank or function, must be brought to justice. (ANA)
FA/ANA/20 December 2011-------