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Violent clashes erupt in Nouakchott
[Maghrebia] Mauritanian police clashed with protestors demanding political, economic and social reforms on Tuesday (March 8th) in Bloc Square at the centre of Nouakchott. The demonstration, which was organised by the February 25th Youth Co-ordination group, left at least 18 people hospitalised."As young people, we have organised three festivals in Bloc Square, which we have chosen to be the starting point for the movement of youth calling for immediate political, economic and social reforms," youth activist Mohamed Ould Ahmed told Magharebia. "We have noticed that many young people joined us. And we have decided to demonstrate on every Tuesday and Friday of each week. The regime noticed that our number is increasing day after day, which led them to use force against us," he said. Ould Ahmed said he was injured in his leg and face after "police attacked the young people with unseen brutality and we could not believe what happened." Several people were nabbed. He told Magharebia: "They were hitting us directly with tear gas bombs and beating us with sticks in the sensitive parts of our bodies. They hit me personally on the head and beat me till I almost lost consciousness." "The police should know that their crimes against the peaceful demonstrators have been recorded and will soon be published on Facebook to be viewed by the national and international public," the activist added. "The protest will continue until the demands of the youth are met," Ould Ahmed concluded. The protests organisers issued a statement saying they were shocked at the "brutality" of the police action against what they described as "peaceful demonstrators", adding that they sought reform and an end to corruption. Mauritanian writer and academic Beddi Ould Ebnou said he was disappointed by the reaction of the security forces. "The role of the police and security services by principle is to protect the citizens and the public and private properties and to ensure the rights of citizens including their rights to peaceful protests," Ould Ebnou said. He added, "These young people are the hope, and any attack on them is an attack on hope, and any injustice to their rights to peaceful protests is a betrayal and treason of the social contract which is protected by the constitution and the law articles." Meanwhile, ...back at the laboratory... the National Rally for Reform and Development condemned what they called "the repression and detention of young people and preventing them from the constitutional right to protest". The party called on authorities "to listen to the legitimate demands for freedom, reform and the decent life", and emphasised "the need to start serious national dialogue and adopt the necessary reforms before it is too late". Mauritania's largest opposition party, the Rally of Democratic Forces, also condemned the police crackdown, describing it as "unjustified oppression and outrageous violence against freedoms". The party warned of "the consequences of violence, which only brings violence". Posted by: Fred 2011-03-12 |
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