CPI/ ICC: LETTER TO Phakiso Mochochoko, ICC'S Head of the Jurisdiction’Complementarity and cooperation Division, by UK IVORIAN COMMUNITY

Le 12 août 2012 par IVOIREBUSINESS - To Mr Phakiso Mochochoko, Head of the Jurisdiction’Complementarity and cooperation Division ICC
Box 19519
2500CM the Hague

Please take note that this letter has also been sent to MEDIAS and UK AUTHORITIES...

Dear Sir,

It is with profound distress that we are writing this letter to you on behalf of the whole UK based Ivorian Community.
We are writing to draw your attention about the fact that the investigation and the seek of peace in the Ivory Coast is not carried out fairly this situation will generate more conflict if details and balances are not kept and taken into account.

However, living in Uk our liaison with our home country remain strong and alive. We are proud to carry our dual heritage.

Our trouble began in 1990 when one political leader in the name of Laurent Gbagbo came back from his exile to defy the all powerful Houphouet-Boigny, the first president of the country, asking him to open Ivory Coast to democracy by allowing more than one political party to run for presidential elections. May we remind you that the country gained its independence in 1960 from the French. From that year, only one party, PDCI, Houphouet-Boigny's party had ruled the country without political opposition for 33 years until he died on power in 1993. Houphouet Boigny had full support from France.

The students we were then saw a role model in Laurent Gbagbo. We followed his vision and supported his actions through demonstrations. Laurent Gbagbo was brandished as a sinner and was beaten before being sent to prison. In that time Ouattara was premier minister of Houphouet Boigny. Our schools and university campuses were invaded by soldiers nightly. We were also savagely beaten by Houphouet-Boigny's soldiers; some of us died. Universities were closed. Some were lucky enough to be able to run away from the country and seek asylum elsewhere. We found refuge in Britain and are more than happy to have done so. We strongly believe that human rights are highly regarded in Britain.

The Prime Minister of Houphouet-Boigny was called Alassane Dramane Ouattara.
In 1993, when Houphouet-Boigny died, Alassane Ouattara tried to impose himself as the new president of the country whilst the constitution stated clearly that it was the president of the national assembly who would take over. Henry Konan Bedie became President of Ivory Coast and forced Alassane Ouattara to a political exile in France. Bedie even tried to arrest Ouattara for imposture. Mr Bedie explained that Ouattara was not ivorian and therefore could not be a candidate for the presidential elections because according to the constitution. It has been proven on several occasions that Alassane Dramane Ouattara had studied in the USA and worked for the International Monetary Fund as a Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) citizen. Ouattara did not run for the 1995 elections.

In December 1999, Mr Bedié's power was overthrown by a coup after several threats and declarations from Ouattara. The most memorable one is "I will hit this moribund power and it will collapse". It happened. Ouattara's hand was seen behind the ever first coup in Ivory Coast which took General Robert Guei to power.

In 2000, General Guei held presidential elections. Ouattara was disqualified to be a candidate. Guei tried to confiscate power by anouncing his own victory. Thousands of Ivoirians took the streets. Guei, the army soldier capitulated to the pressure from the streets and handed the power over to Gbagbo who helped Ouattara to return home from his exile. Gbagbo granted amnesty to all soldiers involved in the 1999 coup and open a forum to reconcile all the Ivoirians, without exception.

In 2001, there was a first coup against Gbagbo's regime which failed. In September 2002, another coup from army soldiers led by Ibrahim Coulibaly and Guillaume Soro failed to overthrow Gbagbo. The soldiers themselves declared that their coup was founded by Alassane Ouattrara. This announcement was done via a video available on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsXI5xrC144). This failed coup divided the country into two parts.

Through several arrangements, pressure from international community and negociations, Gbagbo allowed Ouattra to run for presidential elections in 2010. However, the country was still divided when pressure from France and USA mounted on Gbagbo to hold elections against the constitution rules.The rebellion led by Ouattara in the North of the Ivory Coast was not disarmed by ONUCI despite; this was part of their duty according to some agreement in Ouagadougou front of Blaise compaore President of Burkinafaso. Massive fraud took place in the north.

Thanks God, Gbagbo won cleanly the first round. The second round was more problematic and gave way to a dramatic war. Gbagbo won the second round of the elections. The Constitutional Council validated his victory. He was sworn in. Ouattara claimed that he won the elections as well; He had support from the Intrenational Community led by France.

Gbagbo said to Ouattara ”ok let’s recount the votes to separate us if you think that you won” but that peaceful solution was rejected by Sarkozy , Ouattara and international community.

We knew long ago that, France had been trying for years to get rid of Gbagbo because of his true independence from the former colonial ruler trends and his abilities to express freely his mind with regard to relations between France and Ivory Coast. Gbagbo was against unfair trade practices from the French governement. Gbagbo never respected the "FrançAfrique" rules by which newly elected francophone presidents had to consult French president before forming their cabinets. Gbagbo did it on his merit.

Gbagbo was isolated by Nicholas Sarkozy, a personal friend of Ouattara and witness of Ouattara’s wedding.
Sarkozy, then president of France convinced UNO and French troops to bombard Gbagbo's residence for 12 days which end up capturing Gbagbo in April 11 and he was given to Ouattara militias who ill-treated him. Simon Gbagbo and others ladies were rapped several times in Golf Hotel by Ouattara’s men. Also,Young people supporting Gbagbo were all killed in front of Gbagbo residence by French troop.

During this conflict, all together 3000 thousands are reported to have died during the battle. We must not forget that Ouattara militias killed Gbagbo’s supports in the region Of Duekoue.

Since then, Ouattara is in office. All Gbagbo's cabinet members are held in prison in most horrible conditions and tortured. Some were killed. Half of FPI, Gbagbo's party are in exile in neighbourhood countries. Gbagbo himself was deported to the Hague.

The country is seriously torn and social tensions are vivid. Ethnic and political cleansing is taking place on a daily basis. The most recent attack by Ouattara's tribal militia against a refugee camp in the western part of the country end up with nearly 200 people killed and massacred.

Recently, there was an attack carried out against military base in Akuedo and in the Yopougon which end up killing military members.

Following what proceeds,

We,Ivorians of United Kingdom, via the present letter,
express our shock and disbelief to see the investigation carried out by Mister L. Ocampo end up just to the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo. Today all the rebellion members who carried out killing innocent people since 2002 are free, even they are all promoted by Ouattara in the army and in the society in general.
This is unacceptable. Today Ouattara’s militias are killing civilians; women and children are sadly being murdered on the daily base, this often occurs in the presence of ONUCI and international community. Perhaps the ONUCI is misinformed by the autocratic regime of Ouattara. The ONUCI must take adequate action and deal with this ongoing matter swiftly.

We have always respected and valued ICC commitment to bring justice in the world. However, as you are aware of it, the Ivorian case has not been treated in the most adequate way. Today, Gbagbo Party members are in prison in the Ivory Coast.

We, therefore consider that, in accordance with Mr Ouattara’s style of governance, there is legitimacy to suggest that his regime is utterly autocratic and dictatorial.

• Ouattara is a dictator.
• Ouattara is liar.
• Ouattara is a criminal and his regime fail to bring peace.
• Ouattara's governement is 90% based on tribal affiliations
• Ouattara 's public administration is based on tribal affiliations.
• Ouattara has no respect for human life, therefore there will never be security in the country if fair game is not played.
• Ouattara has no respect for law and order.The IvoyCoast will always be divided if Gbagbo is not free.

Initially, we, UK-based Ivorian Community, do not recognise Ouattara as president of our country. As a result, we consider that if legitimate reconciliation and peace building procedure are to take place, all responsible or relevant parties must be treated alike. That is to say, as Gbagbo, Ouattara and soro Guillaume should be put before the rightful courts of the ICC and judged accordingly. All parties must answer to the court in accordance with their responsibility. In no circumstances must justice be one sided. Justice must be equilibrated. The Ivorian case is simply a victor’s justice.

I am sure it is evident that I have been constantly stressing this point (in this letter). However, I am doing so as it is the sad situation in the Ivory Coast. At present, there is a serious breach of human rights. Killing people has become a simple game carried out by ouattara militias so-called FRCI and DOZO (traditional hunters).
Therefore, we strongly protest against Gbagbo arrest and deportation to Hague.
Our demands are very simple and align with the principles of justice. We ask you to help make happen the arrest of Soro Guillaume, Zakaria Kone, Issiaka Wattara, Ouattara Allasane ect.... All these mentioned individuals are responsible for the brutal killings that occurred in Duokue. If the arrest of these responsible individuals cannot take place, then it is legitimate to ask for the total freedom of his Excellency President Gbagbo Laurent. If reconciliation is to take place, if adequate peace building is to be made, if sustainable peace is to reign in the Ivory Coast, Gbagbo ought to be part of it.

Sincerely yours

CONTRIBUTION OF UK-based Ivorian Community
London

secretary
Leopold Blehiri