November 06, 2008

            The Center for War/Peace Studies† once again asks the international public to address the Ivory Coast authorities for the release of the Ivorian peace campaigner Mr. Modeste Seri.  He is being held prisoner since January at the MACA prison in Abidjan with no charges proffered and without any trial scheduled. Mr. Seri is a hostage of the Ivorian authorities for having dared to publicly criticize the poor governance of his country. The MACA prison establishment is notorious for its unhealthy, overcrowded and substandard conditions. Mr. Seri’s case exemplifies the violation of human rights currently practiced by the Ivorian regime as well and the arbitrariness of the country’s judiciary system. 

            Modeste Seri has been an irritant of the regime over the past years by daring to point out corruption and mismanagement. He has also repeatedly questioned its commitment to hold free and fair elections. The postponed election date previously set for November 30, once again confirms M. Seri’s view –shared by many-  that the present government has no real intention to submit its legitimacy to the scrutiny of the ballot box; all the more so because very little has happened in the meantime to address the fundamental grievances that produced the 2002 Ivory Coast rebellion. Given the present tensions it is unclear whether genuine peace can be achieved even if the elections finally do take place. However a sham electoral procedure will surely result in new disorders.  

            In past statements Mr. Seri has frequently expressed the opinion (see www.cwps.org ) that the country’s current political class has failed. He sees the road towards peace in the Ivory Coast as having to pass through a transition period guided by a team of competent and honest technocrats. Once the degradation of state institutions, the economy, and civic modes of governing has been reversed, meaningful elections capable of ushering in a period of stability and genuine peace should be possible; certainly not before!

            It is high time that the Ivory Coast authorities stop violating the human rights of those who dare to call for urgently needed changes. Modeste Seri together with so many others unjustly detained in the country must be released without delay. The CW/PS calls for the support of human rights defenders abroad to help us carry this message to the present authorities.

Please sign our petition online at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/release-modeste

Background Mr. Seri has been in detention since January 18, 2008. He was falsely accused of being involved in an alleged December 2007 coup attempt. M. Seri voluntarily went to the DST security police to deny that he was connected with this affair and to clarify why he happened to appear in an internet video which shows him at a meeting in the presence of the alleged coup mastermind. Mr. Seri explained that his own presence at that same meeting was fully justified in the context of his work for peace, which calls for him to contact and mediate between the major actors of the current crisis. After having been held 12 days incommunicado by the DST while his home was searched without turning up any incriminating evidence, M. Seri was put into preventative detention and transferred to the MACA prison where he is still being held hostage.