Rebels continue carnage in rural Central African Republic

REBELS in the Central African Republic have razed villages, torched homes and murdered civilians across neglected rural areas in rampant violence that began before they seized power in March and still continues, Human Rights Watch said on Friday.

Thousands of fighters from the Seleka rebel coalition, a grouping of five rebel movements led by Michel Djotodia, the country’s interim leader, marched into the capital Bangui on March 24, forcing President François Bozizé to flee.

Whereas reports of continuing human rights violations by Seleka fighters had until now focused on the capital, the Human RightsWatch investigation found that some of the worst abuses were occurring in the isolated countryside.

“Seleka fighters are killing civilians and burning villages to the ground. Some villagers are dying in the bush for lack of assistance,” said Daniel Bekele, the organisation’s Africa director, in a written outline of the abuses. “The world doesn’t seem to notice that the Central African Republic is facing a catastrophic situation.”

Communications Minister Christophe Gazam Betty told Reuters he had not seen the statement and thus could not respond to the allegations.

Human Rights Watch said Noureddine Adam, a Seleka general who is the public security minister in the transitional government, denied that Seleka fighters were responsible for the abuses.

Human Rights Watch documented the destruction of 34 villages and more than 1 000 houses since February in attacks primarily carried out by Seleka fighters, sometimes with the help of armed Mbarara herders. At least 40 civilians have been killed. Seleka forces targeted communities to quell resistance and to pillage, witnesses said.

“When they entered the village, they started chasing us and shot at people inside their homes, or those running towards the bush. Many of the villagers were shot in the back while running,” one witness in the village of Gbade said.

Seleka fighters arrived in Ouin village on May 1, tied five men together and shot them.

“One of [the victims] was not killed on the spot so they cut his throat with a long knife,” a witness said.

Villagers said dozens of civilians, mainly the elderly, infants and the sick, had died in the bush after fleeing the violence.

More than 200 000 Central Africans had fled their homes in the past six months and about 60 000 were suffering from severe food shortages, humani- tarian groups said on Friday.

Foreign peacekeepers are concentrated primarily in the capital, and poor security has limited the movements of aid agencies outside Bangui.

“Before the coup, the humanitarian situation in CAR was already dire. Now it’s even worse. Nations must donate now to help the country get back on its feet,” said Jean-Philippe Marcoux, country director for aid group Mercy Corps. —