Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bissau (Fides Service)- A local observer in Bissau capital of Guinea Bissau has accused the Party for Social Renewal PSR of former president Kumba Yala of “schizophrenic behaviour.” Kumba Jala came third in presidential elections on 19 June and is therefore excluded from the second round of elections in three weeks time when there will be a runoff between Malam Bacai Sanha and Joao Bernardo Vieira, (see Fides 23 June 2005).
“It would seem that representatives of Kumba Yala’s party who are part of the independent electoral commission did not protest when the commission declared Malam Bacai Sanha and Joao Bernardo Vieira the winners” the source told Fides. “However shortly afterwards PSR supporters filled the streets announcing Kumba Yala the winner”. Kumba Yala himself also said he won the first round with 38% of the votes.
In Bissau at least 4 people were killed in clashes between the demonstrators and the police. The protesters were actually only about a hundred. But the police, insufficient to check the protest and carrying only firearms instead of truncheons or other non lethal weapons, opened fire killing several people” the source told Fides.
“The problem is that many of the police are old members trained by communist Czechoslovakia. They were not trained to deal with protests by the opposition. They were told in the Soviet manner that the only way to stop a protest is to shoot to kill” the source told Fides. “The country needs help from the West to train security forces according to modern criteria fitting for a democratic state. The country also needs more modern means for a speedy counting of votes. When results are announced after a ten day delay people begin to wonder about fraud although probably it was only a question of insufficient structures to count and check the ballots”.
“These recent events highlight once again the ethnic divisions in the country” the source told Fides. “In fact when I asked Balante people, the same ethnic group as Kumba Yala, about the second round they say that since he has been excluded they are uncertain about whom they should vote. The people here have still to acquire a sense of belonging to a nation and continue to see only divisions between different ethnic groups”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/6/2005 righe 36 parole 462)
