Kenya:'Another bloodbath is not inevitable' during referendum, says Amnesty
With tensions running high ahead of the 4 August poll across Kenya, Amnesty International is urging the country’s politicians not to stir up ethnic hatred or violence during Kenya’s key referendum on a new constitution.
Amnesty International’s Kenya Director, Justus Nyang’aya said:
“Another bloodbath is not inevitable so long as Kenyan politicians act responsibly, do not stoke ethnic tensions, and avoid making statements that may be construed as advocating ethnic hatred or incitement to violence.
“The referendum also provides an opportunity for Kenya’s security forces to show that they are capable of carrying out their professional duties in line with international human rights standards, particularly at such a moment of heightened political tension.”
During the 2007 election some Kenyan police and security agents used excessive force, including the firing of live ammunition into crowds, to quell violence and mass protests.
As part of the power sharing deal that ended the deadly wave of violence following the disputed Presidential elections in 2007, it was agreed that a new constitution would be drafted.
If passed, the new constitution will, among other things, introduce checks to the President’s power and ensure greater regional devolution.
Despite repeated calls by human rights organisations ahead of the referendum that politicians moderate their language, concerns remain that hate speech has already created divisions in parts of the country that could lead to violence.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has captured various politicians on film using hate speech in their campaign rallies between May and July 2010. An MP from the Rift Valley was reportedly arrested by police and detained for one night, on allegations of circulating leaflets warning some people to leave his constituency.
Justus Nyang’aya said:
“Kenyans have a responsibility to desist from acts of violence and the use of hate speech. Unless the perpetrators of human rights violations and crimes are held to account, then such violations and crimes will continue to be perpetrated. By failing to punish the perpetrators of violations and crimes committed during the post-election violence, the government of Kenya is giving a green light for further violence.”
Amnesty International is also concerned about the failure of the Kenyan government to address impunity for human rights violations and crimes committed during the post-election violence in 2007 and 2008, including by individuals, armed groups and security personnel and police.
Kenya’s most recent elections in December 2007 led to a wave of violence and associated police killings in which over 1,000 people lost their lives. The United Nations estimated that over 500,000 people were displaced from their homes.