PRESIDENTIAL MALI: Mali: IBK named the winner of the presidential election by his rival Soumaila Cisse

 

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, known as IBK, should soon be officially proclaimed president of Mali after being congratulated by his opponent, Soumaila Cisse, who recognized Monday, August 12 defeat after the second round of the presidential election. "My family and I went to Mr. Keita, future president of Mali, congratulate him on his victory. God bless Mali ", wrote Monday unsuccessful candidate on his Twitter account.

Soumaila Cisse made the announcement even before the publication of the results of the second round. The former Minister of Finance decided to concede defeat when it became clear qu'IBK was head Gao even the most largest city in the north of Mali. Estimates for two-thirds of the ballots gave, indeed, a very large advance IBK.

After the first round of 28 July, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had obtained 39.79% of the vote against 19.70% for his rival, and went heavily favored in the second round. He had obtained the rallying 22 25 candidates eliminated.

A daunting task for the winner

Despite some marginal irregularities, Malian and international observers praised the conduct of the election. "This election, in terms of democratic norms, is a follow one another s ", told Louis Michel, head of the observation mission of the European Union. "This is an election that now allows Mali to start the conclusion of an ongoing process: the return to a normal democracy," he added.

"This was an important step in the transition to Mali to peace and reconciliation, said the Special Representative of the UN, Bert Koenders. There were small imperfections […] but no violence was impressive in a country emerging from conflict only. "

After the victory of IBK will be officially confirmed, the cacique of the Malian political life of 68 years will prioritize to open negotiations with the Tuareg in the north, whose uprising in early 2012 led Mali to the brink of collapse.

The lack of protest from Soumaila Cisse should give the former prime minister the authority to also engage in discussions on the preservation of the unity of Mali, to reform the army and to tackle endemic corruption found in the circles of power. 

This presidential election is expected to close open in March 2012 by a coup of junior officers unhappy with the failure of the then President parenthesis Amadou Toumani Toure, to quell a rebellion Touareg.

The Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), one of three major Islamic groups at work in 2012 in the north of Mali, had threatened to disrupt the dice , bearing the presidential election, but it has not happened while the UN is currently deploying a peacekeeping of 12,600 peacekeepers, known Minusma.

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RAILWAY ACCIDENT: Derailment in Spain: the train driver refuses to answer police

 

Francisco José Garzón Amo, the driver of the train that derailed Wednesday, July 25 at the entrance to the station of Saint-Jacques de Compostela, has not spoken. Placed in custody at the hospital where he was treated for 20 hours on Thursday night, he refused to answer police questions.

Investigators suspect him of having driven too fast: he had himself acknowledged when he radioed the station from his cabin where he got stuck after derailment, having driven 190 km / h instead of 80 km / h at the entrance to the corner before the station, twice the speed limit.

The final toll of this disaster always seems a little fuzzy. During the press conference the head of the police, the number of 78 retrouvésa body was raised, while the official death toll rose to 80 so far dead. Of the 72 bodies identified, there are several foreigners: one French, one Algerian, a Mexican and an American.

52 years old, the prime suspect for 30 years working on the Renfe, the public company of the Spanish railways, and since 2000 as a driver. Friday, many Spanish media showed screen captures his Facebook page, which has since been deleted, where the man boasted of up to 200 km / h.

But human error can not be the only cause. The investigation focuses also on possible gaps in the braking system. As evidenced by a video of webcast Thursday monitoring the train going at breakneck speed in a very dangerous curve. train "braked too late," headlined the Friday newspaper "El Pais".

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Detroit is the largest American city to go bankrupt

 

Last act of the agony of the "Motor City". The city of Detroit, the birthplace of the American automobile industry, declared Thursday, July 18 bankrupt – the largest bankruptcy of a city in the history of the United States . The debt of the largest city in Michigan is estimated at 18.5 billion dollars (14 billion euros)! Governor Snyder has found that there was no other solution.

"I take this difficult decision so that the people of Detroit have access to basic public services and for Detroit to start over on a solid financial foundation that will allow it to grow the future, "said Rick Snyder, Governor of the State of Michigan, in a statement.

Before Detroit, major cities such as New York, Cleveland and Philadelphia found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy, but Detroit is the first American city to officially seek the protection of bankruptcy. 

U.S. President Barack Obama told by a spokesman for the White House that he was following the situation closely. But, unlike what happened with the great crisis of 2008, during which the federal government decided to bail out manufacturers General Motors and Chrysler , with billions of dollars, the president did not promise this time.

Detroit was once synonymous with industrial know-how. The giants of the automobile industry had developed from 1941 to 1945 to produce tanks, planes and ammunition, which had earned the city the nickname "arsenal of democracy" ,. Now synonymous with decline, ruin, crime, the city has seen its population melt gradually from 1.8 million in 1950 to 700,000 today. Now a third of the population lives in poverty and 20% are unemployed.

City destroyed

The loss of manufacturing jobs, the exodus of white residents to the suburbs, which accelerated after the race riots of the 60s, have left the city devastated. Today, Detroit has more than two for active retirees. With a quarter of abandoned buildings in some areas, no other American city has focused more heavily the burden of de-industrialization.

In addition, the city was rocked by corruption scandals over the years. Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit and ex-rising star of the Democratic Party, is in prison after being convicted of several corruption, including rigging bids, then his tenure.

The murder rate is at its highest level in nearly 40 years, only one third of the ambulance fleet was commissioned in the first quarter of 2013, and some 78,000 abandoned buildings in the city created , ent "problems additional public safety and reduce the quality of life in the city," said Michigan Governor in his letter.

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CINEMA: "Hijacking" Somali piracy seen by the Danish Film

 

To make a force of international news, attacks of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean would one day be brought to the big screen. This fall, the United States, is expected "Captain Phillips", a film by Paul Greengrass with Tom Hanks and Catherine Keener in the title roles, which returns to the recent hijacking of a cargo U.S..

Outside Hollywood, Danish cinema has also discussed the issue with "Hijacking", panting and effective thriller Tobias Lindholm who, after receiving a warm welcome at the last Festival Venice, out Wednesday, July 10 in French theaters. 

Far from Hollywood guns

"Hijacking" back on two recently held hostage by Somali pirates on Danish oil and the film could have been lost in the water, sometimes disorders of the film "inspired by facts re , LIVE "in which more than a filmmaker could not avoid the wreck. But control and dexterity with which Tobias Lindholm directs his story – and plans held camera – allow him to avoid the many pitfalls of such .

The main highlight of this deeply human drama is in two characters: on one side, the ragged and bon vivant Mikkel (Pilou Asbaek), chef of the crew forced to play intermediate between pirates and employers, on the other, the austere Peter (Soren Malling), CEO of the Danish owner of the cargo company, which insists on not wanting to negotiate that & rsquo , with the attackers present on the ship. More than a meticulous reconstruction of a news story, "Hijacking" portrays two men brought, despite themselves, to manage an extreme emergency.

In fact, Tobias Lindholm is far from Hollywood guns. Here, no martial music, finely chopped editing, slow motion sequences heroic or breast tears with families of the hostages desperately waiting for news. The storming of the ship, which could ensure a great time sensational, is not even shown on the screen

.

Claustrophobia and intimate violence

The action scenes vitamin content, the Danish filmmaker rather claustrophobic anxiety of the hostages, cloistered in tiny cabins for months and Calvary subdued violence cold negotiations sanitized offices of Danish oil company.

Along the way, the film leaves its protagonists gradually shed their stereotypical traits to be in the public eye. Peter, for example, is not an uncompromising and ruthless boss with fine glasses. It is measured as a man whose sense of responsibility willingly push to pay any ransom to ensure the safe life for its employees.

Similarly, Omar (Abdihakin Asgar), the English spokesman for pirates, is more affable than actually threatening. In fact, Tobias Lindholm is careful to portray the attackers as bloodthirsty villains, and no hesitation to show in one of the few scenes of the film hope , trying to sing "Happy Birthday" with their hostages.

What good, after all?

But taking and well-crafted as it is, "Hijacking" ultimately not escape the question "why bother?" Neither pure entertainment or documentary – despite his relentless accuracy when it comes to restoring the facts – the film was not even the ambition to scrutinize, as brilliantly done Kathryn Bigelow "Zero Dark Thirty" the mecha , mechanisms leading to violence and moral sacrifice. 

In the press release of the film, Tobias Lindholm says "Somalis certainly will not agree with that, but the giant fridges sail off their country and I can understand why starving kids want to take it. Why the international community does it do anything? This is a terribly complicated problem. "

Essentially told the Danish point of view, the movie bears no little interest to the geopolitical issues that can lead to acts of piracy in this region. Film captivating and cleverly staged, "Hijacking" remains in the background, too to the surface to create an entire membership.

"Bloody Sunday" and "United 93", made, them, by Paul Greengrass, also followed this path of realistic reproduction of facts which, in spite of many qualities, let viewers a taste of too little. "Bloody Sunday" came back on the events of 30 January 1972 in Northern Ireland, when 14 protesters were killed by gunfire in the British army while "United 93" told the dice , tournement, September 11, the plane that crashed near Pittsburgh.

Hopefully his "Captain Phillips" fits into the no Kathryn Bigelow, which can not cease to admire the ability to overcome the constraints of strict reconstruction to better probe the complexity of the world.

FRANCE: Estrosi for travelers: "You will go, but before you pay"

 

The UMP mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, interviewed Sunday in issuing the Grand Rendez-vous Europe 1 on Roma and Travellers, called "the mayors of France to re flip "and offered them his" how to ".

"I have not let go of anything," he assured, saying he spoke with people from illegally installed on a plot of his city trip. "I went to see him and I said, 'Well, you'll leave.' The community would have replied 'No, we are here for three weeks and it is we who impose on you, Mr. Mayor, to stay there for three weeks, "says the elected . "'I have other mate and I materai" said he had told them.

Estrosi and list the measures put in place if the travelers do not leave. "I'm going to put cameras everywhere to monitor your every move. We will note those returning, those who leave, how minute, when and what you will do in the city […], "said the member of the Alpes-maritimes, always yielding a conversation which he had with members of the community.

Bill of € 620,000

"I'll take the plates one after the other, I referred a court as a precaution to seize vehicles," he explains the antenna. "You know, these beautiful and big cars with which they derive their beautiful and large caravans for which the French, [they] may take a lifetime to have the same [sic]."

The mayor of Nice then said to have introduced a bill of € 620,000 as a result of damage caused by caravans of "two soccer fields [of the city] in which kids can not play back. " "'Not only will you leave but before leaving, you will pay. And if you do not pay, ok, seizure of vehicles and sell them to repay what Nice and French taxpayers do not have to pay ".

Asked about his vision of travelers, the mayor of Nice simply replied: "When you break somewhere between an offender it is." Words that should not displease the former president Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front, last week – just in Nice – had raised the "pre , presence and stinging odor "of the Roma in the municipality.

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TENNIS: Rafael Nadal's surprise elimination in the first round of Wimbledon

 

Rafael Nadal was eliminated in the first round of Wimbledon by Belgian Steve Darcis, world 135th, author of a huge surprise by winning in straight sets 7-6 (7/4 ), 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 on Monday.

This is the first time in his career that Nadal, winner of the London grass in 2008 and 2010, losing in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Further evidence of the immense sensation that rocked Wimbledon since its opening day, the Spaniard was never inclined Grand Slam against a player ranked as badly as Darcis, 135th in World , 29 years.

Already last year, Nadal had left the tournament early with a defeat in the second round against the Czech Lucas Rosol. 

He suffered martyrdom because of his left knee, which was then forced to leave the circuit for seven months.

Revenue in February, he managed an amazing return by reaching the final of the nine tournaments he has played for seven titles in total, including two weeks ago won at Roland Garros.

But on Monday, knee pain, bandaged as usual, seems to have caught since Nadal became increasingly diminished over the game, though, as usual, n ' did not want to dwell on the subject.

"I do not want to talk about my knee this afternoon. All I could say would sound like an excuse. And I do not want that. This is not a good day to talk about it. This is sport, sometimes you play well, sometimes you play bad today not much has worked for me, "he said, refusing to validate the comparison with the defeat of the last year against Rosol.

"It is difficult to adapt to grass, this is probably the most demanding surface for me. I have not found my rhythm, "he added.

Before the tournament, he spoke without any preparation tournament on grass in the legs, he had confided his fear to find a very challenging area for the joints.

Struggling to his backhand from the start, he had more and more difficult to move stop to see his series of 22 consecutive victories since his dice faced Novak Djokovic in the final of Monte Carlo in mid-April.

Thus Darcis, unlikely hero with his 12 disposals in the first round of a Grand Slam in 18 occasions, created the event on the first day of the short N.1 Wimbledon with an ace on match point.

"Nobody expected my victory today. In agreement Nadal did not play his best tennis and I knew that the first match on grass is always difficult. But this is a great victory for me, "said the Belgian, 44th World in 2008 that had won a match so far at Wimbledon.

"Yes, but I've always played on grass, even if it has not necessarily been the case in this tournament. I had already beaten a Top 10 here on the Central with Berdych last year at the Olympics, "said Darcis.

While the Belgian find Polish Lucasz Kubot in the second round defeat Nadal releases a little the way Roger Federer, placed in the same part of the Spanish table and easy winner Romanian Victor Hanescu of Monday in the opening match on Centre.

AFP

FRANCE: The hidden face of Chinese weddings Tours

 

For over four years, from 2007 to 2011, more than 200 Chinese couples marched in the city of Tours. They came especially from China to symbolically celebrate what they call their "romantic honeymoon". "All Chinese people like the French marriage," showed at the time a bride.

The mayor of Tours Jean Germain, had personally the idea of ​​this operation to develop the economic activities of traders in the town and castles. "The Chinese, they sell us a lot. But we have to sell tourism. And the Loire and the city of Tours, this is very difficult to be relocated, "he explained in 2007.

From marriage to divorce

But the wedding of your dreams quickly turned to divorce. Lise Han, former special assistant to the mayor of Tours, is now suspected of fraud. This young Taiwanese woman was in charge of the entire organization of marriages find couples, to come and settle every detail of the ceremony. The contracts were then transferred to a small business, which it had formerly management, but that it had officially severed all ties to avoid conflict of interest.

Yet in 2011, the newspaper "The Chained Duck" revealed that in reality Lise Han was still a shareholder in this company. She even placed successively her husband and her ex-husband at the head of the structure. For three years, this woman and attributed juicy public contracts with bills sometimes amounting to more than EUR 50 000, were used to fund gala dinners and trips China for city officials.

Time in prison

The former project manager of the Town Hall is now under investigation for fraud, as well as her husband and ex-husband. In recent days, she even sleeps in prison for not paying his bail.

But through his lawyer, Lisa Han pleads good faith and blames the mayor. "I wish the justice go a little faster. Because it's 14 months of preliminary investigation. It is six months of information with judges. And Mayor Jean Germain has never been confronted with my client while it's been six months since I ask, "said Christophe Moysan me.

For his part, the mayor remains silent. He does not give interviews, preferring to reserve his speech to justice. He himself filed a complaint for fraud after the discovery of unjustified double bills. Despite this unflattering interlude, he hopes soon to celebrate the Chinese new marriages.

Focus Christophe DANSETTE Claire DEBUYSER China France City Wedding Tourism

PHOTOGRAPHY: Exhibited in Paris, the pictures of "martyrs" are controversial Palestinian

 

"Martyrs" for some, "terrorists" for others. It is not uncommon to find in the streets and homes of Palestinian Territories pictures of men who carried out attacks against Israel, and who died in a suicide or were killed by the Israeli army. The iconography of a warrior type is explored by Palestinian photographer Ahlam Shibli, who exhibited his work at the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris until September 1. An exhibition that debate.

More than the photographs, it is their legends that are unacceptable to the CRIF [Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France], which protested against a "glorification of terrorism" and notes that "these People are mostly members of the al-Aqsa Brigades, ISSAL-Cardinal-Qassam Brigades and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), considered a terrorist organization by the Council of the Union European ". CRIF is an example of a photograph representing Osama Buchkar, which, according to legend in the exhibition, "engaged in a martyrdom operation in Netanya." "Actually," said CRIF in a statement, "three people were killed and 59 others injured in Netanya" by this individual.

Confrontation scheduled next Sunday

The Israeli Embassy in France, which sent its services to the museum to see the exhibition, explains in turn have "raised disturbing elements" and in the exhibition and "decided to take the authorities to ask for explanations," according to information obtained by FRANCE 24. For its part, the French Ministry of Culture does not want to react at the moment.

The case is amplified by the Israeli press and relayed over the internet, where circulating petitions and appeals gatherings. An appointment is even set next Sunday, June 16 by pro-Israeli movements to express their discontent. In response, pro-Palestinian groups have called for a "get massively on Sunday preferably to see and judge […] in the interest of this achievement, "wrote the Europalestine site last Saturday. The muséea provided a security strengthened. The scenario looks the same as in 2010, when an exhibition at Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris had created great controversy and turned sour. Again, it was a reflection on the representation of Palestinians, this time via the work of German photographer Kai Wiedenhöfer. The museum had to close its doors for two hours and call the police. The next day the incident was closed and exposure could reopen.

Refusal to explain the conflict

For its part, the Jeu de Paume museum wishes to remain quiet about the subject, not to further fuel the controversy. However, it specifies that the legends were written entirely by Ahlam Shibli, at the request of the artist, and they are an integral part of œ PIECE. The museum recalls that blurb, written by the curators of the exhibition, presents these photographs and descriptions in context. Photograph of Ahlam "suspends the autonomy of the image and flips it into a system that is no longer used for informational purposes only" and believe the commissioners. The work of photographer "avoids own this medium historical obsession, that provide evidence at all costs. His images refuse to explain the conflict. "

The exhibition is not only focused on the Palestinians and their "martyrs". Ahlam Shibli strength to step back by expanding its theme to very remote countries and situations. It explores more generally uprooting, loss of home. For example, within the gay, lesbian and transgender immigrant from the Middle East, among orphans community in Poland, or the registration of memorials in France, celebrating in the same block the French resistance to the Nazis and the French colonial wars fighters. Tension between the subject and its environment, between a buried near death of his enemy. Contradictions in the same place.

The photographer saw itself in Haifa, Israel. And his work, says the blog "red glasses" on the website of Le Monde, is in line with the Israeli photographer Miki Kratsman, who emerged from anonymity and several Palestinian fighters gave a face. It has drawn the portrait (the cons) of Zakaria Zubeidi, leader of the Martyrs Brigades al-Aqsa in Jenin, weapons in hand and staring into the camera. The photograph was published in the Israeli daily Haaretz and then exposed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

FRANCE – REPORT: Death of Clement Meric: "The AKI for all threw oil on the fire!"

 

In the aftermath of the attack Clement Meric, a large crowd gathered Place Saint-Michel, in the center of Paris to pay tribute to the young man of 18 fatally attacked Wednesday by a group of right-wing activists.

In the collection, many anonymous came simply to show their sorrow at the sudden death of the anti-fascist activist. "It shocked me that a young man of 18 years died for nothing. It is a mourning. I have kids, "reflects fondly Marie-Louise, a Parisian. In a group, many students are also present in solidarity with Clement Meric, who was in first year at Sciences Po Some denounce "political capture" of this drama. "It bothers me, says Joachim, a student at the Sorbonne. It does not make the pub on the death of a young person. "

"The hypocrisy of political parties"

"For me, it reveals the hypocrisy of which are kept condemn violence in recent weeks and call for calm political parties. They surf it, "the young man, referring to protests against gay marriage. At his side, Sabry, one of his classmates share his point of view. For him, the politicians have maintained a poisonous atmosphere that led to such a tragedy: "There have been false debates. It was left to the movement for AKI. Both political sides, nobody really doomed. "

A little further, and his friend Alexane Luala, two students at Paris-VIII, are sharper. According to them, it is the latest right-wing excesses that are responsible for the death of Clement Meric. "What happened with AKI and for the movement of frigid Looney has a report. They poured oil on the fire. They revived the hatred that there could be between radical movements. This disgusts me, "condemns the first girls. Sensitivity to the left, the two friends admit that they now fear to participate in some events because of the violence of the extreme right: "Just now, when we arrived , es, it has reassured us to see the CRS. "

"They come to vote, because it is on TV"

In serried ranks, face hidden by scarves for some, a badge with the slogan "Clement RIP" on their t-shirt or hat, members of anti-fascist collective Paris suburbs on their way Place Saint-Michel. In the eyes of many of his comrades bed sadness and especially anger. "Clement anti-fa. Fascism is gangrene ", they yell, fist raised.

Arrived at the fountain, tempers flare. The comrades of Clement Meric do not hide their disapproval of the presence of many left-wing parties. "If Clement had been there, he would have wanted the flags to be lowered. Against fascism, there is no split, "joked one of the spokesmen of the movement at the microphone. "Go fuck yourself, no political recovery," joked another activist. "They come to vote, because it is on TV", gets carried away when he saw another Pierre Laurent, the general secretary of the Communist Party (PC). Booed, Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist candidate for mayor of Paris, even had to turn back.

After waving a banner in tribute to their deceased friend "forever one of us" and a few words, the anti-fascist group finally left the gathering, determined , not to make common cause with the political parties. Tears in their eyes, some close to Clement Meric want to fight, but they leave supported by their peers. "It disperses", ordered one of the leaders of the movement.

After they left, it is the Left Front activists who speak, red scarves around their necks. Stephen, a member of the Order of the coalition service does not include the release of members of the anti-fascist group. For him, the parties have their place in this gathering because Clement Meric "had political ideas and that is why he died."

"The only thing we can do is to dissolve"

Away from the political parties, associations were also keen to show their revolt. For weeks, the League of Human Rights has been a deepening of racist, homophobic or anti-democratic attacks. "Activists were attacked on May 1 as they went for the traditional gathering for Brahim Bouallam" said Eric Bakerdjian, branch president of the association.

The activist is concerned about the rise of the extreme right in the political field. "We're talking about Youth nationalist revolutionaries, but there is also the movement of black Lys did events in the Assembly against marriage for all." He called for political action, but according to him, these factions are difficult to neutralize, "The only thing we can do is to dissolve them, but they come together in new movements."

Pending a response from the authorities, other events will be held this week in several cities in France in honor of Clement Meric. A new rally is planned Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Place de la Bastille in Paris.

IVORY COAST – REPORT: The bodies of victims of the Ivorian crisis symbolically handed over to families

 

During the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast 2010-2011, which killed more than 3,000 deaths, according to the UN, many families have had no choice but to bury their dead in their yard or neighborhood, insecurity making travel impossible in a morgue or cemetery. On April 4, the government has launched a major campaign in Abidjan exhumations. Twenty graves have been opened, 40 bodies exhumed and identified 22.

Wednesday, May 22, almost two months after the beginning of the exhumation, the families of 22 victims identified were invited to a symbolic ceremony in the presence of body the Minister of Justice, Gnenema Mamadou Coulibaly. From across the country, and they want to start with their grief, like Gisele Detalbi. His son had been executed by militia; insecurity of the time had prevented from properly bury her child. "I spent two years with the body of my son buried behind my house. Today I had a relief but I am pained, really pained. My son died for nothing! "

Caused by the refusal of President Laurent Gbagbo to concede defeat in the presidential election of November 2010, the post-election crisis had ended with the arrest of former president in April 2011. On August 8, 2012, an Ivorian investigation demanded by his successor, Alassane Ouattara, had concluded that the armed forces that brought him to power have killed more than 700 people and those loyal to Laurent Gbagbo about twice.

Funeral too expensive

More than two years after the end of violence, slow justice is strongly criticized by human rights. But the exhumation campaign and the ceremony are a first concrete step for the relatives of victims. During a speech, Minister Mamadou Coulibaly Gnenema invited relatives of the victims to "dry [their] tears" and "assured them that everything will be to ensure that the truth appears and justice for those who have been so brutally torn from [their] condition. "

Most families are divided from the ceremony with flags, but without coffins, not having the means to pay for the funeral of their loved ones. This is a situation that is denounced Tatenda Diaby, president of the Collective of Victims of Côte d'Ivoire: "We absolutely must support measures to enable them to organize the funeral of their dignity missing relatives. "And to call a" major action of the government in their favor. "