MaximsNewsNetwork: GUINEA-BISSAU: CRIME, DRUGS: U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL

MaximsNewsNetwork: 22 July 2010 - UNTV: United Nations, New York - The United Nations (UN) Security Council today (22 July 2010) voiced concern at the current security situation and "threats to constitutional order" in Guinea-Bissau, and stressed the need for the Government and people of the West African nation to work towards stability and the rule of law.

On 1 April the Prime Minister and of the Chief of General Staff and other senior military officers were briefly detained by some members of the armed forces, constituting what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described as a major setback to efforts to consolidate stability and carry out key reforms.

The 15-member body said in a statement read out Ambassador U. Joy Ogwu of Nigeria, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for July, that the Council "calls upon the Government of Guinea-Bissau to release immediately all those detained in the events of 1 April 2010 or prosecute them with full respect for due process."

Stressing that genuine security sector reform requires the creation of "effective professional and accountable" security forces and respect for the rule of law, the Council called on the Government to create the conditions for reform of the security services.

It also called on the security forces, in particular the military, to fulfil their commitment to abide by civilian control and called on both to implement current programmes for security sector reform on schedule.

Ban had warned in his report that the important progress made in the country could rapidly be compromised unless drastic changes are made to advance crucial reforms, including the reform of the defence and security sectors, and to stabilize the country.

Outside the Council Ogwu paraphrasing the presidential statement, told reporters that the Council also expressed serious concern about drug trafficking and organized crime in Guinea-Bissau and said that "it is a triangular situation; the consumer, the producer and the transit" and stressed that "all this has to be taken together in a holistic manner in order to deal effectively with the problem."

Last week Joseph Mutaboba, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau, told the Council that while recent events have spotlighted the fragility of efforts to consolidate stability, the country's challenges can be overcome if they are tackled immediately.
..... ( UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION: UNTV ) .............
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