Mali: Four Former Military Junta Arrested in the Case of the Missing Red Berets
On 13 and 14 February 2014, four senior members of the former junta - General Yamoussa Camara, current chief of army staff of the Presidency; General Sidi Touré, former Director of State Security, Captain Amadou Konaré, former spokesman for the junta, and the lieutenant Tahirou Mariko, former aide Amadou Sanogo - were charged with "complicity in murder" and placed in custody by a judge for their alleged involvement in the murder of 21 red berets in April 2012.
International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and Association Malienne des Droits de l'
"These arrests are a strong signal in the process of fighting against impunity in Mali and confirm that nobody is above the law," said Mr. Moctar Mariko AMDH President and counsel victims.
For AMDH and FIDH, accompanying to the Malian justice to victims of the junta such as the conflict in northern countries, progress in judicial proceedings involving serious violations of human rights perpetrated in Mali are a priority in the fight against impunity, justice for the victims and contribute to a lasting peace.
"In order to ensure the exercise of impartial justice, impartial and fair, the Malian authorities must ensure the safety of victims, witnesses, magistrates and all court players in charge of these lawsuits sensitive," said Patrick Baudouin, head of the Legal Action Group (LAG) FIDH and counsel victims.
March 22, 2012, President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) was overthrown by a military coup led by Captain Amadou Haya Sanogo, who was head of the National Committee for the recovery of democracy and the restoration of the State (CNDRE). This committee remained the supreme authority of the country until April 12, 2012, the date of designation Traore as interim president.
April 30, 2012, to the faithful red berets deposed president, trying to regain power. After three days of fighting, the pro-Sanogo stopped, held and tortured many pro-ATT military. According to investigations conducted by FIDH, AMDH and other organizations defending human rights, 2 May 2012, 21 soldiers, mostly red berets, held at the military camp of Kati Sundiata Keita, the headquarters of the forces Sanogo, were taken in military trucks and have since been missing.
On 26 July 2012, the Malian Justice opened a criminal proceeding in this case called "red berets disappeared". In early November 2013, the judge in charge of the case has indicted 17 military, including General Amadou Haya Sanogo. On 27 November, at the end of the hearing by the judge, General Amadou Haya Sanogo was charged with "conspiracy to kidnap" and placed in custody.
The November 26, 2013, FIDH, AMDH and 21 families of victims of military red berets missing are civil parties to the proceedings. December 3, 2013, the judge conducted the exhumation of 21 bodies in the village of Diago, near Kati, which would correspond to 21 military red berets missing May 2, 2012. On 4 December 2013, the FIDH and the AMDH filed with the judge an application for reclassification of charges against defendants for "murder and murder."