La Via Campesina expresses its solidarity with Massa Kone and all human rights defenders
Statement following the armed robbery and burglary of the home of the GCLWS WA spokesperson
We the National Platforms of the Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles in West Africa (GCLWS WA), representing 15 countries and organizations, are signatories to this declaration.
Our comrade Massa Kone was targeted in an attack at his home on Friday, June 22, 2020. Massa is the spokesperson of the GCLWS WA and No Vox Africa, a member of the international committee of the World Social Forum and part of the coordination for the Right to Food and Nutrition.
We are outraged at this shocking attack on Massa Kone and his family. Six hooded individuals dressed in military uniforms and carrying firearms entered Massa’s home and vandalized and looted it in the presence of his terrified children.
We condemn this barbaric act against Massa Kone and his family, and warn those who sponsored it and carried it out.
We also give our full support to the victim and express our solidarity with Massa Kone, and with all the activists who have been criminalized in the context of their work in defense of human rights.
Today, an increasing number of activists, like Massa, are being intimidated, kidnapped or killed in the course of their human rights work. This is unacceptable. In each of these instances, we need to react and express our solidarity and our collective strength.
As civil society actors, organizations, movements, and networks, together with partners and allies at national and international level – assert the following:
- We emphasize the seriousness of this action to the Government of Mali. This attack is reminiscent of a past era and completely unacceptable in a country that claims to be a democracy. We are concerned that this situation could lead to further abuses;
- We invite all human rights defenders, civil society actors, partners and allies at national and international level to mobilize and challenge the Malian government;
Therefore, we ask the Malian Government:
- To take appropriate measures to protect Massa Kone and his family, and others who have been persecuted;
- To open a judicial investigation to ensure that the people responsible for this aggressive action are held accountable and brought to justice;
In addition, we seek the support of all diplomatic representations, including sub-regional, African, and international institutions in Mali. We ask them to demand that the Malian Government take all the measures necessary to guarantee the safety of human rights defenders, particularly Massa and his family.
Bamako, June 22, 2020
Contact: Telephone: +223 76 49 03 15 – 66 41 55 86 – 76 17 09 79 – infoscmat@gmail.com
| La Vía Campesina The Regional coordination of the GCLWS- WA National Platforms- Countries of the GCLWS-WA | |
| Benin YEHOUENOU Coffi Bertrand, SYNPA yehbertrand@yahoo.fr | Mali Alimata Traore, COFERSA alimaatou@yahoo.fr |
| Burkina Faso Rosalie Ouoba, RESACIFROAT rosalieouoba@yahoo.fr | Mauritania Mr. Amadou Oumar Dia, ROSA amadououmar.dia@gmail.com |
| Côte d’Ivoire Mme ZEI Pauline, COPAGEN pauline.epelekou@inadesfo.net | Niger Gordi Hammadou, PF YAKARKARA gordi_hammadou@yahoo.fr |
| The Gambia Alieu SOW, NOCOFAG alieu_sowe007@yahoo.com | Nigeria Zainab Mohamed, P4RWD p4rwd2016@gmail.com |
| Ghana Raymond Commey, ECASARD niicommey77@gmail.com | Togo AZIAMANYO K. Toussaint, NOVOX novoxtg@gmail.com |
| Guinea Mamadou Maladho Diallo, COPAGEN mamadoumaladhod@gmail.com | Senegal Sidy BA, CNCR sidyba2002@yahoo.fr |
| Guinea – Bissau Mamadou N’Djamba N’Diaye, QNCOCPA braimabiai12@gmail.com | Sierra Leone Abbas John Kamara, SILNORF AbassJ.Kamara@silnorf.net |
| Liberia Ruth N. Gbatoe, CEMESP gbatoruth22@gmail.com |