Truth on the "Beach saga" is needed, president says

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Saturday 7 January 2006

CONGO: Truth on the "Beach saga" is needed, president says


?  Roberto Ortiz de Zarate

President Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

BRAZZAVILLE, 9 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - President Dénis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo (ROC) said on Monday he wanted the truth to emerge from the trial of 15 senior security officials over the disappearances of refugees in an affair known as the "Beach" case.

"Our expectations and hopes are that this trial brings out the entire truth," he said in his declaration in parliament.

The Beach case started on 19 July at the Brazzaville Criminal Court. The defendants are amongst of the country's highest ranking security officials. They are accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes.

The refugees were allegedly killed in 1999 as they returned from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo where they had fled in 1998 to escape ROC's civil war. When the returning refugees arrived at Brazzaville's river port known as "Le Beach" they were arrested on suspicion of being supporters of a militia known as the Ninjas. They were never seen in public again.

[CONGO: 'Le Beach' trial begins of top military, police officials]

[ENDS]

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