Hundreds of people injured in Mandera after security operations
October 31, 2008
Written by kenyanobserver, in Featured, KENYA
Claims of Torture and Beatings by Security Personnel on Civilians Made as Hundreds More Flee
According to IRIN news agency, at least 200 civilians have been admitted to Elwak, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa hospitals in the last 3 days and hundreds more are reported to have fled the area to other parts of North Eastern province or to Ethiopia and Somalia fearing for their safety after violence broke between two local clans. Security personnel from the Kenyan army and Kenyan police are in the area to quell the violence and recover weapons.
A 24-hour curfew was imposed on Mandera town two weeks ago after tensions between the Garre and Murulle clans turned violent resulting in the deaths of 21 people. The Mandera East DC Francis Lenyangume ordered round-the-clock patrols by security forces including the Kenyan army. The army has rejected claims of torture by it’s personnel in the area.
The Kenya National Commision on Human Rights Vice Chair Hassan Omar Hassan says the operation has created “a serious humanitarian crisis”.
There are also reports that Islamists from neighboring Somalia are fueling the fire by funding and arming factions involved in the skirmishes.
File photo of Kenya-Ethiopia border by aheavens
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Is there hope for the Kenyan people? Who is going to stand up for the rights of the ordinary Kenyan? People can rape, kill and maim and get away with it. Pity …
The issue of Islamists is exagerrated because Kenyan authorities know as soon as they mention the words ‘Islamic’ and ‘terrorism’ in the same sentence, all their torture in Mandera will be forgotten by peace loving Kenyans. The situation in Somalia is very fluid. The people who are allegedly sending weapons to Mandera, are they doing it because of clan and sub clan interests or are they doing it as Islamists? Kenyans should take greater time to learn about Somalia instead of beleiving government propaganda used to justify torture of innocents.