Pressure grows on Malian troops over summary killings and rights abuses

[Emily]

http://www.smh.com.au/world/human-rights-at-risk-in-rapid-mali-advance-20130124-2d9ss.html

Human rights at risk in rapid Mali advance
January 25, 2013
Serge Daniel
BAMAKO: African forces have begun moving towards Mali's centre, the French Foreign Minister said, as pressure grows on Malian troops over summary killings and rights abuses in a French-led assault on al-Qaeda-linked groups.
[snip]
Almost two weeks after France swept to Mali's aid to stop an Islamist advance on Bamako, reports have emerged of atrocities committed by Malian soldiers and growing fears of attacks among certain ethnic communities. The majority of the al-Qaeda-linked rebels are either Tuaregs or Arabs.

The International Federation of Human Rights Leagues said that in the central town of Sevare, at least 11 people were executed in a military camp, citing evidence from local researchers.

Credible reports also pointed to around 20 other executions in the same area where the bodies were dumped in wells or otherwise disposed of, the organisation said. The organisation called for an immediate independent inquiry to ''determine the scale of the abuses and to punish the perpetrators''...

http://www.voanews.com/content/mali-human-rights-watch-28jan13/1592422.html

Rights Group: Retaliation in Northern Mali
Joe DeCapua

Last updated on: January 28, 2013 1:45 PM
A human rights group is trying to verify reports of civilian deaths and disappearances as French and government forces retake control of towns in northern Mali. The group says there are many reported cases of retaliation and ethnic violence.

Human Rights Watch is conducting interviews in the Sevare region, about 500 kilometers north of the capital Bamako.

?We have a lot of reports of people who have been killed ? some allegedly by Malian soldiers. And there are many cases in Sevare. In fact, there are many dead bodies that have turned up around town. We have received reports of people being killed or disappeared. And so these are quite difficult cases to establish because we don?t know where these people are,? said Philippe Bolopion, who spoke to VOA by cellphone....

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/27/soldiers-trained-by-canadian-special-forces-hunted-tortured-in-mali-after-failed-counter-coup/

Soldiers trained by Canadian special forces hunted, tortured in Mali after failed coup

Rights abuses by the Malian military were reported prior to the latest western intervention:

David Pugliese, Postmedia News | Jan 27, 2013 4:30 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 27, 2013 4:31 PM ET
Paratroopers trained by special forces based in Canada were behind a failed counter-coup in Mali last year to bring back a democratically elected government, but many have since been hunted down and killed by the country?s military.
[snip]
Details of the fate of those in the presidential unit have emerged over the past several months. At least 40 soldiers were believed captured by Sanago?s forces.

A report by a human rights group says some of those soldiers captured were forced at gunpoint to have sex with each other. ?Fabric was stuffed in their mouths before the abuse to stifle their screams,? the report from Human Rights Watch stated. Others were beaten.

Witnesses said around 20 of the soldiers were seen after the coup being led away, never to be found again...