The United Nations is concerned about the use of excessive force by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) police as elections in the country approach, Ravina Shamdasani, a UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokeswoman said Friday
GENEVA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th September, 2018) The United Nations is concerned about the use of excessive force by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) police as elections in the country approach, Ravina Shamdasani, a UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokeswoman said Friday.
"We are deeply concerned about the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations by civil society organizations and opposition political parties that have started the electoral campaign in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the commitments made by the Congolese authorities to lift the bans on demonstrations that has been in place since 2017," Shamdasani said at UN press briefing.
The spokeswoman added that political activists have been arrested and killed in the country by the police.
"While some improvements have been seen in crowd control, and maintenance of public order and security, the Congolese police has continued to use excessive force against political activists that has led to the killing of one political activist in the south east of the country and the arrest of dozens of others," Shamdasani said.
She stated that the United Nations would monitor the state of human rights as elections looming.
"We are very closely monitoring the human rights environment around the elections," Shamdasani said.
The presidential election in the country is set for December 23.
