Guinea-Cape Verde: Case of alleged mistreatment of Bissau-Guinean citizens at Praia airport reaches Parliament

The relationship of friendship and cooperation between Guinea and Cape Verde is cooling down, following the controversy that arose with the case of alleged mistreatment of Bissau-Guinean citizens at Praia airport. The dossier arrived today, 10, at the Cape Verdean parliament, through the deputy of the PAICV (opposition), also from ECOWAS, Filomena Vieira. She defended that the alleged mistreatment reported by the Guinean citizen, Jorge Fernandes, at Praia airport, is not in line with the “scrupulous respect for human rights”.

According to the person elected on the lists of the African Independence Party of Cape Verde cited by Inforpress, the Guinean academic's complaint had a "strong impact" within Cape Verdean society, leading it to rise up against the fact and to externalize all its indignation on social networks and demanding that the Government owe “reasonable explanations”.

For the deputy, regardless of what is found out about the case, the “delivery, competence and sacrifices consented by the police in the exercise of their functions in favor of the security of citizens and the Cape Verdean State” must be recognized.

From Martins' perspective, what is found in the investigation ordered by the Government must be limited to the authors directly involved in the case and "not pollute any credible and reputable institution, which is the National Police".

Inforpress knows that in relation to the case, the Minister of Internal Administration, Paulo Rocha, issued an order with a view to the instruction of the process that will be carried out by a magistrate of the Public Ministry, to be designated by the Attorney General's Office.

Filomena Vieira, who was speaking in Parliament, a period reserved for general issues, recalled that Cape Verde is a country where democracy, despite all its shortcomings, has matured.

As noted by this parliamentarian from the largest opposition party, Cape Verdean society has been surprised by reports that supposedly violate human rights.

In faith with Infororpess, Filomena Martins recalled that the archipelago signed the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which establishes the creation of the common market with the removal of obstacles, as well as the protocol of free movement of people, right of residence and establishment.

“By joining ECOWAS…Cape Verde assumes a set of duties, but also enjoys a set of rights, which it has not been claiming politically”, he indicated, pointing to article 68 of the Treaty which states that member states, having taking into account the economic and social difficulties that others may face, in particular islanders and enclaves, agree to assign special treatment with regard to taxation.

He assured that it is up to Cape Verde to demonstrate and prove to ECOWAS that the “unbridled, massive and illegal” migratory flow would undoubtedly have a “harmful impact” on the country.

In turn, Orlando Dias, who is also a member of the Movement for Democracy (MpD-poder) and vice-president of the ECOWAS Parliament, supported the intervention of colleague Filomena Vieira, recognizing, however, that at all borders of member countries of the incidents have occurred in the community, which, many times, “are linked to the attitudes of each agent individually”.

“In some borders worse cases happen”, admitted orlando Dias, adding that registering with the Bissau-Guinean citizen does not only happen in Cape Verde.

In his view, the results of the inquiry will determine who is at fault, who is right and where there was excess and “measures will be taken at the disciplinary and justice level”, as the case may be.

“We are a welcoming country and we will continue to welcome our ECOWAS brothers as we are also welcomed there”, concluded the vice-president of the Economic Community of West African States.

In the same vein, MpD deputy Francisco Correia intervened, who endorsed the intervention of the PAICV deputy who, according to him, did not mix the action of an agent with the profile of the police institution.

Majority regrets the incident and praises relations with Guinea

"We regret the incident at Praia airport with the Guinean citizen and we show our solidarity with the African community", he commented, expecting a "clear response" from the inquiry "unwaveringly blaming the offenders".

Regarding the special status within the framework of ECOWAS, the Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Affairs assured that the Government is working in this direction.

"This incident does not affect or pinch relations between Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde", said the minister, referring to the case of Jorge Fernandes.

He considered it "normal" to happen incidents of the kind, but, he defended, it is necessary for the authorities to act.

“Relations between Guinea-Bissau are blood relations and those who have blood relations have all kinds of relations”, stressed the minister, quoted by Inforpress.