Bangui - The Central African Republic on Thursday hit out at an Amnesty International report that deemed the country a human rights "black hole," saying much had been done to protect its citizens.
"The human rights situation in the Central African Republic is better than in other countries," Interior Minister Firmin Findiro said in a statement aired on national radio.
The government spokesperson said it was "extreme" to maintain, as AI did last month, that a justice vacuum in CAR was preventing an end to human rights violations.
"Amnesty International's statements serve only to overshadow the numerous agreed efforts in relation to the rule of law, good governance, human rights and the security of property and people in the Central African Republic," Findiro said, calling on the group to "show more objectivity and cooperation."
The London-based group accused the government of failing to end decades of violence and protect civilians in a statement on October 20.
"The CAR covers an enormous territory and most of it is a black hole in terms of human rights," Central Africa researcher Godfrey Byaruhanga said.
AI said at least 14 armed groups were operating in the country "yet the government has consistently shown itself to be incapable or unwilling to take action to protect its citizens".
Frequent amnesties included in ceasefire or peace deals with rebel groups, as well as a failure to prosecute any government security officials over suspected war crimes, was encouraging all sides to continue, Amnesty said.
"Grave human rights violations, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity, are committed with appalling frequency but the justice vacuum that exists in CAR means there's no end in sight," Byaruhanga said.
Washington announced in October it was sending 100 troops to root out the remnants of the Lord's Resistance Army, originally a Ugandan rebel group which is now sowing terror across the region, including in the CAR.
Amnesty argued it was time for more international coordination in bringing about a credible justice system in the conflict-wracked country.
AFP
