DATE=9/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IVORY COAST / CLASHES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266570
BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT=
INTRO: The government of Ivory Coast is launching an
effort to stop violence between the native ethnic Kroumen
group and immigrants from neighboring Burkina Faso. V-O-
A's Luis Ramirez in Abidjan reports that at least 13
people have died this week in fighting between the two
groups.
TEXT: The skirmishes occurred in villages near the port
of San Pedro, in the southwest of the country. They are
the result of tension between native Kroumen and farmers
from neighboring Burkina Faso who have settled in recent
decades on land claimed by Kroumen.
A team of government officials, along with Burkina Faso's
Ambassador to Ivory Coast, recently visited the region
for two days to find ways to stop the violence from
escalating. About a third of the population of Ivory
Coast is of immigrant origin, including about three
million natives of Burkina Faso.
In an interview with VOA, Interior Minister Mouassi Grena
said the government does not want ethnic strife to spread
to the rest of the country and is calling on both sides
to lay down their weapons.
/// GRENA ACT IN FRENCH, FADES ///
The minister said the government is dispatching soldiers
and police reinforcements to secure the region.
Mediators will also be sent to start a dialogue between
the two groups.
The dispute is longstanding. Many Kroumen view the
Burkinabe settlers as invaders who are taking over their
ancestral lands. This Burkinabe man fled his village
after Kroumen set it on fire.
/// SECOND ACTUALITY IN FRENCH, FADES ///
He says he will go back to his farm, despite the attack.
Similar fighting last year caused thousands of Burkinabe
to flee the region. Many have never returned.
/// REST OPT ///
Ivory Coast is in the midst of a debate over whether
immigrants and their descendents should have the same
rights as native Ivorians.
A newly approved constitution bans anyone who is not a
full native of Ivory Coast from running in presidential
elections. Those elections are scheduled for next month
and are part of a plan to return the country to civilian
rule following a coup last December.
Opponents of Ivory Coast's military government say the
new rule is aimed at blocking the candidacy of popular
opposition figure Alassane Ouattara, who the government
has claimed is a foreigner. (Signed)
NEB/LR/KL/KBK
15-Sep-2000 13:55 PM EDT (15-Sep-2000 1755 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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