Source: the guardian uk 11.11.11
Congolese civilians are being beaten, threatened and arrested for wearing the T-shirts of opposition candidates, raising the prospect of bloodshed during this month's elections, the UN has warned.
Polls are due to be held on 28 November for only the second time since independence in 1960.
A UN report (pdf) has documented nearly 200 cases of election-related violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and blamed political manipulation of the security forces for crackdowns on opposition parties.
A law banning insults against the head of state has been used to prosecute people who criticised the president, Joseph Kabila, and police have brutally targeted civilians just for wearing the T-shirts of their favoured candidates, the UN alleged.
Congolese civilians are being beaten, threatened and arrested for wearing the T-shirts of opposition candidates, raising the prospect of bloodshed during this month's elections, the UN has warned.
Polls are due to be held on 28 November for only the second time since independence in 1960.
A UN report (pdf) has documented nearly 200 cases of election-related violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and blamed political manipulation of the security forces for crackdowns on opposition parties.
A law banning insults against the head of state has been used to prosecute people who criticised the president, Joseph Kabila, and police have brutally targeted civilians just for wearing the T-shirts of their favoured candidates, the UN alleged.