P5 press release on student demonstration

15 Feb 2019

P5 press release on student demonstration

P5 PRESS RELEASE

AU-CPLP-ECOWAS-EU-UN


1. The group of the five (5) international partners organizations of Guinea-Bissau known as "P5" Group (AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, EU and UN) has followed with worry the incidents that marked the demonstration of the students on 8 February 2o19, which resulted in injuries and several material damages. The P5 members are deeply concerned with these incidents which occurred at a time when Guinea-Bissau is preparing for the legislative elections.

2. Recalling the right of students to demonstrate and to call for the opening of public schools, closed since October 2o18 due to teachers’ strikes, the P5 thinks that demonstrations should be properly organized.

3. The P5 condemns the acts of violence perpetrated as well as their perpetrators, and calls on the government and trade unions to comply with the agreements they have reached to ensure the regular functioning of schools. The P5 also calls on the government, unions and students to intensify dialogue so that the current academic year is not completely lost.

4. The P5 calls on all social actors to make every effort to ensure that events of this nature do not recur. The P5 also calls them to maintain an enabling environment for the holding of peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections on March 1o, 2o19.

 

Bissau, February 15, 2019