07 November 2013 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Guinea-Bissau condemns the attack on Minister of Transport , Orlando Viegas Mendes, perpetrated Tuesday night outside his residence by hooded and armed individuals.

José Ramos-Horta described the act as "unacceptable in a democratic constitutional State, because it undermines the efforts of the international community towards peace and stability in the country".

Orlando Viegas is hospitalized in the United Nations Clinic in Bissau and will be evacuated, if necessary, to receive treatments that cannot be provided locally.

The SRSG called on national authorities to open an immediate investigation aimed at determining responsibilities for this act as well as for other previous cases of violation against the physical integrity and right to life of citizens in order that the alleged perpetrators are prosecuted and punished for the crimes committed.

José Ramos-Horta reaffirmed the determination of the United Nations to continue to cooperate with the authorities in solving the serious problems which the country faces, in accordance with international principles in defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

On 06 November, the SRSG paid a brief visit to Orlando Viegas in the UN Clinic and also to one of the victims of assaults that occurred in the Cumeré Military Training Centre, between July 15 and 25 October. Armando Pombo, aged 51, working with the Military Engineering Brigade, was admitted about a week ago in the Artemisa Clinic in Bissau, following assaults of which he, together with others, was victim on 23 October, and which have already been denounced by the respective families.

The medical diagnosis reveals that the victim sustained deep wounds and was at risk of danger to his life, requiring specialized treatment immediately due to the severity of the attacks perpetrated during the military training at Cumeré. Several other agents of the security and defense forces were also brutally beaten up. There were losses of live.

José Ramos-Horta personally offered to defray the medical bills of Armando Pombo until the normalization of his medical condition, owing to insufficient conditions of assistance available at the Simão Mendes National Hospital and also the Military Hospital.

The SRSG did not hide his outrage at these training methods, which in his opinion completely violate the most fundamental principles of respect for human rights and for the dignity of the trainees. Ramos-Horta described as absurd, brutal and inconsistent the enforcement of this type of training to military and police officers, requesting as a result its immediate cessation.

The UN Chief in Guinea-Bissau expressed bewilderment that agents of several police units, including from Immigration and Coastguard units, had been subjected to military training.
In conclusion, the SRSG urged the authorities to grant appropriate compensation to families of the victims and to accept responsibility for the costs of medical treatment of the wounded.