After last week's massacre of dozens of Guineans by government securityforces, youth organizations have decided to band together. They areorganizing a hunger strike as a way to non-violently address thebrutality.
Theyouth of Guinea are searching for a way to publicly protest theSeptember 28 massacre that occurred at a Conakry stadium. TheirnoBalde, President of the Federation of Guinean Youth Associations, saysthat is one reason behind their efforts to organize a hunger strike fornext week.
"I think by organizing a hunger strike, people willknow that we are committed to getting involved in this by usingpeaceful means," he said.
Bolde adds the purpose of the hungerstrike is to address last week's events in a non-violent manner and askthat all parties involved gather together to resolve the issue.
Lastweek's massacre occurred when more than 50,000 demonstraters gatheredto protest the anticipated presidential candidacy of the country'scurrent military ruler, Moussa Dadis Camara. Human rights groups say atleast 157 people were killed last week. The military says 57 peoplewere killed, most in the crush of protesters fleeing the stadium.
CaptainCamara came to power in Guinea last December in a bloodless couplaunched hours after longtime president Lansana Conte died.
"This is a political issue, and it will stay a political issue, and they have to find a political solution," he said.
Boldeadds the youth cannot demonstrate in the streets for fear of provokingviolent reactions from police. The hunger strike is also meant to callfor the punishment of those who killed the civilians.
"Byorganizing a hunger strike, we will send a message to all of them thatwe are not willing to take any risk, but at the same time, we are notwilling just to sit and not to do anything. If people know that theycan do whatever they want, without any punishment, they will just goahead," said Bolde.
Guinea's military government recentlyannounced it will launch what it calls an independent investigationinto last week's killing of opposition demonstrators by security forces.
TheAfrican Union suspended Guinea following Captain Camara's Decembercoup. The AU says it will sanction him later this month unless he makesclear that he will not be a candidate in elections scheduled forJanuary.
Bolde adds that no matter what happens, it will be the youth who pay the higher price.