you actually had to spend? And why not let the person pay over time? Why require payment up front when you’re dealing with someone who was displaced for a year, maybe more, and now can’t get to their land? Where are they going to get this money from?230 Several residents of villages around Duékoué described being unable to pay the fees and therefore unable to seek restitution for a complaint that passed the village committee’s authority.231 The sub-prefect in Duékoué disputed that the costs were excessive, saying the committee had “no financing,” so imposed “reasonable costs” on the parties.232 Another member of the Duékoué land committee said similarly: “We don’t have support from NGOs or from the government. So we have to have fees to cover transport to investigate on the ground, to see who the owner is, to see what the boundaries are and how they can be drawn.”233 Lack of Will, Power to Enforce Decisions Local authorities in western Côte d’Ivoire often appear unable or unwilling to enforce their decisions, leading to a growing lack of respect for their authority. Several sub-prefects told Human Rights Watch that they were loath to involve gendarmes or other law enforcement in resolving land disputes, as they feared it might escalate tensions.234 While that approach may be justified when parties act in good faith, it appears misguided at best when a crime, such as theft or fraud, has occurred. In such cases, the Interior and Defense Ministers need to ensure that their security forces are ready and trained to respond; and the sub-prefect needs to be willing to rely on them. Human Rights Watch documented dozens of cases where a person alleged to be an illegal seller or buyer refused to appear, despite a summons, before a hearing. A Guéré in Médibly, who alleged that while he was displaced another Guéré illegally sold land that his father 230 Human Rights Watch interview with Guéré involved in land dispute linked to the crisis, Fengolo, February 10, 2013. 231 Human Rights Watch interviews, western Côte d’Ivoire, February 2013. 232 Human Rights Watch interview with Abion Yao, sub-prefect, Duékoué, February 5, 2013. 233 Human Rights Watch interview with community leader on the Duékoué land committee, Duékoué, February 4, 2013. 234 Human Rights Watch interviews with local government officials, western Côte d’Ivoire, February and June 2013. 77 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | OCTOBER 2013