8 “They looked at his identity card and shot him dead” Six months of post-electoral violence in Côte d’Ivoire This report is based on research carried out in Côte d'Ivoire for more than two months between January and April 2011 both in Abidjan and some parts of the west of the country. The conclusions in this report clearly show that all parties to the conflict have committed crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. For the last two decades, Côte d’Ivoire has been subject to amnesia and amnesties. Successive governments have deliberately refused to accept their responsibility to fight impunity for gross human rights violations. The mass violations committed by all parties during these last six months have left victims, their families and large section of the population scarred and traumatized. The country's new authorities must urgently re-establish the rule of law and the people's trust in impartial security forces. Without justice and reparation for the victims of today and yesterday, any further appeals for reconciliation made by President Ouattara, the international community and all Ivorians run the risk of foundering on an unstable and unsatisfactory compromize that could lead to more violence and vengeance in the future. Amnesty International May 2011 Index: AFR 31/002/2011