South Africa: Unlawful force and the pattern of concealment: Barriers to accountability for the killings at Marikana

The decision by senior police officials on 15 August 2012 to disarm, disperse and arrest protestors was not justified by any increased threat posed by the striking miners. The consequence of that decision, to deploy large numbers of armed police units resulting in mass fatalities, was not triggered by any threat to life or the intention to protect or save life. Amnesty International is calling on the South African authorities to ensure that all those involved in the decision of 15 August and subsequent events co-operate fully with the current inquiry process.

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