E/CN.4/2003/24 page 14 African Assembly for the Defence of Human Rights) and elsewhere (e.g. Human Rights Watch) have investigated and found evidence of massacres and assassinations which, in view of their number and the ethnic or community origin of the victims, require the urgent intervention of the international community. 30. On 2 December 2002 the Special Rapporteur wrote to the authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to request a visit in situ in order to determine under his mandate what the true situation is as regards discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to report to the international community. 2. Situation in Guyana 31. The Special Rapporteur has received information from various sources about the deterioration of the political situation in Guyana following the presidential and parliamentary elections held in March 2001. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won those elections and its leader, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, was elected as President of Guyana for a third five-year term. Social unrest and occasional violence marred the post-election period, with the main opposition party, People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), led by Mr. Desmond Hoyte, alleging that the election procedures violated the Constitution. In fact, since its independence the political climate of Guyana has been characterized by the legacy from slavery and colonization of tensions between the two major ethnic groups of the country, the Indo-Guyanese population (approximately 49 per cent) and the Afro-Guyanese population (approximately 35 per cent) of the 700,000 inhabitants. The two political parties are heavily divided along ethnic lines, with the PPP/C supported mainly by Indo-Guyanese and the PNC/R supported mainly by Afro-Guyanese. 32. The present situation in Guyana originates in the country’s colonial past. It seems that the various communities which peopled Guyana following the forced transfer of African and Indian labour under the British Empire have not been able to surmount their rivalry for the control of power and the equitable management of the country’s resources in a peaceful manner. The Special Rapporteur is seriously concerned about the risks of the aggravation of inter-ethnic conflict in Guyana and has informed the authorities of his fears and of his wish to undertake a visit to the country. He has also sent a communication to the Government of Guyana setting out the allegations he has received. B. Racial discrimination against the Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers 33. The Roma people are the victims of racial discrimination in almost all sectors of public life, education, employment, housing, access to public places and citizenship. In a number of places of residence they are victims of police brutality and are discriminated against in judicial procedures. The stigmatization of the Roma people in a number of societies affects their ability to enjoy fundamental rights as equal citizens. The lack of tolerance for their culture and customs brings with it their marginalization within society. 34. In Europe, it is reported that Roma people are systematically denied access to restaurants, discotheques, stadia and other public places. The European Roma Rights Centre has reported that the Roma face discrimination in the judicial system and particularly that violent acts committed against them are not adequately sanctioned in a number of countries. Additionally,