"All the men have gone" : war crimes in Kenya's Mt. Elgon conflict.

The people of Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya have been victimized by both sides in an armed conflict that has pitted ethnic militia against security forces. Since 2006 they have suffered a reign of terror by the insurgent Sabaot Land Defence Force which has killed over 600 people, tortured and raped at will, seized property, and extorted taxes. In March 2008 the Kenyan army was deployed in a joint operation with the police to quell the insurgency. Initially welcomed by the population of Mt. Elgon, the operation pursued a brutal strategy of arbitrary arrest, detention, and torture of most of the civilian male population. Hundreds if not thousands were tortured and dozens are still missing. Human RightsWatch is calling on the Kenyan government to transparently and independently investigate the allegations and hold those responsible to account, including those in position of command responsibility. Written by Ben Rawlence--Acknowledgements. 53 pages : map ; 27 cm