In January, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official website] urged the Tunisian government to investigate the deaths of public protesters and called on government security forces to admit use of excessive force against them [JURIST report]. Pillay expressed her "concern" over the violence and killings and called for a "transparent, credible and independent" investigation into the oppression of demonstrators. She encouraged the government to find those officials responsible for the violence stating, "If there is evidence that members of the security forces have used excessive force, or conducted extra-judicial killings, they must be arrested, tried and - if found guilty of offences - punished according to the law. It is essential that justice is done, and is seen to be done." Pillay also urged Tunisian officials to work towards adopting better policies to help alleviate the economic strife of its civilians and to "lift severe limitations on freedoms of assembly, opinion and expression, as well as association."