Document - Equatorial Guinea: Further Information on torture/ denial of medical treatment

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 24/006/2009

30 March 2009

Further Information on UA 79/09 (AFR 24/003/2009, 19 March 2009) Torture/Denial of medical treatment

EQUATORIAL GUINEA Epifanio Pascual Nguema Alogo (m)

José Eworo Mba (m)

The police have agreed to allow Epifanio Pascual Nguema Alogoto receive medical treatment. On 23 March he was transferred to a clinic in Bata where he is receiving treatment for injuries caused by torture. His health is improving: he is in less pain and is passing less blood in his urine. He is expected to remain in hospital at least until 10 April He is still formally under arrest, but, he is not under police guard. However, a soldier visits him regularly, apparently to ensure he is still in hospital and to check on his recovery.

José Eworo Mba is now known to have joint Spanish and Equatorial Guinean nationality; he works as a security guard in the town in Spain where he lives. He was arrested two days after arriving in Bata. The police confiscated his documents; they have now returned his passport, but retained the identity card issued by the company he works for, which they claim is a Spanish police identification card. In addition to accusing him of spying for the Spanish government, the police have accused José Eworo Mba of theft, without saying what he is supposed to have stolen. It is not clear whether he is receiving medical treatment for his diabetes.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

- welcoming the news that Epifanio Pascual Nguema Alogo is receiving medical treatment in a clinic, and urging the authorities to ensure he and José Eworo Mba are given whatever medical treatment they may require;

- expressing concern that Epifanio Pascual Nguema Alogo and José Eworo Mba are still held without charge at Bata Central Police Station, and urging the authorities to either release them or charge them immediately with a recognizable criminal offence;

- expressing concern that Epifanio Pascual Nguema Alogo has been tortured, and urging the authorities to order an independent enquiry and bring those responsible to justice;

- calling on the authorities to ensure the men are humanely treated and not subjected to any form of torture or other ill-treatment.

APPEALS TO:

President

General Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

Presidente de la República

Gabinete del Presidente de la República, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: +240 09 3313/ 3334

Salutation: Excelencia/Your Excellency

Attorney General

Sr. Don José Oló Obono

Fiscal General de la República, Fiscalía General de la República, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: +240 09 1338

Salutation: Sr Fiscal/Dear Attorney General

Minister of National Security

Sr Don Nicolás Obama Nchama

Ministro de Seguridad Nacional, Dirección General de Seguridad Nacional, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: +240 09 8259

Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Pastor Michá Ondó Bile

Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación Internacional

Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación Internacional, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: +240 09 3132

+240 09 2320

Vice-Prime Minister, in charge of Human Rights

Salomón Nguema Owono

Vice-Primer Ministro 2º. Encargado de Asuntos Sociales y Derechos Humanos

Gabinete del Vice Primer Ministro

Malabo

Equatorial Guinea

and to diplomatic representatives of Equatorial Guinea accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if

sending appeals after 11 May 2009.