Document - Guinea Bissau: Further information on Unlawful detention/detention without charge/incommunicado detention/ prisoner of conscience - João Vaz Mané.

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 30/005/2003
24 February 2003

Further Information on UA 41/03 (AFR 30/001/2003, 12 February 2003) Unlawful detention/detention without charge/incommunicado detention/prisoner of conscience

GUINEA-BISSAU João Vaz Mané (m), human rights defender

João Vaz Mané was released from prison in the capital Bissau on the morning of 19 February. He had not been charged or tried and was held incommunicado for 21 days, well in excess of the period of pre-trial detention allowed by Guinea-Bissau law. He has started legal proceedings against the Minister of Interior for his illegal arrest and detention. He was arrested after criticizing President Kumba Ialá on a national radio program.

João Vaz Mané confirmed that he had not been ill-treated in detention and thanked Amnesty International for its work on his behalf.

No further action from the network is required at present. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.
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Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 0DW, London, United Kingdom