THIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY EXCEPT FOR UA COORDINATORS WHO SHOULD SEND ONE APPEAL AS DETAILED BELOW

EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 50/05/91

Distr: UA/SC

24 December 1991

Further information on UA 405 /91 (AFR 50/03/91, 21 November) and follow-up AFR 50/04/91 (9 December 1991) - Torture

SEYCHELLES:John FRANÇOIS

On 23 December 1991 Amnesty International received a letter from President France-Albert René of the Seychelles enclosing the information that John François has been granted access to a lawyer.

Amnesty International had been concerned that John François, convicted of the criminal offence of robbery with violence, had been denied access to his lawyer and had been ill-treated while in Grand Police camp, a maximum security prison run by the army. On 27 November 1991 President France-Albert René had responded to Amnesty International's concerns about the alleged ill-treatment.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telexes/faxes/express or airmail letters - one per UA coordinator:

- thanking the authorities for their response to Amnesty International's expressions of concern about the alleged denial of access of John François to a lawyer.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Mr France-Albert René

President of the Republic of the Seychelles

State House

PO Box 655

Victoria, Seychelles

[Salutation: Your Excellency]

Telegrams: President René, Seychelles

Telexes: 2217 STATE SZ

Faxes: + 248 24200