Document - GABON. PRISONNIERS D'OPINION.

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 26/004/2003

16 October 2003

Further Information on UA 240/03 (AFR 26/001/2003, 13 August 2003) - Prisoners of Conscience

GABON Hughes Bessacque (m), aged 33 ]

Brice Obanda (m), aged 30 ] members of Bongo Doit Partir

Gervais Amogo (m), aged 32 ] ("Bongo Must Go" or

Abdul Allogo Mintsa (m), aged around 23 ] BDP-Gabon Nouveau)

Pascal Nkoulou (m) ]

The five members of the Gabonese opposition party Bongo Doit Partir (BDP), Bongo Must Go (or BDP-Gabon Nouveau), named above were released on 1 October after three months of detention. They have been reunited with their families and are generally in good health, although they did suffer some health problems during their imprisonment.

They had been charged with threatening state security and insulting the head of state though, most if not all, of them were released without charge. In a press release BDP-Gabon Nouveau’s leader thanked members of Amnesty International, amongst others, for having put pressure on the government as this was a factor in their release.

No further action is requested from the network. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals.