Document - TOGO. CRAINTES DE TORTURE / PRISONNIERS D?OPINION.

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 57/009/2003

24 July 2003

Further Information on UA 179/03 (AFR 57/006/2003, 20 June 2003) Fear of torture/Prisoners of Conscience (POCs)

TOGO Dimas Dzikodo (m), Chief Editor of l’Evénement,

Philipe Evegno (m), Publishing Director of l’Evénement

Colombo Kpakpabia (m), journalist at Nouvel Echo

Philipe Evegno and Colombo Kpakpabia were released on 23 July, having been acquitted by a court in the capital Lomé, the day before. Dimas Dzikodo was fined 500 000 FCFA for “attempting to publish false news”. He was released on 24 July after paying the fine.

Colombo Kpakpabia and Dimas Dzikodo confirmed in Court that they were tortured during their first days of pre-trial detention. One of the journalists said to Amnesty International “I would like to express my deep thanks to all those who contributed to our release and who prevented the worse from happening”.

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