Guinea: Further information: One soldier released, 11 still incommunicado
One of the 12 soldiers held without charge in Guinea has been released. The 11 others are detained incommunicado and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
Further information on UA: 204/09 Index: AFR 29/03/2009 Guinea Date: 19 August 2009
URGENT ACTION
ONE SOLDIER RELEASED, 11 STILL INCOMMUNICADO
One of the 12 soldiers held without charge in Guinea has been released. The 11 others are
detained incommunicado and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
Captain Ibrahima Sory Bangourah was released without charge on 16 August after more than seven months in
custody. He has now been reunited with his family in the capital, Conakry.
He was one of 12 soldiers arrested in January, soon after a military coup in Guinea. All 12 had apparently worked for
Guinea's former president, Lansanna Conté. The 11 remaining detainees are Colonel Fodé Bacar Sylla, Colonel
Soryba Yansané, Lieutenant Colonel David Syllah, Commander Issiaka Camara, Commander Pathio Bangourah,
Captain Mamadou Bah Syllah, Captain Lansinet Keita, Lieutenant Ibrahima Kadja Barry, Sub-Lieutenant Alpha
Oumar Diallo, Sub-Lieutenant Hassiniou Pendessa and Sergeant Moussa Sylla. They were transferred to a place of
detention on the island of Kassa, west of Conakry, on 2 August. Since then, they have been held incommunicado.
Some of the detainees' families have brought food parcels to the island, but it is not known whether these have been
passed on to the men.
According to local sources, the men were only wearing underwear and their hands were tied when they were moved
to the new place of detention on the island. The place where they are now held is not a lawful place of detention.
Amnesty International has documented several cases of people who were tortured and otherwise ill-treated during
months of incommunicado detention there.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in French or your own language:
Urging the authorities to release the 11 soldiers immediately if they are not to be charged with a recognizably
criminal offence, and, while they are in custody, allow them access to their families, lawyers and any medical
treatment they may require;
Expressing concern that the men are held incommunicado in an unlawful place of detention, where others are
known to have been tortured;
Calling on them to guarantee that the 11 men are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 SEPTEMBER 2009 TO:
General Mamadouba Toto Camara
Minister of Security and Civilian
Protection
Ministry of Security and Civilian
Protection
P.O. Box 5075
Conakry
Republic of Guinea
Salutation: Dear Minister/
Monsieur le Ministre
General Sekouba Konate
Minister of Defence
Ministry of Defence
Republic of Guinea
Conakry
Republic of Guinea
Salutation: Dear Minister/
Monsieur le Ministre
Colonel Siba Lohalamou
Minister of Justice and Keeper of the
Seals
Ministry of Justice
Republic of Guinea
P.O. Box 564
Conakry
Republic of Guinea
Salutation: Dear Minister/
Monsieur le Ministre
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending
appeals after the above date. This is the second update of UA 204/09 (AFR 29/001/2009). Further information:
www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR29/001/2009/en and www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR29/002/2009/en
Date: 19 August 2009
URGENT ACTION
Further information on UA: 204/09 Index: AFR 29/03/2009