Chad: Chadian activist freed, two others on trial
Chadian activist Dingamnayal Nely Versinis has been released. Fellow activists Nadjo Kaina Palmer and Bertrand Sollo, detained at Amsinene prison, are on trial for their role in calling for peaceful protests. A verdict on their case is expected on 4 May. They are prisoners of conscience.
Further Information on UA: 92/17 Index: AFR 20/6148/2017 Chad Date: 28 April 2017
URGENT ACTION
CHADIAN ACTIVIST FREED, TWO OTHERS ON TRIAL
Chadian activist Dingamnayal Nely Versinis has been released. Fellow activists Nadjo
Kaina Palmer and Bertrand Sollo, detained at Amsinene prison, are on trial for their role
in calling for peaceful protests. A verdict on their case is expected on 4 May. They are
prisoners of conscience.
Three Chadian activists appeared before a judge of the High court of Ndjamena on 27 April. Dingamnayal Nely
Versinis was acquitted and released on the grounds that there was no sufficient evidence that he committed the
offense he was accused of. The public prosecutor had requested that he be imprisoned for six months for the
charges of fraud and usage of a false title. Nadjo Kaina Palmer and Bertrand Sollo remain detained at Amsinene
prison awaiting a verdict on their case to be delivered on 4 May. Both were charged with attempted conspiracy and
calling an unauthorized gathering on 26 April. The public prosecutor requested that they be jailed for five years.
Nadjo Kaina Palmer, spokesperson of the citizen movement IYINA (‘We are tired’ in local Arabic) and Bertrand
Sollo, the Francophone National Rapporteur of IYINA were arrested on 6 and 15 April respectively, while
Dingamnayal Nely Versinis, president of "Collectif Tchadien Contre la Vie Chère" was arrested on 12 April. All three
were arrested by National Security Agency (ANS) agents and were held incommunicado until they were brought to
the Judicial Police headquarters in N’Djamena on 24 April. They were interrogated by the judicial police in the
absence of their lawyers on the same day.
Amnesty International considers Nadjo Kaina Palmer and Bertrand Sollo to be prisoners of conscience solely
detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Please write immediately in French, Arabic, English or your own language:
Urging the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Nadjo Kaina and Bertrand Sollo as they
are prisoners of conscience arrested and detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of
expression;
Urging them to ensure that Nadjo Kaina and Bertrand Sollo are not subjected to torture and other ill-
treatment pending their release, and are allowed regular access to their lawyers, to family visits, to medical
attention and to all basic necessities;
Urging the authorities to end all forms of intimidation and harassment, in particular by the ANS, against all
other human rights activists and defenders in Chad
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 9 JUNE 2017 TO:
Minister of Justice
Ahmat Mahamat Hassan
Ministry of Justice
P.O. Box 2100
N’Djamena, Chad
Email: ahmatconseiller@yahoo.fr or
angarboa@gmail.com
Salutation: Dear Minister
Public Prosecutor
Mahamat Saleh Youssouf
P.O. Box 1702
N’Djamena Chad
Email: msyoussouf6@gmail.com
Salutation: Dear Public Prosecutor
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the second update of UA 92/17. Further information:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr20/6114/2017/en/
URGENT ACTION
CHADIAN ACTIVIST FREED, TWO OTHERS ON TRIAL
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Nadjo Kaina Palmer was arrested after he showed up to see the ANS Director who had summoned him regarding a peaceful
demonstration that had been set for 10 April to protest against corruption and impunity. Bertrand Sollo was arrested while on his
way to attend a media interview. Dingamnayal Nely Versinis was arrested at the N'Djamena city hall, after being summoned to
the venue by city hall officials. His arrest occurred after he called on the traders of the N’Djamena Millet Market to take part in a
strike to protest against an increase in the market booth prices.
During a press conference on 3 April, Nadjo Kaina Palmer called on Chadians to observe an "IYINA day" on 10 April, marking
the first anniversary since the 2016 presidential election. He encouraged them to dress in red or wear a red scarf on their heads
to express their discontent with the government’s mismanagement and “say no to bad governance, impunity and humiliation".
Name: Nadjo Kaina,and Bertrand Sollo
Gender m/f: M
Further information on UA: 92/17 Index: AFR 20/6148/2017 Issue Date: 28 April 2017