Togo: Further information: Twelve activists released, four still detained
Twelve of the political activists arrested around the Togolese presidential election have been released on bail: they were not ill-treated during the month they spent in custody. A least four are still detained in the northern prison of Kara.
Further information on UA: 59/10 Index: AFR 57/002/2010 Togo Date: 6 April 2010
URGENT ACTION
TWELVE ACTIVISTS RELEASED, FOUR STILL DETAINED
Twelve of the political activists arrested around the Togolese presidential election have been
released on bail: they were not ill-treated during the month they spent in custody. A least four
are still detained in the northern prison of Kara.
The four people still detained, Fulbert Attisso, Guillaume Coco, Yaovi Abobi and Eric Solewassi, are all members of
the Citizens’ Movement for an Alternative (Mouvement Citoyen pour l'Alternance, MCA). They have been charged
with "an attempt on the security of the state" (atteinte à la sûreté de l’État) and are held in the prison in Kara (420
km north of the capital, Lomé) which makes it much more difficult for their families and lawyers to visit them.
Conditions at the prison are known to be harsh.
The other 12 political activists including Augustin Glokpon and Jacob Benissan, were released on bail on 31 March.
They are members of the main opposition party, the Union of Forces for Change (Union des Forces de Changement,
UFC). The two members of the opposition party Organization to Build Togo in Solidarity (Organisation pour bâtir
dans l’Union un Togo solidaire, OBUTS), who were arrested after the election as they were distributing leaflets,
Gérard Adja and Emmanuel Atayi, were also released, on 30 March and 1 April respectively, along with eight other
people.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in French, English or your own language:
Calling on the authorities to ensure that Fulbert Attisso, Guillaume Coco, Yaovi Abobi and Eric Solewassi are
protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and have regular access to their families, lawyers, and any medical
attention they may require ;
Calling on them to order an impartial investigation into their case and give them a prompt, fair trial or else
release them.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 18 MAY 2010 TO:
Minister of Security and Civil Protection
Colonel Atcha TITIKPINA
Ministre de la Sécurité et de la
Protection Civile
Ministère de la Sécurité et de la
Protection Civile
BP 12175, Lomé, Togo
Fax: +228 222 61 50
+228 222 21 84
Salutation: Dear Minister/
Monsieur le Ministre
Minister of Justice
Kokou Biossey TOZOUN
Ministre de la Justice
Ministère de la Justice
BP 121, Lomé, Togo
Fax: +228 222 29 06
+228 221 54 91
Salutation: Dear Minister/
Monsieur le Ministre
And copies to:
Embassy of Togo in France
Tchao SOTOU BERE
Ambassador of Togo in France
8 rue Alfred Roll
75017 Paris, France
Fax: +331 43 80 06 05
Salutation: Dear Ambassador/
Monsieur l’Ambassadeur
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 first update of UA 59/10. Further information: Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR57/001/2010/en
Date: 6 April 2010
URGENT ACTION
TWELVE ACTIVISTS RELEASED, FOUR STILL DETAINED
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The incumbent, Faure Gnassingbe, won Togo's presidential election on 4 March 2010. He had been appointed to the government
in 2003 by his father, General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who ruled the country for more than 40 years, until his death in 2005.
The 4 March election took place amid allegations of widespread fraud, condemned by opposition party leaders speaking to
demonstrations, which were banned or dispersed with teargas.
Further information on UA: 59/10 Index: AFR 57/002/2010 Issue Date: 6 April 2010