Equatorial Guinea: Political reform without human rights (“What do human rights have to do with democracy?”)

This paper describes AI’s human rights concerns in Equatorial Guinea during 1992. Although new laws governing basic freedoms were introduced in January 1992, these were hedged with restrictions. No effort was made to bring the security forces under control and there were reports of senior officials actively encouraging violations. At least 3 people were arbitrarily killed in October/November 1992. Government critics, their relatives and friends have been harassed and arbitrarily detained or restricted. The paper focuses on the cases of some 20 people arrested for political reasons during 1992. The most prominent case is that of Placido Miko Abogo, detained and tortured in February 1992. Other concerns are torture, harsh prison conditions and the death penalty.

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