UA 92/93 - Togo: extrajudicial executions / fear of torture and further extrajudicial executions: Colonel Eugene Koffi Tepe and three relatives: Koffi Tepe, Paul Tepe, Robert Tepe; Presidential Guard officer Batchassi, Sergeant-Major Yeto Kougblenou, Serg
At least 20 people are reported to have been killed by members of the Togolese Army following an alleged attack on an army barracks on 25 March 1993. The victims are mainly military personnel. Dozens of military personnel are reported to have been arrested because of suspected involvement in the attack on the army barracks or for suspected membership of the Association des militaires democrates, a secret military organization which advocates reform. One of those arrested, army musician Warrant Officer Lawson, was reportedly severely tortured and had to be admitted to hospital.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AFR 57/04/93
Distr: UA/SC
UA 92/93 Extrajudicial executions/Fear of torture and further
extrajudicial executions
30 March 1993
TOGO:The following people are believed to have been extrajudicially executed:
Colonel Eugène Koffi Tepe, chef d'état major adjoint, Deputy Chief of Army
Staff, and at least three young relatives:
Koffi Tepe, son of Colonel Tepe
Paul Tepe, son of Colonel Tepe
Robert Tepe, nephew of Colonel Tepe
Mr Batchassi, officier de la garde présidentielle, officer of
the presidential guard
Yeto Kougblenou, sergent-chef, sergeant-major
Mr Mayanbo, sergent, sergeant
Yaya Seibou, caporal-chef, corporal
Agbali Kodjo, caporal-chef, corporal
Amezian Mensah, caporal-chef, corporal
Atcha Souradjou, caporal-chef, corporal
Affo Bozinanbo, driver of the presidential guard
Affo Ati Issaka
and at least seven others.
The following people are believed to have been arrested or to have "disappeared":
Mr Fondoumi, commandant, army major
Mr Lawson, adjutant-chef, warrant officer, chief army musician
Amnesty International is gravely concerned by reports that at least 20 people
have been extrajudicially executed by members of the Forces Armées Togolaises
(FAT), the Togolese army, following an alleged attack on the army barracks
of the Régiment Interarmes Togolais (RIT), Combined Forces Regiment, on 25
March 1993. The RIT barracks, situated in the capital, Lomé, is the residence
of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma. The victims, who are mainly military
personnel, are believed to include at least three young relatives of Colonel
Eugène Koffi Tepe, who was executed by soldiers at the RIT camp on 25 March
1993 because of his suspected involvement with the attack.
Amnesty International is also deeply concerned at reports that dozens of
military personnel have been arrested, either because of their suspected
involvement in the attack at the RIT barrack on 25 March, or because they are
suspected of being members of the Association des militaires démocrates,
Association of Democratic Soldiers, a clandestine organization which has, in
the past, published leaflets advocating reform. There are fears for the safety
of these prisoners, particularly in the light of reports that some prisoners
have been tortured and others have "disappeared".
Among those arrested was Warrant Officer Lawson, a leading army musician.
He was arrested on 25 March and was reportedly severely tortured, apparently
stabbed and cut with knives, at the Camp de la gendarmerie nationale, Gendarmarie
barracks, in Lomé. He was reportedly admitted to hospital in Lomé suffering
from severe injuries. Commandant Fondoumi was also arrested on 25 March and
is believed to have "disappeared".
Those who have been arrested are reportedly being held at the RIT barracks,
headquarters of the Togolese Army, or at the Camp de la gendarmerie nationale,
in Lomé. Extrajudicial executions are reported to have been carried out at
the RIT barracks and at a military shooting range in Aguenyivé, a suburb of
Lomé. The corpses of two unidentified military personnel were reportedly found
in Aguenyivé on Friday 26 March.
Amnesty International deplores the deliberate extrajudicial execution of
members of the army and others. It is calling on the Togolese government to
halt these extrajudicial executions by the army and to conduct an immediate,
thorough and impartial investigation with a view to bringing those responsible
for unlawful killings to justice. Amnesty International also calls on the
Togolese authorities to safeguard the security of those in custody who it fears
may be at risk of torture or "disappearance", and to release any prisoner who
is not to be promptly charged with a recognizably criminal offence.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
After months of violent confrontations between the security forces and opponents
of one-party rule in early 1991, President Eyadéma and his government agreed
to introduce a multi-party political system and hold a National Conference,
which took place from July to August 1991. The National Conference discussed
the country's human rights record since President Eyadéma came to power in
1967. It elected Joseph Kokou Koffigoh as Prime Minister, who nominated a
transitional government to run the country until elections could be held.
These were scheduled first for early 1992 but have been repeatedly delayed,
with President Eyadéma remaining as Head of State during this transitional
period.
A Franco-German delegation was in Togo in an attempt to resolve the worsening
political crisis, when, on 25 January 1993, at least 19 civilians were
extrajudicially executed by the Togolese security forces, who opened fire on
peaceful demonstrators without warning. When political killings or other
violations of human rights have occurred during the transitional period, the
authorities have generally failed to carry out independent and impartial
investigations to establish exactly what happened and to recommend remedies.
This repeated failure implies that the armed forces are not accountable for
their actions before the law. In mid-March, the authorities announced that
a new security force, FORS '93, which would exclude the army, would become
operational on 1 April 1993, to keep order during and after elections planned
for coming months.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail
letters either in French, English or in your own language:
- expressing grave concern at reports that at least 20 people, including the
above-mentioned individuals have been extrajudicially executed by members of
the Forces Armée Togolaises (FAT), the Togolese army, following an alleged
attack at the RIT barracks, in Lomé, on 25 March 1993;
- calling on the Togolese authorities to halt these extrajudicial executions
by the army and to conduct an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation,
with a view to bringing those responsible to justice;
- expressing deep concern at reports that dozens of military personnel have
been arrested and that some prisoners have been tortured while others have
"disappeared";
- calling on the Togolese authorities to safeguard the security of those in
custody who may be at risk of torture or "disappearance", to ensure they are
not held in secret or incommunicado detention and to release any prisoner who
is not to be promptly charged with a recognizably criminal offence.
APPEALS TO
1) President
Son Excellence Monsieur le Général Gnassingbé Eyadéma
Président de la République
Palais présidentiel
Avenue de la Marina
Lomé, Togo
Telegrams: Président de la République, Lomé, Togo
Faxes: + 228 21 18 97; + 228 21 32 04
Telexes: 5319; 5419; 5201 TMS THG
Salutation: Monsieur le Président / Dear President
2) Prime Minister
Monsieur Joseph Kokou Koffigoh
Premier Ministre, Ministre de la Défense
La Primature
Lomé, Togo
Telegrams: Premier Ministre, Lomé, Togo
Faxes: + 228 21 20 40; + 228 21 08 50
Salutation: Monsieur le Premier Ministre / Dear Prime Minister
3) Chief of Army Staff
Monsieur le Général de brigade Bassabi Bonfoh
Chef d'Etat-major général
Camp militaire RIT
Boulevard des Armées
Lomé, Togo
Telegrams: Chef d'Etat-major, Lomé, Togo
Telexes: 5477 DSFAT
Faxes: + 228 21 20 40; +228 21 08 50
Salutation: Monsieur le Chef d'Etat-Major / Dear Chief of Army Staff
4) Commander of Rapid Intervention Force
Monsieur le Commandant Djoua
Commandant de la Force d'Intervention Rapide
Camp militaire RIT
Boulevard des Armées
Lomé,Togo
Telegrams: Monsieur le Commandant Djoua, Lomé, Togo
Telexes: 5477 DSFAT
Faxes: + 228 21 20 40; +228 21 08 50
Salutation: Monsieur le Commandant Djoua / Dear
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
Monsieur Georges Combévi Agbodjan
Ministre de l'Administration territoriale et de la Sécurité
Ministère de l'Administration territoriale et de la Sécurité
Rue Albert Sarrault
Lomé, Togo
Gazette du Golfe (Newspaper)
Carré 961 'J' étoile rouge
BP 03-1624
Cotonou, République du Bénin
Ghanaian Voice (Newspaper)
PO Box 514
Mamprobi
Accra, Ghana
Le Courrier du Golfe (Newspaper)
BP 660
Lomé, Togo
and to diplomatic representatives of Togo accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 11 May 1993.