(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by the continuing detention without trial of Sylvestre Djahlin Nicoué, the managing editor of the weekly newspaper “Le Courrier du citoyen”. According to information received by PEN, Nicoué has been held at Lomé Civil Prison since 26 December 2002, when he was arrested by Criminal […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by the continuing detention without trial of Sylvestre Djahlin Nicoué, the managing editor of the weekly newspaper “Le Courrier du citoyen”.
According to information received by PEN, Nicoué has been held at Lomé Civil Prison since 26 December 2002, when he was arrested by Criminal Investigation Department agents. The detention stems from a “Le Courrier du citoyen” article which called on the Togolese people to end General Gnassingbe Eyadema’s rule. The piece appeared a few days before the Togolese Constitution was amended to allow Eyadema to seek re-election indefinitely.
President Eyadema came to power through a coup d’état in 1963 during which the elected president, Sylvanus Olympio, was assassinated. Eyadema organised elections in 1993 and 1998, winning both times. Neither election was considered free and fair by international observers. The president has been accused of ruling his country by means of terror, using murder, torture, “disappearances” and arbitrary arrests as political tools. Under the old Constitution, he would not have been able to run for office again when his second term of presidency ran out in June 2003.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling for the immediate release of Nicoué, or that he be charged with a recognisable offence that does not contravene the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and granted a reasonable bail
Appeals To
President Gnassingbe Eyadema
Présidence de la République
Résidence Lomé II
Lomé, Togo
Fax : +228 2 21 18 97
E-mail: presidence@republicoftogo.comA message can also be sent to the president via: http://www.republicoftogo.com/english/index.htm
H.E. Ambassador
Ambassade du Togo
Paris, France
Fax : +33 1 56 26 04 46Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
