URGENT ACTION

One SOLDIER released, 11 still INCOMMUNICADO

One of the 12 soldiers held without charge in Guinea has been released. The 11 others are detained incommunicado and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

Captain Ibrahima Sory Bangourahwas released without charge on 16 August after more than seven months in custody. He has now been reunited with his family in the capital, Conakry.

He was one of 12 soldiers arrested in January, soon after a military coup in Guinea. All 12 had apparently worked for Guinea's former president, Lansanna Conté. The 11 remaining detainees are Colonel Fodé Bacar Sylla, Colonel Soryba Yansané, Lieutenant Colonel David Syllah, Commander Issiaka Camara, Commander Pathio Bangourah, Captain Mamadou Bah Syllah, Captain Lansinet Keita, Lieutenant Ibrahima Kadja Barry, Sub-Lieutenant Alpha Oumar Diallo, Sub-Lieutenant Hassiniou Pendessaand Sergeant Moussa Sylla.They were transferred to a place of detention on the island of Kassa, west of Conakry, on 2 August. Since then, they have been held incommunicado. Some of the detainees' families have brought food parcels to the island, but it is not known whether these have been passed on to the men.

According to local sources,the men were only wearing underwear and their handswere tied when they were moved to the new place of detention on the island. The place where they are now held is not a lawful place of detention.Amnesty International has documented several cases of people who were tortured and otherwise ill-treated during months of incommunicado detention there.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in French or your own language:

• Urging the authorities to release the 11 soldiers immediately if they are not to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence, and, while they are in custody, allow them access to their families, lawyers and any medical treatment they may require;

• Expressing concern that the men are held incommunicado in an unlawful place of detention, where others are known to have been tortured;

• Calling on them to guarantee that the 11 men are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 29 SEPTEMBER 2009 TO: