EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 37/04/94

Distr: UA/SC

This is a limited action - please organize up to 20 appeals per section.

UA 193/94Legal concern/probable Prisoners of Conscience/

Health concern19 May 1994

MALI Diallo Fanta Dramé (F), aged in her 40s, member of the

Association des victimes de la répression.

Korotoumou Traoré (F), in her 50s, member of the Association

des partants volontaires à la retraite.

Two women arrested in Bamako by the Malian security forces on 11 and 12 May 1994 are being detained incommunicado and without charge. Amnesty International believes that they could be prisoners of conscience imprisoned solely because of their involvement in a peaceful campaign seeking the release of students accused of participating in violent student demonstrations on 15 February 1994. Diallo Fanta Dramé has been denied medication prescribed for a serious medical condition and is reported to be suffering from stomach pains.

Diallo Fanta Dramé is a member of the Association des victimes de la répression, an organization working for the victims of government repression in the days before the coup d'état of March 1991. It is also one of several organizations seeking the release of detained students. She was arrested at her home on 11 May 1994, apparently as she tried to stop the security forces - believed to be security police and gendarmes - arresting students who had sought refuge in her home. She is held incommunicado at Gendarmerie Camp III in Bamako. She is diabetic and suffers from high blood pressure but has reportedly been denied prescribed medication. She is also said to be suffering from stomach pains but to have received no medical attention.

Korotoumou Traoré is a member of the Association des partants volontaires à la retraite, an organization for retired people. She is also on the Collectif des associations, a coordinating committee of associations which are campaigning for the release of detained students. After being questioned on three previous occasions about an anonymous pamphlet calling for armed insurrection, which has been condemned by the Collectif des associations, she was summoned on 12 May 1994 to the Gendarmerie headquarters in Bamako and taken into custody. She has since been held incommunicado at Gendarmerie Camp I in Bamako.

The two women have not been charged with any offence and are therefore detained illegally. Malian law provides for those held in custody to be brought before a judicial authority 48 hours after arrest. Any further detention should be authorized by a judicial official.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About 40 students arrested in connection with violent demonstrations on 15 February 1994 remain in custody awaiting trial on public order charges. A few have already been convicted and sentenced to short prison terms. Arrests continue.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes and airmail letters either in French or in your own language:

- expressing concern about the illegal detention without charge or trial of Diallo Fanta Dramé and Korotoumou Traoré since 11 and 12 May 1994;

- expressing concern at reports that Diallo Fanta Dramé is being denied medication necessary for the treatment of her diabetes and high blood pressure and that she is suffering from stomach pains for which she appears to have received no medical attention; urging that she receive all necessary medical treatment;

- stating that Amnesty International believes that they could be prisoners of conscience and urging that, if they are not to be charged with recognizably criminal offences, they should be immediately and unconditionally released.

APPEALS TO

1) President:

Monsieur Alpha Oumar KONARÉ

Président de la République

La Présidence

BP 1463

BAMAKO, Mali

Telegrams: Président Konaré, Bamako, Mali

Fax: + 223 22 39 80

Salutation: Monsieur le Président/ Dear President

2) Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals

Monsieur Boubacar Gaoussou DIARRA

Ministre de la Justice,Garde des Sceaux

Ministère de la Justice

B.P. 97

BAMAKO, Mali

Telegrams: Ministre Diarra, Ministère de la Justice, Bamako, Mali

Fax: +223 23 00 63

Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre/Dear Minister

3) Minister of Defence

Monsieur Dioncounda TRAORÉ

Ministre de la Défense

Ministère de la Défense

BP 215

BAMAKO, Mali

Telegrams: Ministre Traoré, Ministère de la Défense, Bamako, Mali

Telex: 2582

Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre/Dear Minister

4)Minister of Territorial Administration (Interior)

Lieutenant-Colonel Sada SAMAKÉ

Ministre de l'Administration territoriale

et de la Sécurité

Ministère de l'Administration territoriale

BAMAKO, Mali

Telegrams: Ministre Samaké,Ministère l'Administration territoriale, Bamako, Mali

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

the following newspapers:

L'Aurore

BP 3150

BAMAKO, Mali

Les Echos

BP 2043

BAMAKO, Mali

Le Républicain

BP 1484

Bamako, Mali

L'Observateur

BP 1238

Bamako, Mali

the following human rights organization:

Association malienne des droits de l'homme

BP 367, BAMAKO, Mali

and to diplomatic representatives of Mali accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 30 June 1994.