PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 57/003/2004

24 May 2004

Further Information on UA 56/03 (AFR 57/001/2003, 25 February 2003) and follow up (AFR 57/002/2003, 3 March 2003) Fear of torture/Prisoners of Conscience (POCs)

TOGO Marc Palanga (m), leader of the Union des forces du changement (UFC),

Union of Forces for Change

Mazama Katassa (m), member of UFC

Prisoners of Conscience Marc Palanga and Mazama Katassa were convicted on 2 May of “violence against public authorities” (violences envers les représentants de l’autorité publique) and various offences against the electoral code, by the court in Kara in the North of Togo.

Marc Palanga was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with five months suspended. Mazama Katassa, who escaped from detention in Kara Gendarmerie (Police Station), in September 2003, was sentenced to 12 months in absentia. Marc Palanga confirmed that he was regularly tortured while in detention in the Kara gendarmerie. He was released on 20 May. Mazama Katassa lives in exile.

No further action is required from the UA network. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals.