EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 19/05/91

Distr: UA/SC

2 May 1991

Further information on UA 85/90 (AFR 19/01/90, 27 February 1990) - Legal Concern

CENTRAL AFRICANHonorat Cocksiss Ouilebona,

REPUBLIC: employee of the Ministry of Health

and General François Bozizé

(cedilla on c of Francois, acute on e of Bozize)

Honorat Cocksiss Ouilebona was among several dozen untried detainees and others serving prison sentences who were released in April 1991 following a presidential amnesty issued on 23 April 1991. He had been arrested on 29 December 1989 in the capital, Bangui. He was detained, apparently without charge or trial, because of his suspected support for General François Bozizé, his brother, who has been held since August 1989.

General Bozizé continues to be held at Roux military camp, Camp de Roux. Eleven other opponents of the government, repatriated with him and detained at Kassaï (umlaut on i) military camp, Camp Kassaï, were also released in April 1991. General Bozizé and the eleven others had been living in exile for up to eight years in the People's Republic of Benin, from where they were forcibly repatriated in August 1989. Before the release of the 11 people arrested with General Bozizé, Amnesty International was investigating their cases to establish whether they were prisoners of conscience.

General Bozizé was charged at the end of 1990, together with the 11 repatriated with him, with state security offences. Between January and April 1991 he appeared before the High Court of Justice, Haute cour de Justice, in Bangui, but the trial was adjourned at each of the three appearances. It is unclear when he might be tried. Amnesty International continues to investigate his case to establish whether he might be a prisoner of conscience held on account of his non-violent political activities.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telexes/telegrams and airmail letters:

- welcoming the news of the release of Honorat Cocksiss Ouilebona and the eleven people forcibly repatriated with General Bozizé in August 1989 from the People's Republic of Benin;

- expressing concern at the continued detention of General Bozizé and asking why his trial has already been postponed three times this year;

- seeking information about the evidence against General Bozizé and asking to be informed when he will be brought to trial;

- urging the authorities to release him if he is detained solely on account of his non-violent political activities.

APPEALS TO:

Son Excellence

Général d'Armée André KOLINGBA

Président de la République

Palais de la Renaissance

Bangui

République centrafricaine

Telexes:5300 PRESICAB RC; 5201 VICEPRE RC

Telegrams:President KOLINGBA, Bangui, RCA

Monsieur Edouard FRANK

Premier Ministre et Chef du Gouvernement

Palais de la Renaissance

Bangui

République centrafricaine

Telegrams:Premier Ministre FRANK, Bangui, RCA

Telexes:5300 PRESICAB RC; 5201 VICEPRE RC

Monsieur Jean KPWOKA

Ministre de la Justice et Garde des Sceaux

Ministère de la Justice

Bangui

République centrafricaine

Telegrams:Ministre Justice KPWOKA, Bangui, RCA

COPIES TO:

Monsieur Christophe GRELOMBE

Conseiller en matières de la Défense au Président

de la République

Présidence de la République

Palais de la Renaissance

Bangui

République centrafricaine

Monsieur Laurent GOMINA-PAMPALI

Ministre des Affaires étrangères

Ministère des Affaires étrangères

BP 936

Bangui

République centrafricaine

Monsieur Ismaila NIMAGA

Ministre de la Sécurité publique

et de l'Administration du territoire

Ministère de l'Administration du territoire

Bangui

République centrafricaine

and to diplomatic representatives of the Central African republic in your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office if sending appeals after 13 June 1991.