AI index: AFR 20/007/2007 (Public)

June 2007

Appeal Case

Chad

More than 14 army officers and civilians arrested in April 2006 still held incommunicado

Chad: More than 14 army officers and civilians arrested in April 2006 still held incommunicado

1. SUMMARY

The fate of more than 14 army officers and civilians, victims of "enforced disappearance" by the Chadian military between mid April and August 2006 in N’djamena, the Chadian capital city remain unknown. The men were detained by members of the security forces allegedly because they were involved in or had knowledge of the attack on N’Djamena carried out by an armed opposition group on 13 April 2006. The Chadian authorities have refused to disclose information on the whereabouts of these men, the state of their health, or confirm whether they are alive or dead. If alive, Amnesty International believes that the men are at serious risk of torture.

The following people are among the persons who disappeared" just before or soon after the N’djamena attack; Colonel Abakar Gawi Commandant of the Gendarmerie Legion of Batha arrested arrested on 14 April 2006, ColonelKhamis Doukoune 3rd Deputy Army Chief of Staff, Commandant of Battallion Adil Ousman Deputy Director of Chadian Army Administration and Finances arrested on 18 April 2006,Colonel Ahmat Haroun responsible for the B2 Office of the Chief of Army staff arrested on 11 April 2006 ( 2 days before the N’djamena attack), Colonel Abdoulaye Director of Communications in the Gendarmerie arrested on 13 April 2006, and Youssouf Seid Army Chief of Staff, Gendarmerie, Ramat Ahoula, Michelim Ahmat Oumar, Ahmat Mahamat, Ali Ousman, Guy Békam and Mahamat Saleh Idriss.

Amnesty International is gravely concerned about Chadian authorities’ refusal to disclose the whereabouts of these men, and their failure to respect due process and the rule of law. Despite calls from the victim’s families and human rights organisations the Chadian government refuses to disclose the fate or whereabouts of these individuals, initiate an independent, impartial investigation into these enforced disappearances and to bring those responsible to justice.

Amnesty International considers enforced disappearance to be a crime under international law. Enforced disappearances involve the violation of a series of basic human rights and freedoms including the right to liberty, right to a fair trial and equal protection under the law, right to mental and physical integrity and security of the person as well as the right not to be subjected to torture, cruel and inhuman treatment and punishment. These rights are enshrined in a number of international human treaties ratified by Chad, including the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

2. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this appeal case are:

1. to ensure that the Chadian authorities immediately disclose the fate and whereabouts of those "disappeared" and promptly inform their families and their representatives;

2. to ensure that these men are immediately granted access to their lawyers, families and doctors;

3. to ensure that the Chadian authorities either release the men or, if there is enough admissible evidence, charge them with recognizable criminal offences and bring them promptly to trial which meet international fair trial standards;

4. to initiate an independent and impartial investigation into these enforced disappearances and to bring those responsible to justice.

3. TIMING

This action runs from 14 June to 13 September 2007.This appeal will be updated if the situation changes.

4. BACKGROUND

According to information obtained by Amnesty International, the missing men are all believed to be members or supporters of the United Front for Democratic Change(FUC). This was a coalition of several armed groups formed in December 2005 which attacked N’djamena on 13 and 14 April 2006.

Following the 24 December 2006 Tripoli Peace Agreement signed between the Government of Chad and FUC, Mahamat Nour, the leader of FUC was appointed Minister of Defence by President Idriss Deby Itno on 4 March 2007.

5. TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please send polite letters or other materials your section or structure could develop to the following authorities in Chad and to the Chadian diplomatic representation in your country.

Call on the Government of Chad to:

5. ensure that the Chadian authorities immediately disclose the fate and whereabouts of those "disappeared" and promptly inform their families and their representatives;

6. ensure that these men are immediately granted access to their lawyers, families and doctors;

7. ensure that the Chadian authorities either release the men or, if there is enough admissible evidence, charge hem with recognizable criminal offences and bring them promptly to trial which meet international fair trial standards;

8. initiate an independent and impartial investigation into these enforced disappearances and to bring those responsible to justice.

Send appeals to:

1. President of Chad

H.E Idriss Deby Itno

Office of the President

BP 74

N'Djamena

Tel: 00235514437

Fax: 00235514501

Email: presidence@tchad.td

Salutation: Dear President

2. Minister of National Defence:

Mr Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim

N'Djamena

Tel: 00235522928/52 26 82

Fax: 00235524506

E-mail:cnr@intnet.td ou nato.acropolis@intnet.td

Salutation: Dear Minister

3. Minister of the Interior and Public Security

Mr Ahmat Mahamat Bashir

N'Djamena

PO Box: 742 Ndjamena

Tel: 00235524730/52 32 03/52 00 75

Fax: 00235522139

Salutation: Dear Minister

4. Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals

Mr Albert Pahimi Padacket

BP 426/5495

N'Djamena

Tel: 00235 522172/52 01 99/52 24 16

Fax: 00235 522139

Email: justice@intnet.td

Salutation : Dear Minister

5. Minister of Human Rights:

Mme Fatime Issa Ramadane

BP 426

N'Djamena

Tel: 00235522172

Fax : 00235522139

Email: justice@intnet.td

Salutation : Dear Minister

6. CONTACT

Please send copies of any responses you receive to the Central Africa team at the International Secretariat. We would also be very interested in any feedback, questions and comments you may have. We shall keep you informed of any developments in this case.

Feedback and contact: Christian MUKOSA, Central Africa Campaigner, cmukosa@amnesty.org

More information on this case can be obtained on Amnesty International’s website

http//www.amnesty.org/chad/Sudan

Amnesty International

AI Index: AFR 20/007/2007

June 2007

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