EXTERNAL

AI Index: AFR 20/09/90

Distrib : PG/SC

Date: 30 August 1990

DETENTION OF DR RAMADANE AMOLI

CHAD

Dr Ramadane Amoli is a 34-year-old doctor who was arrested between 28 June and 1 July 1987 and has since been detained in secret without charge or trial. He is reported to have been arrested in part because of his ethnic origin; he is a member of the Hadjeraï ethnic group, over 180 of whom are believed to be among an estimated 400 political prisoners held in Chad. It is also believed that one of the reasons for his arrest was his close friendship with Haroun Gody, a leader of the Mouvement du salut national du Tchad (MOSANAT), Movement for National Salvation of Chad, an armed opposition group which draws its support mainly from the Hadjeraï community.

Following the outbreak of an insurgency in parts of the Hadjeraï-populated Géra prefecture in the south-east of Chad in early 1987, there was a wave of arrests during which several Hadjeraï are believed to have been arrested solely because of ethnic origin and because they were regarded by the authorities as potential or suspected sources of opposition to the government.

Apart from his friendship with Haroun Gody, there appears to be no independent evidence that Dr Amoli had taken up arms against the government or been otherwise involved in supporting insurgents. He is not known to have participated in any political activities.

Despite enquiries about Dr Amoli and other political prisoners, the Chadian Government has failed to account for what has happened to the prisoners and has refused to disclose any information concerning the reasons for their arrest or about their places of detention. In common with other political prisoners, Dr Amoli is held incommunicado and is unable to challenge the legal grounds for his detention. Although the government has not made known Dr Amoli's place of detention, it appears liklely that he and other political prisoners are held in detention centres in the capital, N'Djamena. Many are reported to have been tortured or ill-treated, subjected to electric shocks and severe beatings.

On 10 December 1989, a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum in Chad and contains several articles which provide for the protection of basic human rights, including the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right not to be arbitrarily detained. Continued abuses of human rights in Chad are thus in violation of the new constitution and Amnesty International has urged the Chadian authorities to ensure that the guarantees laid down in

the constitution are respected. Although the Chadian Code of Penal Procedure includes safeguards to prevent arbitrary arrest and detention and sets a maximum period of 48 hours for garde-à-vue detention, no political prisoners have been brought to trial or had their cases referred to the judicial authorities since President Habré came to power in 1982.

Amnesty International has adopted Dr Amoli as a prisoner of conscience and is seeking his prompt and unconditional release from prison.

INTERNAL

AI Index: AFR 20/09/90

Distrib : PG/SC

To : Medical professionals

From: Medical Office / Research Department - Africa

Date: 30 August 1990

MEDICAL LETTER-WRITING ACTION

DETENTION OF DR RAMADANE AMOLI

CHAD

Letters are requested from medical professionals on behalf of Dr Ramadane Amoli, who has been held without charge or trial since his arrest over three years ago. He is adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. Please see the external details attached. Letters should be written on professional headed paper where possible, with or without mention of AI [yes?] and should

. express your concern over the detention without charge or trial

of Dr Ramadane Amoli since his arrest in late June or early

July 1987

. note reports that Dr Amoli has not been involved in any violent

activity and that he is said to have been arbitrarily arrested

in 1987 at a time when large numbers of the Hadjeraï community

were detained following insurrection in Géra prefecture

. seek details of Dr Amoli's place and conditions of detention and

information on his current state of health

. urge that his case is urgently reviewed with a view to securing

his prompt and unconditional release

In April 1990 medical groups participated in a group-level action on Chad, focusing among other things on arbitrary secret detention. Group members who have written previously on secret detention in Chad may wish to make note of this in their letters, again urging the Chadian authorities to ensure that guarantees enshrined in the new constitution are respected and that an end is brought to incommunicado detention and the holding of political detainees without due process of law.

ADDRESSES

Son Excellence Monsieur Hissein Habré M.Acheikh Ibn Oumar Président de la République

Ministre des relations extérieures Présidence de la Répubique Ministère des relations extérieures N'Djamena N'Djamena République du Tchad République du Tchad

M. Djimet Togou

Ministre de l'intérieur et de l'administration du territoire

Ministère de l'intérieur et de l'administration du territoire

N'Djamena

République du Tchad

COPIES

to diplomatic representatives of Chad in your own country.