EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 23/07/93

Distr: UA/SC

27 October 1993

Further information on UA 331/93 (AFR 23/05/93, 17 September 1993, and follow-up: AFR 23/06/93, 15 October 1993) - Legal concern

DJIBOUTI:Mohamed Houmed Soulleh, president of the Association pour la défense des droits de l'homme et des libertés (ADDHL) and a former member of parliament

Mohamed Houmed Soulleh was taken to court on 18 October 1993 to face charges of defaming the Minister of Defence and spreading false information. As president of the ADDHL, he had criticised the army for human rights abuses in the civil war in the north. The charges in court related to his accusation that government soldiers had shot at an independent delegation trying to investigate alleged army killings. The government denied this and blamed that shooting on the rebels.

On 25 October the magistrate convicted him and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment and a fine of 300,000 Djibouti Francs (US$ 1,700 equivalent). His defence lawyer is appealing.

He is held in Gabode prison in the capital, Djibouti. He was recently on hunger-strike in protest against his continued detention and his treatment in prison, where he was being held in a crowded cell with over 150 common-law prisoners and inadequate facilities, and had been threatened by prison guards. He is still held in the same cell, though allowed access to his family, lawyer and medical attention.

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

- expressing concern at the unfair conviction and imprisonment of Mohamed Houmed Soulleh on account of his opinions and criticism of human rights abuses, and renewing appeals for his immediate and unconditional release as a prisoner of conscience;

- calling for immediate improvements in his conditions of imprisonment.

APPEALS TO:

1) Son Excellence Monsieur Hassan Gouled Aptidon

Président de la République

La Présidence

BP 6

Djibouti, République de Djibouti

Telegrams: Président Hassan Gouled, Djibouti

Telexes: 5871 DJ

Faxes: + 253 355049 / + 253 350174

Salutation: Monsieur le Président de la République

2) Monsieur Moumin Bahdon Farah

Ministre de la Justice et des Affaires Pénitentiaires

Ministère de la Justice

BP 12

Djibouti, République de Djibouti

Telegrams: Ministre de la Justice Moumin Farah

Telexes: 5871 DJ

Faxes: + 253 355049 / + 253 350174

Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

1) Head of Prison Service

Monsieur Mohamed Houmed

Chef du Service Pénitentiare et

directeur de la prison civil de Gabode

BP 12

Djibouti, République de Djibouti

2) Attorney General

Monsieur Mohamed Ali Afkada

Procureur Général

BP 12

Djibouti, République de Djibouti

3) Human rights organization

Association pour la défense des droits de l'homme et des libertés

BP 2410

Djibouti, République de Djibouti

4) Soulleh's lawyer

Maître Aref Mohamed Aref

BP 1441

Djibouti, République de Djibouti

5) President of the bar (law society)

Maître Alain Martinet

Bâtonnier, Barreau de Djibouti

BP 169

Djibouti, République de Djibouti

and to diplomatic representatives of Djibouti accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 7 December 1993.