PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 24/010/2004

29 July 2004

Further Information on UA 215/04 (AFR 24/008/2004, 2 July 2004) - Fear for safety/fear of torture/medical concern

EQUATORIAL GUINEA Marcelino Nguema Esono (m), age 40-45, teacher

Jerónimo Mbá Obama (m)

José Antonio Nguema (m)

Leoncio (m)

New names: Pedro Esono Esono (m)

Antonio Mbá Ndong (m)

Alfredo Asumu (m)

Purificación Bindang (f)

Francisco Briones Garriga (m)

Jerónimo Mbá Obama reportedly was taken to hospital in Malabo on the night of 13 July, as he had become very ill, reportedly as a result of torture. He had reportedly been badly tortured following his arrest. He had also apparently suffered a severe attack of malaria. Prison guards forcibly removed him from hospital two days later, without medical authorisation, and took him back to prison. He and the others arrested on 27 June are reportedly still held incommunicado. Each man is apparently allowed one bottle of water and two bread rolls every five days.

Marcelino Nguema Esono, who was shot in the stomach during his arrest, is not known to have received medical treatment.

A further five people, named above, are held in the main police station in Bata. They were arrested on Corsico island on 29 May when the security forces foiled an alleged attack on the island. They were part of a group of about 24 Equatorial Guineans living in Libreville, Gabon, who [allegedly] carried out the attack. Seeing that they were outnumbered, about five managed to escape back to Gabon. The others tried to hide, but the security forces rounded them up and are reported to have extrajudicially executed between 12 and 15 of them before a high-ranking military officer arrived by helicopter and stopped the killings. These five were then arrested.

The five were shown on television after they were arrested, and appeared to have been tortured. Alfredo Asumu was suspended from the ceiling, and beaten so severely that he cannot use his hands. He and Antonio Mbá Ndong are known to have asked for medical treatment and been refused: none of this group has received any medical attention. The four men in this group are kept handcuffed.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

- expressing concern that all the nine detainees (naming them) have reportedly been tortured in police custody, and urging the authorities to ensure that the torture is ended immediately;

- expressing concern that all are held incommunicado, and asking for them to be allowed access to their families and lawyers, as well as adequate food and water;

- expressing concern that the prison authorities removed Jerónimo Mbá Obama from hospital before he had fully recovered, and without medical authorisation, and asking for him and all the other detainees to be given immediate and adequate medical attention.

APPEALS TO:

President

General Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

Presidente de la República

Gabinete del Presidente de la República

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: +240 09 3313

+240 09 3334

Salutation: Excelência /Your Excellency

Minister of Justice

Sr Don Angel Masié Mibuy

Ministro de Justicia y Culto

Ministerio de justicia y Culto

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: +240 09 2115

Salutation: Sr Ministro/Dear Minister

Minister of National Security

Coronel Manuel Nguema Mbá

Ministro de la Seguridad Nacional

Ministerio de la Seguridad Nacional

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: via any of the other fax numbers given

Salutation: Sr Ministro/Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Pastor Micha Ondo Bile

Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores

Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: +240 09 3132

+240 09 2320

and to diplomatic representatives of Equatorial Guinea accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 9 September 2004.