PUBLICAI Index: AFR 49/01/99

29 January 1999

Further information on UA 264/98 (AFR 49/07/98, 9 October 1998) - Fear for safety

SENEGALAnquiling Diabone, human rights activist

and his family

There are fears for the safety of human rights activist Anquiling Diabone, who is returning to Senegal from France. He will arrive in Dakar on Monday 1 February 1999.

Anquiling Diabone is a regional representative of the human rights organization Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de L'homme (RADDHO), African Conference for the Defence of Human Rights. He works in Casamance, southern Senegal, where armed conflict has raged for 15 years between government troops and the Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance (MFDC), Democratic Forces of Casamance. He left Senegal in November 1998 to attend a Paris summit on human rights defenders.

Anquiling Diabone was arrested at a military checkpoint in Casamance in October 1998. The soldiers beat him and criticised him for his human rights work. A few days later his wife, two sons and nephew were detained and intimidated at the same checkpoint. Amnesty International believes these are attempts to silence Anquiling Diabone, one of the most courageous human rights defenders in the region.

Since this Urgent Action on behalf of Anquiling Diabone began in October 1998, his case has received considerable attention from the public and the authorities. He is planning to meet key security officials on his return in order to make them aware of his need for protection.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/ airmail letters in French or in your own language:

- referring to the fact that Anquiling Diabone was detained and beaten by soldiers at a checkpoint on 1 October 1998 and that his wife, two sons and nephew were later also detained and intimidated at the same checkpoint;

- expressing concern that they may be at risk of further human rights violations by members of the Senegalese security forces when they return to Senegal on 1 February 1999;

- calling upon the government to state publicly that it will take immediate steps to ensure the physical security of Anquiling Diabone and his family;

- calling for an inquiry into the ill-treatment and harassment of Anquiling Diabone and members of his family, and asking that those responsible be brought to justice;

- calling on the Senegalese authorities to give strict orders to the security forces to respect human rights and protect human rights defenders;

- reminding the Senegalese authorities of the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, notably Article 3: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”

APPEALS TO:

Son Excellence Monsieur Abdou DIOUF, Président de la République

La Présidence, Avenue Roume, BP 168, Dakar, Senegal

Telegrams:Président, Dakar Sénégal

Faxes:+ 221 8 21 86 60

Salutation:Monsieur le Président / Dear President

Monsieur Serigne DIOP

Garde des Sceaux et Ministre de la Justice, Ministère de la Justice

Immeuble Administratif, BP 176, Dakar, Sénégal

Telegrams:Ministre Justice, Dakar, Sénégal

Faxes:+ 221 8 23 27 27 (voice message is followed by fax tone)

Salutation:Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister

Monsieur le Général Lamine CISSE

Ministre de l’Intérieur, Ministère de l’Intérieur

Rond-Point de la République, Dakar, Sénégal

Telegrams:Ministre L’Intérieur, Dakar, Sénégal

Faxes:+ 221 8 21 05 42

Salutation:Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister

COPIES TO :

Monsieur Jacques BAUDIN

Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères

Place de l’Indépendance, Dakar, Senegal

Faxes:+ 221 8 23 84 88

Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des droits de l’homme (RADDHO),

BP 15246, Dakar, Senegal

Faxes:+ 221 8 24 60 52

Sud Quotidian newspaper, BP 4130 Dakar, Senegal

Faxes:+ 221 8 22 52 90

Wal Fadjiri newspaper, BP 576, Dakar, Senegal

Faxes:+ 221 8 24 23 46

and to the embassy of your own country in Senegal, in particular:

UK Embassy, 20 rue du Dr Guillet, Dakar, Senegal,

Faxes:+ 221 8 23 73 92

German Embassy, 20 avenue Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal

Faxes: + 221 8 23 48 84

French Embassy, 1 rue Amadou Hassan Ndoye, BP 8035, Dakar, Senegal

Faxes:+ 221 8 39 51 81

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 12 March 1999.