EXTERNALAI Index: AFR 20/03/97

28 February 1997

Further information on UA 298/96 (AFR 20/16/96, 20 December 1996) - Torture / Fear of torture / Medical concern

CHADNestor MBAÏLO

Vincent MBAÏNAISSEM

Grégoire BOLTOUNGAR

Fleuri NEBADJINGUM

Emmanuel MAÏADJIM

Blaise MBAÏDOUAL

Apolinaire MBAODJI (note corrected spelling)

Raymond MBAÏLASSEM

Nestor Mbaïlo, Vincent Mbaïnaissem, Grégoire Boltoungar and Fleuri Neradingam have remained in detention without charge since their arrests in August and September 1996.

Following arrest, they were held in the gendarmerie station (brigade de gendarmerie) in Moundou, Logone Occidental, southern Chad. Although told by the local authorities that, as suspected members of an armed opposition group active in the area (the Forces armées pour la République fédérale (FARF), Armed Forces for a Federal Republic), they fell under the jurisdiction of the military authorities, the Procureur de la République of Logone Occidental intervened over the poor prison conditions in which they were held. Since his intervention, the men have been held in Moundou prison, where conditions, although still harsh, are better. Reports that they were tortured and ill-treated in the early stages of their detention are not believed to have been investigated.

According to information received by Amnesty International, they may be being held pending the outcome of negotiations between the government authorities and the FARF. Previous negotiations in similar circumstances have resulted in amnesties for members of armed groups.

Further information has been obtained on the cases of Emmanuel Mbaïadjim, Blaise Mbaïdoual, Apolinaire Mbaïodji and Raymond Mbaïlassem. The men have been accused of criminal offences, charged and tried by the Brigade Territoriale de Bénoye, Logone Occidental. Raymond Mbaïlassem was acquitted and released on 31 December 1996, while Emmanuel Mbaïadjim, Blaise Mbaïdoual and Apolinaire Mbaïodji received two-year prison sentences.

No further appeals are required on the cases of Emmanuel Mbaïadjim, Blaise Mbaïdoual, Apolinaire Mbaïodji and Raymond Mbaïlassem.

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

- expressing concern at the continued detention without trial of Nestor Mbaïlo, Vincent Mbaïnaissem, Grégoire Boltoungar and Fleuri Neradingam and urging that they be released if they are not to be charged with recognizably criminal offences;

- seeking assurances that the physical integrity of the detainees is being safeguarded and that they have access to legal counsel, medical care and their families;

- asking whether reports that the men were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the early stages of their detention have been investigated.

APPEALS TO:

President Idriss Déby

Président de la République

Présidence de la République

BP 74, N'DJAMENA, Chad

Faxes: + 235 51 45 01/51 46 53 (Please note: the 51 will change to 52 in the near future)

Saluation: Monsieur le Président / Dear President

Monsieur Ahmat Hassaballah Soubiane

Préfet de Moundou

Moundou

Logone occidental, Chad

Salutation: Monsieur le Préfet

Monsieur Youssouf Togoimi

Ministre des Forces armées

Minstère des Forces armées

N'DJAMENA, Chad

Salutation : Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister

Monsieur Abdelkerim NADJO

Ministre de la Justice et Garde des sceaux

Ministère de la Justice

N’JAMENA, Chad

Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre / Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Lieutenant Colonel DAOUD Soumaïne Khalil, Directeur Général de la Gendarmerie, BP 425, N’DJAMENA, Chad

Maître Paul Wadana, Procureur de la République, Palais de Justice, Moundou, Logone occidental, Chad

Le Rédacteur en chef, N'Djaména-Hebdo, BP 760, N'DJAMENA, Chad

and to diplomatic representatives of Chad accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 10 April 1997.