PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 30/002/2007

15 August 2007

UA 211/07 Fear for safety/fear of torture

GUINEA-BISSAU Allen Yéro Embalo (m), journalist

Alberto Dabo (m), journalist

Eva Maria Auzenda Biague (f), journalist

Fernando Jorge Perreira (m), journalist

Mario Sa Gomes (m), human rights defender

The four journalists named above have gone into hiding after threats from the military after they reported on the way Guinea-Bissau is being used as a transit point by drug-smugglers. If detained by the military, they would be at risk of torture. Human rights defender Mario Sa Gomes, who publicly called for civilian and military officials involved in the drug trade to be dismissed, has gone into hiding in fear for his life.

The journalists, who work for the BBC, Radio France International and Agence France Presse, published reports implicating high-ranking civilian and military officials in the drug trafficking. Military officials went on national radio demanding that Allen Yéro Embalo and Alberto Dabo speak on national radio to retract the reports. When they failed to do this, military officials made another announcement demanding they, and also Eva Maria Auzenda Biague and Fernando Jorge Perreira, report to the nearest police station. All four went into hiding shortly afterwards.

Mario Sa Gomes, who works for the national NGO Human Rights League of Guinea-Bissau, had stated on national radio on 11 July that the most effective way of tackling drug trafficking in the country was to immediately dismiss all the civilian and military officials who were implicated. The chief of the army demanded a public apology, which Mario Sa Gomes refused to give, and then issued a warrant for his arrest. He went into hiding shortly afterwards, fearing for his life.

Following the United Nations 2007 World Drug Report naming Guinea-Bissau as a major trafficking and transit point for cocaine, the four journalists published various reports implicating high-ranking civilian and military officials in the drug-trafficking. It is as a result of these reports that they have received threats from the military. There are no prisons in the country and if captured the journalists and human rights defender will be held in military installations.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a former Portuguese colony, which gained independence in 1973. The first multi-party elections were held in 1994. Since then there have been military-led coups in 1998 and September 2003. The death of the head of the armed forces due to a mutiny of military factions in October 2004 caused widespread unrest in the country. In June 2005, presidential elections were held for the first time since the September 2003 coup.

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

- expressing concern that journalists Allen Yéro Embalo, Alberto Dabo, Eva Maria Auzenda Biague and Fernando Jorge Perreira, and also human rights defender Mario Sa Gomes, have been threatened by army officers because of their work;

- expressing concern that if captured they would be at risk of torture and even death;

- calling for a prompt and impartial investigation, with the results made public, and for the officers involved to be suspended from duty until legal proceedings are completed.

APPEALS TO:

Procurator General

Exmo. Sr. Dr. Fernando Jorge Ribeiro

Procurador Geral da República

Procuradoria Geral

Avenida Amílcar Cabral

Bissau

República da Guiné Bissau

Fax: +245 20 39 24

Salutation: Excelência/Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

Justice Minister

Sua Excelência Carmelita Barbosa Rodrigues Pires

Ministra da Justiça

Ministério de Justiça

Avenida Amílcar Cabral

Bissau

República da Guiné-Bissau

Fax: +245 202 185

Salutation: Excelência/Your Excellency

Minister of Interior

Sua Excelência Baciro Dabó

Ministro da Administração Interna

Ministério da Administração Interna

Avenida da Unidade Africana

Bissau

República da Guiné Bissau

Fax: +245 201 671

Salutation: Excelência/Your Excellency

and to diplomatic representatives of Guinea-Bissau accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 26 September 2007.