Togo
03.02.00
Urgent Interventions
Arrest of two trade-union leaders
URGENT APPEAL -THE OBSERVATORY
TGO 001 / 0200 / OBS 004
Arrest
TOGO
3rd February 2000
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the FIDH and the OMCT, requests your intervention in the following situation in Togo.
Brief description of the situation
The Observatory has been informed by various sources, including the WFTU a member of the OMCT, of the arrest, on January 28th 2000 of two trade-union leaders, MM. Tetevi Norbert Gbikpi-Benissan, Secretary General of the Union Nationale des Syndicats Indépendants du Togo (UNSIT), and Pierre Alaga-Kodegui, Secretary General of the Fédération des Travailleurs de l'Enseignement (FETREN).
According to information received these persons are allegedly accused of "propagating false information" and were immediately taken to the prison of Lomé.
The Observatory fears that the arrest of the above mentioned persons is due to their activities in defence of the fundamental rights and liberties of the workers. It also fears that their physical safety and integrity may be seriously jeopardized.
Action requested :
Please write to the Togolese authorities urging them to:
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of MM. Tetevi Norbert Gbikpi-Benissan et Pierre Alaga-Kodegui; and ensure their immediate release in the absence of valid charges against them;
ii. adopt all necessary measures in order to ensure full freedom of action of human rights organizations including trade union organizations as well as their members;
iii. to conform to the arrangements of the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 9 December 1998, and notably by Article 1 which states that « Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels» and Article 6.b which stipulates that « Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others (...), to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms ».
iv. to conform, more generally, to the dispositions of the universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international pacts relative to Human Rights which bind Togo.
Addresses :
Général Eyadéma Gnassingbé, Président de la République du Togo, Lomé, Togo. Fax : (228) 211897 or 21 18 98 or 21 32 04 télex : 5139 or 5201 or 5419
M. Eugene Adoboli, Premier Ministre. Fax : (228) 21 37 53 or 21 20 40
Ministere de la Promotion de la Democratie et de l'Etat de Droit, Lomé, Togo. Fax : (228) 22 61 14
Assemblée Nationale. Fax : (228) 221 168.
Geneva-Paris February 3rd 2000
Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, an FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line :
Tel FIDH 33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 OMCT (+ 41-22) 809 49 39
E.Mail : observatoire@iprolink.ch
TGO 001 / 0200 / OBS 004
Arrest
TOGO
3rd February 2000
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the FIDH and the OMCT, requests your intervention in the following situation in Togo.
Brief description of the situation
The Observatory has been informed by various sources, including the WFTU a member of the OMCT, of the arrest, on January 28th 2000 of two trade-union leaders, MM. Tetevi Norbert Gbikpi-Benissan, Secretary General of the Union Nationale des Syndicats Indépendants du Togo (UNSIT), and Pierre Alaga-Kodegui, Secretary General of the Fédération des Travailleurs de l'Enseignement (FETREN).
According to information received these persons are allegedly accused of "propagating false information" and were immediately taken to the prison of Lomé.
The Observatory fears that the arrest of the above mentioned persons is due to their activities in defence of the fundamental rights and liberties of the workers. It also fears that their physical safety and integrity may be seriously jeopardized.
Action requested :
Please write to the Togolese authorities urging them to:
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of MM. Tetevi Norbert Gbikpi-Benissan et Pierre Alaga-Kodegui; and ensure their immediate release in the absence of valid charges against them;
ii. adopt all necessary measures in order to ensure full freedom of action of human rights organizations including trade union organizations as well as their members;
iii. to conform to the arrangements of the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 9 December 1998, and notably by Article 1 which states that « Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels» and Article 6.b which stipulates that « Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others (...), to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms ».
iv. to conform, more generally, to the dispositions of the universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international pacts relative to Human Rights which bind Togo.
Addresses :
Général Eyadéma Gnassingbé, Président de la République du Togo, Lomé, Togo. Fax : (228) 211897 or 21 18 98 or 21 32 04 télex : 5139 or 5201 or 5419
M. Eugene Adoboli, Premier Ministre. Fax : (228) 21 37 53 or 21 20 40
Ministere de la Promotion de la Democratie et de l'Etat de Droit, Lomé, Togo. Fax : (228) 22 61 14
Assemblée Nationale. Fax : (228) 221 168.
Geneva-Paris February 3rd 2000
Kindly inform the Observatory of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, an FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line :
Tel FIDH 33 (0) 1 43 55 20 11 OMCT (+ 41-22) 809 49 39
E.Mail : observatoire@iprolink.ch