The Human Rights Actions Network
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ACTION REQUEST
General Appeal regarding the current situation in Congo-Brazzaville
Case COG 121198
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention regarding the following situation in Congo-Brazzaville.
Brief description of the situation
The Observatoire Congolais des Droits de l'Homme (OCDH), a member of
the OMCT network, has expressed its grave concern over the general
situation of human rights in Congo-Brazzaville.
According to information received, following the end of the civil war of
1997, General Denis Sassou Nguesso (head of the Patriotic and
Democratic Forces-FDP) came into office. Since then, summary
executions, arbitrary detentions and harassment have become a common
pattern in several areas of Congo-Brazzaville.
During the months of October and November, armed gangs committed
several acts of violence in the area of Pool. In response to these events,
members of the Congolese Army Forces (Forces Armées Congolaises -
FAC-) and the National Police, in complicity with members of the MCDDI
(a private army group allegedly belonging to the political faction of the
former Prime Minister in exile, Bernard Kolelas), using the excuse of
restoring public order, are alleged to have destroyed and looted houses,
raped young and elderly women, as well as summarily executed every
man they considered to be a member of an armed gang.
As a result of these acts, people from the area have been forced to
abandon their homes and hide in the forests. Official agents have taken
advantage from this situation by clearing the houses and later selling the
goods in public markets.
Moreover, on October 4 1998, agents of the Public Force (Force
Publique), looking for gang members, carried out indiscriminate
interrogations of the inhabitants of the Pool area and systematically beat
and threatened their life. A person known as Makkis (his real name is
unknown) was summarily executed. On the same day, people traveling
from Mabaya to Brazzaville and from Madzia to Brazzaville were forced
out of their cars and searched. Young men were wounded with knives.
Mr. Dikamona Ngoma, aged 22, from the neighborhood Kingouari in
Brazzaville was severely wounded in the stomach. Mr. Igor Mayetala,
aged 19, Mr. Jean Kimounga, aged 22 and Mr. Pacome Tchakaka were
also wounded. Furthermore, a minor, Ms. Laeticia Bayouloula, aged 16,
was kidnapped and raped.
Arbitrary detentions
Since October numerous persons allegedly belonging to the political
opposition or accused of having political or even familial connections
with the former President, have been arrested without warrant and
detained at several locations, mainly, at the "Commissariat Central", the
"Commissariat de la Gare Centrale", the "Camps de la Gendarmerie" and
the "Camps de la Base Aérienne". According to the OCDH, they have
been held without trial, in violation of the administrative detention law
stipulating a maximum 72-hours term. Furthermore, they have been
denied access to visits and conditions are extremely poor.
Moreover, nineteen officials of the Congolese Army Forces are still
being held in detention without charges in the Military Academy
facilities. The OCDH also informed the International Secretariat of the
illegal detention of two former high ranking civil servants, Mr. Henri
Marcellin Ndzouma-Nguelet (counselor of former President Pascal
Lissouba) and Mr. Jean Michel Ebaka (former Governor of Cuvette)
The complete list of the detainnees is available at the International
Secretariat.
Summary executions
According to information received from the OCDH, a great number of
persons have been summarily executed during the course of this year.
Mr. Moukoli Mayouma and Mr. Aaron Louniema-Banimba were arrested
and executed at the Itatolo cemetery, in the North of Brazzaville by
unidentified armed persons in military clothes. Up until November 6,
1998, no legal investigation had been opened.
On September 12 1998, Lieutenant-colonel Jean Serge Djobeza was
executed at the Central Police Station (Commissariat Central) by
policemen of the "Compagnie d'Intervention" in response to his
disapproval of "irregular" acts committed by this "Compagnie".
On September 30 1998, Mr. Tomas Mvoutou, aged 28, was shoot dead by
a unidentified member of the military.
On October 18 1998, Mr. Christian Wilfried Ballou Loemba, aged 25,
was executed in public by a well known police agent belonging to the
Intervention Group of the National Police (GIPN) in the Municipal
Stadium of Pointe-Noire. Up until November 6, 1998, no charges had
been brought against him.
All the aforementioned events are having a serious impact on freedom of
expression in the country. According to the information, several
journalists and news paper agencies have also been subjected to
harassment and illegal searches and looting.
OMCT expresses its deep concern over the increasing disregard for the
rule of law and the continuous human rights violations in Congo-
Brazzaville.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities of Congo-Brazzaville urging them to:
i.- guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all
detainees, including the aforementioned persons, in Congolese
detention facilities at all times, and allow detainees to have
immediate access to legal counsel and medical care;
ii.-order their immediate release if they are held in detention
without any valid charges or, in the event that they have been
charged, bring them immediately before a competent and
impartial tribunal and guarantee their full procedural rights as
well as their right to legal counsel at all times, in conformity with
the international human rights standards;
iii.-abolish the practice of illegal or arbitrary detention and put an
end to the practice of torture, ill-treatment and summary
execution;
iv.-ensure prompt and impartial investigations into these facts, in
order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply
the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by
law;
v.- guarantee all human rights and fundamental freedoms and
conform their actions to the international standards as
established in international pacts and covenants.
Addresses :
General Denis Sassou Nguesso, President de la Republique, Presidence
de la Republique, Brazzaville
Republique du Congo, Fax (+ 242) 83 50 67
Colonel Pierre Oba, Ministre de l'Interieur, Ministere de l'Interieur,
Brazaville, Republique du Congo
Geneva, 12 November 1998, Fax : + 242 835 121
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