17 November 1998

Alert

Journalist arrested, another still detained


Incident details

Edoh Amewouho, Elias Hounkali

journalist(s)

detained


(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is protesting the arrest of a Togolese journalist.
According to RSF's information, on 10 November 1998, Edoh Amewouho, a
journalist with the private weekly "Le Nouveau Combat", was arrested and
detained at the national police station. The following day, he was
transferred to the Lomé prison.




**New case and update to IFEX alert of 11 August 1998**
This arrest follows the publication in the 6 to 13 August edition of "Le
Nouveau Combat" of two articles entitled "The widow Mrs. Bobi Mobutu demands
Mrs. Badagnaki Eyadéma return her seventeen trunks of jewels which went
missing in Lomé " and "Eyadéma begs for a letter of congratulations from the
great Chirac." On 6 August, three other journalists were arrested further to
the publication of these articles. Two were released after a few days'
incarceration without any charges retained against them, but Elias Hounkali,
journalist with "Le Nouveau Combat", is still being held without trial.

Recommended Action


Send appeals to the Prime Minister:
  • asking him to use his influence to ensure that current laws in Togo are
    respected and that the two journalists are released
  • signalling your opposition to prison sentences on defamation charges and
    your opinion that journalists found guilty of professional misconduct should
    be given a fair penalty in accordance with international protocol
  • reminding him that Togo has ratified the International Covenant on Civil
    and Political Rights, Article 19 of which guarantees the right to inform and
    be informed, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights,
    Article 9 of which guarantees these same rights
  • urging him to respect and ensure that others respect Togo's obligations
    towards the international community




    Appeals To



    Mr. Kwassi Klutsé
    Prime Minister
    La Primature
    Lomé, Togo
    Fax: +228 21 20 40 / +228 21 08 50







    Please copy appeals to the source if possible.





    Source:

    Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
    47, rue Vivienne
    75002 Paris
    France
    rsf (@) rsf.org
    Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
    Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
    @rsf_rwb
     

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