Guinea-Bissau
Protests against imprisonment of oppositional politicians in Guinea-Bissau

afrol.com, 29 November - The rights organisation Amnesty International and a group of opposition parties in Guinea-Bissau are criticising the detention of opposition leaders following last week's upheavals in Bissau. President Kumba Yala had ordered their release on Sunday, but they remain in detention.

Amnesty International yesterday called on the Government of Guinea-Bissau to protect the human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, of political opponents. "All the civilian detainees should be released immediately and unconditionally unless they are charged and tried in compliance with international standards of fair trial" the organisation stated. 

Several opposition politicians were arrested between 24 and 26 November 2000 in the capital, Bissau, after stating their support to the rebellion led by General Ansumane Mane, the former leader of the disbanded Military Junta which ousted former President João Bernardo Vieira in May 1999. The party leaders had publicly blamed the Government for the tense situation in the country following its appointments of military officers, which General Mane, holding no official position, was against. The UN, monitoring the fragile peace between civil government and the ex-Military Junta, on several occasions has asked the military to "keep out of politics".

Sunday evening, President Kumba Yala, ordered that the detainees be released from prison and placed under house arrest. However, they still remain in detention. PANA reported that the opposition leader refused to leave prison in fear of their security, but this has not been confirmed by other sources. The situation remains confusing.

Several members of the União para a Mudança, (UM), Union for Change opposition party, including Aminé Saad, former Procurator General; Manuel Rambout Barcelos, Carambá Turé, a member of Parliament were arrested at different times on 25 November. Agnello Regala, director of Bombolón radio and UM member, was arrested at about 1.20 am on 26 November. The previous evening he had denounced the arrests of the opposition politicians and the attacks on freedom of expression, amnesty claims. 

The president of the former ruling party Partido Africano para a Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC), African Party for the independence of Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde, Francisco Benante was also among those arrested. Former dictator João Bernardo Vieira, ruling with military support until he was toppled by Mane in 1999, represented the PAIGC.

Further, the president and the spokesperson of the Aliança Socialista da Guiné (ASG), Socialist Alliance of Guinea (Bissau), respectively Fernando Gomes - formerly president of the Guinea-Bissau Human Rights League - and Fernando Mendoça were arrested on 26 November.

According to Amnesty International, the detainees have not been formally charged. "Two of the detainees, including Fernando Gomes, were reportedly beaten at the time of their arrest," the rights group claims.

Also the Guinean opposition is criticising the detention of its politicians. In a communiqué made public on Wednesday, eight opposition parties called on the Government to release civilian detainees, respect the rights of political parties and return the country to legality.

Background
Following the appointment of army officers by President Kuamba Yala, General Ansumane Mane, who objected to it, revoked the appointments, dismissed the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and his deputy and ordered their arrest, and proclaimed himself chief of staff of the armed forces. 

On the early hours of the morning of 23 November, fighting erupted briefly in Bissau between army factions loyal to the Government and General Ansumane Mane's supporters. The rebellion was soon quelled by forces loyal to the Government and many of General Ansumane Mane's supporters were arrested. Most people fled Bissau, remembering the civil war at the hands of Mane just one year ago. Life is now slowly coming back to normal. The General himself, however, still remains at large. 

The UN Security Council said on Tuesday that it would hold Mane responsible if his action led to further unrest and chaos. It urged him to start dialogue with the government on the basis of the country's constitutional order. On Wednesday, also OAU Secretary General Salim Ahmed Salim urged Mane "to show due respect for the constitution" of the country". 

Sources: Based on afrol archives, Amnesty International and UN sources

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