togo: concern over detained journalist
The World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100 countries, has written to President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo to voice serious concern at the continuing detention without trial of journalist Sylvestre Djahlin Nicoué. According to reports, Mr Nicoué, managing editor of the weekly newspaper Le Courrier du citoyen, has been held at Lomé Civil Prison since 26 December 2002, when he was arrested by Criminal Investigation Department agents.
**We apologise for any cross-posting - The following is being forwarded exactly
as received**
To: IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: World Association of Newspapers (WAN), [email protected]
His Excellency President Gnassingbe Eyadema
Présidence de la République
Résidence Lomé II
Lomé, Togo
E-mail: [email protected]
28 April 2003
Your Excellency,
We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World
Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100 countries, to express
our serious concern at the continuing detention without trial of journalist
Sylvestre Djahlin Nicoué.
According to reports, Mr Nicoué, managing editor of the weekly newspaper Le
Courrier du citoyen, has been held at Lomé Civil Prison since 26 December 2002,
when he was arrested by Criminal Investigation Department agents. The detention
stems from a Le Courrier du citoyen article which called on the Togolese people
to end Your Excellency's rule. The article appeared several days before the
Togolese Constitution was amended to allow you to seek re-election indefinitely.
We respectfully remind you that the jailing of Mr Nicoué constitutes a clear
breach of his right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous
international conventions, including Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. Furthermore, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
considers that 'detention, as punishment for the peaceful expression of an
opinion, is one of the most reprehensible ways to enjoin silence and, as a
consequence, a grave violation of human rights'.
We respectfully call on you to ensure that Mr Nicoué is immediately released
from jail and that all charges against him are dropped. We urge you to do
everything possible to ensure that in future your country fully respects
international standards of freedom of expression.
We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Seok Hyun Hong
President
World Association of Newspapers
Gloria Brown Anderson
President
World Editors Forum
cc : Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations
Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General, UNESCO
**The information contained in this autolist item is the sole responsibility of
WAN**