Togo: Police clash violently with protesters of "Saving Togo»

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Society & You - Social Critic
Thursday, 28 June 2012 11:37

On June 12, 2012 a peaceful march of the organization " Save Togo "[fr] degenerated into a clash with security forces. There were about 120 wounded [fr] during confrontations between 12 and 13 June. Among other things, the protesters demanded the implementation of the recommendations made by the National Commission of Human Rights in relation to torture and a comprehensive constitutional change.

Togo is in a period of political instability following the highly controversial 2005 presidential elections, which saw the rise to power of Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema , son of former President Gnassingbe Eyadema. Other events were scheduled for next week.

Represión de las manifestaciones del 13 de junio de 2012; foto tomada por el colectivo «Salvemos Togo». Utilizada con permiso.

Suppression of the manifestations of June 13, 2012, photo taken by the group "Save Togo." Used with permission.

The birth of a collective

The group "Save Togo» linking several political organizations and human rights. It was created on April 4 in Lome and a total of 17 groups, which included seven organizations involved in the defense of human rights [fr]. The group was born from an assessment of current economic and social policy of Togo [fr]:

Le processus démocratique au Togo AMORCE depuis les années 1990 à comb faute d'alternance is concrétiser au Sommet de l'Etat. Ainsi notre pays continue to traverser joins enrôlée crise dans infernal cycle sans précédent et sur tous les plans.

Politique au plan, accords them issus of multiple négociations n'ont jamais trouvé d'application et efficiente Effective. L'est le plus inquiétant frequent intrusion violates et dans le politique de certains éléments débat des forces armées togolaises, reels du pouvoir politique détenteurs, foulant leurs aux pieds d'impartialité et Republicaines Obligations of Neutralite.

Au institutionnel plan, force est de toutes les Institutions constater that the chargées of réguler République démocratique la vie et de l'action du pouvoir controler sont malheureusement instrumentalisées.

Au plan économique, des ressources you systématique pillage de l'Etat par a pendant des personnes groupuscule of décennies a fait dans le pays basculer processus d'endettement effréné.

Au social plan, confiscation cette de pays des richesses pair joins plongé Minorite to 65% plus de la population dans une misère effroyable, the largest ménages majorité des ne plus s'offrir pouvant or par jour d'un repas or s'assurer soins de santé primaires them or provide for aux besoins of scolarisation of leurs enfants.

Violations them massives des Droits de l'Homme leur ont atteint summum of torture avec les pratiques et de toutes les autres formes of traitements cruels, inhumains et dégradants, interdites réprimées et par les Conventions de ILC that Togo to pourtant ratifiées depuis plus 25 ans

The democratization process that began in Togo in the nineties is impossible to be realized due to the constant changes in the highest levels of the state. Thus, all aspects of life in our country are linked to an unprecedented crisis and endless.

Politically, the agreements reached during the course of multiple negotiations have never been applied effectively or efficiently. More disturbing is the frequent and violent intrusion into the political debate made by certain factions within the armed forces of Togo, the political power they really have fun of their obligation Republican neutrality and impartiality.

At the institutional level, it follows that all the institutions of the Republic with the task of regulating political life and supervise the actions of power unfortunately are being manipulated.

Economically, the systematic looting of state resources by a minority for decades has plunged the country into debt.

Socially, this confiscation of wealth of the country by a minority has plunged more than 65% of the population in abject poverty, in the vast majority of households can not afford more than one meal a day, or access to basic health needs, or give their children the education they need.

The widespread violation of human rights has reached its highest point with the practice of torture and other types of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment that are banned or suppressed by a United Nations convention ratified by Togo for 25 years.

The targets set by the collective explains on his blog Fabbi Kouassi, which describes the creation of the [fr]. According to Kouassi, the group asked:

1) The demission Delhaie sans qui s'est rendu du gouvernement coupable faux et usage de faux
2) the sanction L'identification et qui ont tous ceux participate to the falsification of the CNDH du rapport
3) The mise en oeuvre et dans les meilleurs Effective Delhaie des recommandations formulées CNDH pair dans son rapport authentique
4) L'annulation procédures et toutes les tous les procès ayant conduit arrestation et à l'des personnes à la condamnation accusées dans l'affaire d'atteinte à la Sûreté de l'Etat intérieure, ainsi that ceux et celles of toutes les autres personnes à l'ANR torturées
5) We dédommagement et la Reintegration des immédiate et sans officiers et hommes condition of troupes de l'armee injustement Radies dans l'affaire à la tentative d'atteinte intérieure de l'Etat sûreté
6) The revocation of ayant magistrats connu tous les dans des affaires lesquelles personnes les mises en cause, ont fait cas, de manière consistent, precise et persistante, d'autres et actes of reports of torture traitements cruels, inhumains ou sur leur personne dégradants à l'ANR and Elsewhere, mais qui ont jusqu'à condamnation continued procédures them.

1) The immediate resignation of the government that is guilty of forgery and using false documents.
2) The identification and punishment of all those who participated in the falsification of the report of the NHRC (National Human Rights).
3) The rapid and effective implementation of the recommendations made by the CNDH in its true and authentic report.
4) The cancellation of all proceedings and judgments that led to the arrest and conviction of anyone who has been accused of involvement in the alleged attack on state security, and any other person tortured by the NRA [Agency Togo intelligence].
5) Compensation and the immediate and unconditional return of all ranks wrongfully discharged from the army as a result of the alleged attack on state security.
6) The removal of all trial judges who were aware of cases where those courts that reported in a clear, consistent and specific to have suffered torture and other forms of cruel treatment, inhuman or degrading treatment by the NRA and others, but have continued with the trial up to be sentenced.

Here is the video announcing the creation of the group:

Since its inception, the group has organized several marches exigniendo democracy and respect for human rights. Sylvio Combey, Lomé, reminds one of the marches which took place on May 24 [fr]:

Les trois principaux points cette marche au menu selon I sont notemmeent Adjare prize en compte the non par l'exécutif togolais des recommandations of the CNDH relatives aux actes of tortures, Deux projets of lois déposés à l'Assemblée Nationale et le portant loi électorale mais aussi élecotrale decoupage, le retour des neuf députés ANC exclus de l'Assemblée nationale. Pour le Collectif sauvons Togo him, cette attitude du gouvernement attached violates the ECOWAS diposition toute modification des textes interdisant électoraux six mois avant les élections sans consensus.

The three main approaches to this march, according to I Adjare are mainly Togolese executive ignored the recommendations of the NHRC in relation to acts of torture, two bills introduced in the National Assembly on electoral laws and the electoral division and also the return of nine elected members of the ANC who had been excluded from the National Assembly. For the group "Save Togo," the attitude of the government is violating the position of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), which prohibits any changes to the electoral law within six months from an election and without consensus.

Violent clashes with police

The marches organized by the group have been violently repressed by security forces. Combey describes the impact of the fighting [fr]:

Au deuxième Jourde la revolution, the manifestation du Collectif "Sauvons Togo him" to Tourne au Vinaigre. Policiers ont des coups de grenades represses et sans merci lacrymogènes paisibles them Populations qui au quartier sesont amassées Déckon, in guise of protestation. Dénombrer dit Le Collectif 24 54 Blesses serious dont dans la du 12 juin 2012 journée, 65 32 Blesses dont severe. Aussi, 15 personnes 12 juin 2012 arrêtées him, le 13 juin 63 personnes 2012 au sein douzaine dont join de l'Eglise Saint Augustin d'Amoutivé à qui CST in croire you affirme that l'ensemble du matériel de lieux to Surles Déployé sonorisation Emporte été et saisi. The situation will coordinateur du emmène CST, Zeus Ajavon to durcir faire ton will [..] A cet effet, sued him for au gouvernement ministre de la sécurité civile ETDE the protection of "prendre des mesures pour assurer la sécurité additionnelles des biens et des personnes, ainsi the liberté of circuler. "Une aussi Réaction gauche risque qui enliser beaucoup plus de faire la crise. Kpatima est la revolution en marche.

The second day of the revolution, the manifestation of the organization "Save Togo 'turned sour. In protest, the police detained mercilessly the crowd of demonstrators gathered in the neighborhood of Déckon with tear gas. The group says it had 54 wounded, 24 of them seriously, during the course of June 12, 65 injured, 32 of them seriously. In addition, 15 people were arrested on 12 June 2012 and 63 on June 13, 2012, which included a dozen of the church of San Agustin de Amoutivé according to the CST (Confederation of Togolese Workers), which has confirmed that all the sound equipment they had brought to that place was confiscated and removed. The situation led to the coordinator of CST, Zeus Ajavon, to justify a hard [...] To this end, the government has asked the minister of security and civil protection "to take additional measures to ensure the safety of people and their freedom of movement. "A reaction is foolish enough to risk even more to the crisis takes hold. Kpatima The revolution has begun.

Photographs taken during the fighting that attest to the violence of the fighting [Warning: extremely graphic content].

One of the videos shows police attacking a protester seriously [Warning: extremely graphic content]

On Twitter, activists are using the label Togolese # occupyLome to share information on the demonstrations in real time.

Wilfried Toussine from Togo tweets:

@ Toussine : "Police fire tear gas at protesters in Togo

@ Toussine : Police fire tear gas at protesters in the capital

Philoticus adds:

@ Philoticus : # Togo: Il faut pousser tyranneau you vers la sortie, ici et maintenant http://bit.ly/MjPdpJ # # Togo # OccupyLome TGInfo

@ Philoticus : # Togo: force the output of tyranny, here and now http://bit.ly/MjPdpJ # # Togo # OccupyLome TGInfo

And shares a disturbing news from one of the leaders of the march, M Celestin Agbogan:

@ Philoticus : # TOGO: M. Celestin Agbogan malmené et interpellé - The FIDH réagit http://bit.ly/MjPWqS # # # OccupyLome TGInfo

@ Philoticus : # TOGO: M. Celestin Agbogan mistreated and arrested. - The FIDH reacts http://bit.ly/MjPWqS # # # OccupyLome TGInfo

Written by Lova · Translated by Laura Rebollo · View original post [fr] · Comments (0)
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