Guinea-Bissau: Threats to human rights defenders

GNB 001 / 1506 / OBS 038
Threats / Arrest
Guinea-Bissau
15th  June 1999.


The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint 
programme of the FIDH and the OMCT, requests your URGENT 
intervention in the following situation in Guinea-Bissau.

Brief description of the situation

The Observatory has been informed by the Human Rights League of 
Guinea-Bissau, a member of both FIDH and OMCT, of the threat facing 
human rights defenders Mr Fernando Gomes, the President of the above 
league and a Vice President of FIDH and Luis Nancassa, President of the 
Teachers Union.

According to the information on the 12th  of June during a radio 
programme -under the control of the military - a journalist recounted 
statements by the Supreme Command - of the military. The statements 
amounted to a warning to civil society leaders critical of  the recent coup 
d'etat and the departure of the ex head of state Mr Nino Vieira. The 
journalist made particular mention of Fernando Gomes, Luis Nancassa as 
well as Helder Vaz, a Member of Parliament.

The statements made by this journalist taken together seem to suggest 
that the Military forbid all criticism of their activities and that they are 
ready to take action against anyone who expresses opinions contrary to 
their own.

The Observatory has every reason to fear for the security of the above 
mentioned defenders. On the 14th June 1999, Mr Luis Nancassa was 
arrested in Bissau in unknown circumstances.

The Observatory is extremely concerned by these threats given the 
particularly tense environment in Guinea-Bissau.

The Observatory unreservedly condemns these acts which constitute a 
violation of international human rights instruments and of the UN 
Declaration on Human Rights Defenders

Action Requested 

Please write to the authorities urging that they 

i	take appropriate measures to guarantee the physical and 
psychological integrity of Mr Luis Nancassa and  immediately free him in 
the absence of valid charges ;

ii	take appropriate measures to guarantee the security and freedom of 
action of Fernando Gomes;

iii.	ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration on 
Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 
December 9 1998 (Declaration concerning the rights and responsibilities 
of individuals, groups and institutions to promote and protect 
universally recognised human rights and fundamental liberties ) in 
particular its Article 1 which provides that " Every person has the right, 
individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfilment of 
human rights and fundamental liberties at the national and international 
level. " and article 8 stating"Everyone has the right, individually and in 
association with others, to have effective access, on a non-
discriminatory basis, to participation in the Government of one's country 
and in the conduct of  public affairs to submit to governmental bodies 
and agencies and  organisations concerned with public affairs, criticism 
and proposals for improving their functioning and to draw attention to 
any aspect of their work which may hinder or impede the promotion, 
protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms."


iv. guarantee the effective respect of fundamental human rights and 
freedoms in accordance with the provisions of the Universal Declaration 
of Human Rights and the universal and regional Pacts and Covenants 
ratified by Guinea-Bissau

Addresses

Primature, Fax 871 76 202 90 96

The Embassy Guinea - Bissau in your country

Geneva- Paris, 15 June 1999

The Human Rights Action Network, a project of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.