Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Annual Report 2002 - Chad

Harassment and torture of LTDH members²⁰

On 28th February 2002, Mr. Baldal Oyamta, General Secretary of the Chadian League of Human Rights (Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'Homme – LTDH), and one of his colleagues were molested for no apparent reason by Republican Guard soldiers serving in the district of Chagoua, N'djamena.

In April 2002, members of the Ati branch were subjected to pressure from the authorities and security forces. Mr. Adariss Younouss, Chairman of the Djedda branch, was subjected to inhuman treatment on the pretext that his activities were of a political nature.

On 3rd October 2002, Mr. Sylahorbe Maningonal, Communication Secretary of the Maro branch of LTDH, was arrested by Mr. Doudet, local chief of the National Security Agency (ANS). When Mr. David Mamtadjian, Chairman of the branch, went to the ANS to find out why Mr. Maningonal was being detained, he too was arrested. Both men were severely tortured and then transferred to the prison in Sido near the border with the Central African Republic. They were accused, apparently without evidence, of illegal possession of weapons of war and membership of Abdoulaye Miskine's Chadian/Central African rebel group. They were released on 24th October after paying 80,0000 FCFA. Mr. Sylahorbe Maningonal's right arm is paralysed as a result of the torture. The Moyen-Chari/Salamat branch of LTDH has instituted proceedings as a result of these events. As at end 2002, this has produced no result. Mr. Doudet, head of the ANS in Maro, has already been cited as a member of the political police torturers under Hissène Habré's regime.

On 29th November 2002, Mr. Rimadjita Nguedongar, Chairman of the Koumogo branch, was the victim of an assassination attempt by brigade commander Alio, at the home of the sub-prefect. The brigade commander was disarmed in time by a third party.

Lastly, the Chairman of the Kélo branch, Mr. Bandalla Tchatcho, received threats from ANS Inspector Sogar Dinga.

Harassment of Mr. Souleymane Guengueng²¹

In March 2002, Mr. Souleymane Guengueng, Vice-Chairman of the Association of Victims of Crime and Political Repression in Chad (Association des victims des crimes et de la repression politique au Tchad – AVCRP) was suspended without pay from his job on the Lake Chad Basin Commission (CBLT) for thirty days. Mr. Guengueng received a letter from his superior on 18th March 2002 informing him that he had violated CBLT regulations and particularly Article 7, which stipulates that staff must abstain from all professional activities outside their work at the CBLT. Mr. Guengueng was accused of "obstinately militating for a political association" and was requested to send a letter to the CBLT Executive Secretariat undertaking to cease his AVCRP activities, on pain of more serious disciplinary sanctions. Mr. Guengueng is involved in combating impunity in Chad, particularly through legal proceedings against the former Head of State Hissène Habré for complicity in crimes against humanity and acts of torture.

Ms. Jacqueline Moudeïna back in Chad²²

Ms. Jacqueline Moudeïna is the lawyer in charge of legal affairs at the Chad Association for the Promotion of the Defence of Human Rights (Association tchadienne pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l'Homme – ATPDH) and lawyer for Chadian victims in legal proceedings in Chad against the collaborators of the Hissène Habré regime. On 26th August she returned to Chad and to her professional and voluntary activities. Ms. Moudeïna had been in France for over a year receiving medical treatment. She had been injured when members of the anti-riot police launched a grenade attack on a demonstration outside the French embassy in N'Djamena on 11th June 2001. The Observatory sent a solidarity mission to accompany Ms. Moudeïna on her return; the mission was able to meet several officials including the Minister for the Interior, who undertook to ensure her safety. Legal proceedings against the N'Djamena Chief of Police in connection with this affair are still pending. Jacqueline Moudeïna received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in March 2002.

[Refworld note: This report as posted on the FIDH website (www.fidh.org) was in pdf format with country chapters run together by region. Footnote numbers have been retained here, so do not necessarily begin at 1.]

20. See Annual Report 2001 and See Urgent Appeal TDC 002/1002/OBS 062.

21. See Urgent Appeal TCD 001/0302/OBS 021.

22. See Annual Report 2001, press releases of 17 January and 11 April 2002, open letter to the authorities 26 August 2002.