Please following a copy of letter adopted by the UNF Chapter of Amnesty
International regarding the case of Togolese journalist Lucien Messan. We
are asking rhe audience at this site to take example on this letter and send a protest to
Togolese officials asking for the unconditional release of Lucien Messan.
Florida (USA), July 14, 2001
Lionel Akpabie
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Dear Minister,
We are writing as a Concerned Groups of students to express our serious
concern at the arrest of journalist Lucien Messan.
According to reports, on 23 May Mr. Messan, editorial director of the weekly
Le Combat du peuple, was arrested when he presented himself to the police to
answer a summons. He was informed that you had lodged a complaint against
him for "falsehood and the use of falsehood" and was immediately transferred
to Lome civil prison, where he is still being held. Mr. Messan was charged
with having signed a communique from the Togolese Private Press Publishers
Association (ATEPP). In fact, the publication director of Le Combat du
Peuple is Mr. Messan's son, Messan S. Junior, and it is he who is authorised
to sign ATEPP documents. The communique denounced statements by the Togolese
prime minister and accused the government of "seeking to use the private
press".
We respectfully remind you that the criminal law is a wholly inappropriate
means of dealing with this issue, and that such practice contravenes a
number of international agreements. 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. Messan is immediately
released from prison and that all criminal charges against him are dropped.
We urge you to ensure that in future the criminal law is not used to secure
the silence of those seeking to exercise their right to freedom of
expression.
We look forward to hearing from you very soon.
Yours sincerely
Lionel Akpabie
Amnesty International
University of North Florida Chapter
Jacksonville, Florida
4567 St. John's Bluff Rd. S.
Jacksonville, FL 32224-2659
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Togolese Officials
President Gnassingbe Eyadema Presidence de la Republique Residence Lome II
Lome, Togo
Fax: 011 228 21 18 97/ 011 228 21 32 04
Email: http://www.republicoftogo.com/english/ecrir-pdt.htlml
H. E. Ambassador of Togo to the United States
2208 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 234-4212
Fax: (202) 232-3190
Garde des Sceaux, Ministre de la Justice
Lomé (Togo) - Tél. : 011 228 21 26 53/21 54 91
Fax : 011 228 22 29 06
