Summary

Taking power following a military coup d'etat in 1967, the General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, President of Togo, died on February 5th, 2005 after 38 years of continuous reign. He directed the country with an iron hand, surrounded by a military oligarchy and by civil and political clienteles, until his death.

As soon as the death of the General was announced, the army and the National Assembly proceeded with a double military and constitutional coup.

The army forcefully imposed, Faure Gnassingbé, the son of the late president, in succession of his father. This military coup was then “legalized" by the National Assembly which, in turn made, a constitutional coup by revising the constitution and the electoral code, a procedure prohibited in the interim period but which was ratified on February 7th, two days later, by the constitutional court.

Under national and international pressure, followed by sanctions taken by institutions including The Economic Community of the States of West Africa (CEDEAO), and the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), Faure Gnassingbé, resigns from the presidency of the Republic on February 25, 2005 after having been selected candidate of his party (RPT) for the presidential elections scheduled for April 24, 2005.

Togo is currently directed by the Vice-President of the National Assembly, Mr. Abass Bonfoh, responsible for organizing the presidential elections of April 24, 2005.

Facing Faure Gnassingbé, the son of fiery Eyadéma, candidate of the RPT (the party in power) assuming succession from his father, and who also benefits from the support of the army; the Togolese democratic opposition is at crossroads, and must engage itself in a victory between the Togolese people and a process of democratization and modernization.

The chances of the Togolese democratic opposition to win the next election are being discussed and debated daily and may seem next to impossible in the face of such intimidating forces. No matter what transpires in Togo, the implication of the International Community is absolutely necessary.

Canada can bring its internationally recognized expertise, in the organization and operations for this election whose outcome will determine if the Togolese people can get out of this dark moment in time.

With this viewpoint, freedom can only be guaranteed with inclusion and transparency in the presidential elections of April 24th, 2005 in Togo. The union of the political community for the Togolese democratic opposition supported by the Togolese Diaspora for Democracy and Development (DIASTODE) and the Togolese Community of Canada (C.T.C), would like, by a demonstration, to express its support of the Togolese people.

The objectives of the demonstration planned for Saturday, April 16th, 2005 in Ottawa are essentially of four (4) types:

A) Moral support to the coalition of the opposition (G6) and with our compatriots in Togo.
- Failing to vote, the Togolese diaspora wish to show moral support to our families, to G6 and to Mr. Emmanuel Bob-Akitani, the single candidate of the opposition.

B) Financial support in G6 (OPERATION 10$ MINIMUM)
On April 16th, 2005, to financially support the coalition, midway through its campaign which began on April 8th and finishes April 22nd; the CTC/DIASTODE Canada in support of the coalition, suggests that each participant brings a minimum of 10$ to the demonstration as a contribution.
The collection will be done before the Parliament by Henri Dovi Kpotchie, Treasurer of the CTC, OUTAOUAIS section. Those who will not be able to get to Ottawa will be able to send in their contribution (see Diastode.org).

C) Message to the International Community
The International Community has just reminded us once again, that it is for the Togolese themselves to regulate their problem. Thus some of the objectives of the demonstration would be to:
- To show the International Community that we understand the message... (It’s for the Togolese themselves to bring change about in their country.)
- Hold the International Community as a witness vis-à-vis the fraud "militaro métallique" which is organized once again this year in Togo
- To prepare the International Community to a possible and very dangerous claim to victory, if this one is, once again, stolen from the opposition this year.

D) Denunciation of Chirac’s France
The French Government supports the fraudulent manoeuvres of the power in place and is strategically working towards Faure Gnassingbé’s victory (son of the late dictator who controlled Togo for 38 years) at the same time of the elections scheduled for April 24, 2005.

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