Human rights lapses serious

A UN report cites Equatorial Guinea with serious human rights violations and says that international aid should aim to support fundamental freedoms and bring violators to justice, the world body said on Thursday. The report was prepared by Gustavo Gallon, the Special Representative on the situation in Equatorial Guinea appointed by the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR). In the document, he says people are systematically detained without trial, tortured, held incommunicado in detention and denied freedom of expression and of movement. The lack of democracy in the country has given rise, he said, "to a climate of tension and human rights violation". Citizens are unable to leave the country without special authorisation and are subjected to controls at roadblocks within the country. Of particular concern, he adds, is the trial of civilians in military courts. In order for its technical aid programmes to be effective, Gallon says, Equatorial Guinea needs to alter its human rights profile, based on his recommendations. He suggest that the CHR appeal to all UN bodies and donor countries to coordinate their efforts in helping Equatorial Guinea implement a human rights action scheme. In response an Equatorial Guinea government official, Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue, told the CHR that the report, while dramatic, was not "persuasive or constructive". He urged the CHR to review the country's efforts to expand the democratic process. Equatorial Guinea has not ratified the 'Convention Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination or the Convention Against Torture'.