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Amnesty expresses concern over rights abuses

    ABIDJAN

    Amnesty International on Wednesday accused the government of Guinea-Bissau of threatening and arresting human rights defenders and journalists and of not keeping a promise to protect and promote human rights.

    Amnesty said two state television journalists and a politician, Fernando Gomes, were arbitrarily arrested and held in harsh conditions after state TV aired statements by Gomes, who is also a prominent human rights defender, criticizing the political situation in the country and the Prime Minister, whom he accused of corruption, making false statements and incompetence. Gomes faces charges of slander and defamation and the journalists face related charges, Amnesty said.

    On 12 May, senior military officers reportedly threatened to have members of Guinea-Bissau's human rights league beaten, including its president, after the league published a statement expressing concern over various reports of soldiers beating civilians, Amnesty said.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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