Opposition, Amnesty call for release of prisoners

Amnesty International and a group of opposition parties in Guinea-Bissau have criticised the detention of opposition politicians following last week’s upheavals in Bissau.

In a communique made public on Wednesday, the eight opposition parties called on the government to release civilian detainees, respect the rights of political parties and return the country to legality, a human rights source told IRIN on Wednesday.

The seven politicians were among eight who had been detained on suspicion of complicity with or support for last week’s attempt by former military strongman General Ansumane Mane to take over the armed forces. On Sunday, President Kumba Yala issued instructions that they be placed under house arrest. However, all but one refused to leave the police station where they were being detained, saying that they feared for their safety, a humanitarian source told IRIN on Tuesday.

The detained politicians include leaders and members of the former ruling Partido africano para a independencia da Guine e Cabo Verde, the Uniao para a Mudanca and the Alianza socialista guineense.

Amnesty, for its part, called on the government to protect the human rights of political opponents, including the right to freedom of expression.

The international watchdog said on Tuesday in a news release that “all civilian detainees should be released immediately and unconditionally unless they are charged and tried in compliance with international standards of fair trial”.