Togo: The authorities censor a report denouncing torture

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT Index: AFR 57/001/2012 20 February 2012 TOGO: THE AUTHORITIES CENSOR A REPORT DENOUNCING TORTURE Amnesty International condemns the intimidation of members of the Togelese National Human Rights Commission (Commission nationale des droits de l’homme, CNDH) and calls upon the authorities not to impede the diffusion of a report by the CNDH denouncing the use of [...] In protest of this censorship, the CNDH has published, today, the original report and has stated with regards to the text published by the government: “This report which has been doctored and diverted by the authorities, who do not wish to see it published, denies the original content of the report and exonerates the security forces of all charges.” The President of the CNDH, Koffi Kounté, who has [...] Amnesty International reminds the Togolese government that they must ensure that human rights defenders be allowed to carry out their work freely and without fear of intimidation or threats. [...] Upon the request of the Minister of Justice, the CNDH opened an investigation into the serious torture allegations concerning members of the National Intelligence Agency (Agence nationale de renseignement, ANR) who act under the authority of the Head of State. [...] CNDH investigators questioned around twenty of the detainees as well as members of the ANR and concluded: “Prisoners were subject to physical and moral violence of an inhuman and degrading nature.” The CNDH asked.