Guinea-Bissau: Respect for human rights is essential during the elections

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT AI Index: AFR 30/006/2009 24 June 2009 Guinea-Bissau: Respect for human rights is essential during the elections On the eve of Presidential elections in Guinea-Bissau on Sunday 28 June, Amnesty International calls on candidates, the government and the security forces to publicly commit to respect human rights during the election process and beyond. [...] The government and the security forces must ensure that the armed forces do not violate human rights and that those who do are brought to justice. [...] The current atmosphere of insecurity and fear, brought about by intimidation, persecutions, arbitrary arrests and torture of armed forces critics and real or perceived political opponents, is not conducive to the free exercise of expression. [...] Furthermore, it prevents people from exercising their right to take part in the conduct of public affairs freely and without fear. [...] The elections will be monitored by international observers from the Economic Community of West African States, African Union, European Union and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries.