*FRONT LINE: URGENT APPEAL - 28/08/2009*
Niger <http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2039> Charges pending against human rights defender, <http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2039> Mr Wada Maman <http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2039> Human rights defender Mr Wada Maman is facing charges of property damage and public participation in an unauthorised gathering following his release from detention on bail on 26 August 2009. Wada Maman was arrested on 22 August 2009 in Niamey, Niger. Wada Maman is the secretary general of the Association Nigérienne de Lutte contre la Corruption – Niger Association of the Fight against Corruption (ANLC) and a leading member of the Publish What You Pay national coalition in Niger, known as ROTAB. At the moment Front Line is concerned at the deteriorating situation for human rights defenders in Niger. Dear Friends, Thank you for signing up to take action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk. Every day Front Line receives information about human rights defenders in danger and each week we ask the members of the urgent appeal network to take action on behalf of one defender. Action by members of the network is a very simple and effective way of sending a message to governments that they have an obligation to respect the rights of human rights defenders. All you have to do is either cut and paste the letter or print out the attached version and sign and post it off. Remember to add your own name and address. If you receive a reply please send a copy to Head of Communications, Front Line, 81 Main St., Blackrock Co Dublin. If you would like information on other cases you can log onto the Front Line web site at *http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/act* *Your action on behalf of human rights defenders at risk can make a real difference.* * Take Action* Please copy the enclosed letter and send it to the address provided. You can print out the text only version of the letter attached, sign it and post it off. *You can also send this letter by e-mail to the Niger Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.* Ambassadeur M. Adani Illo, Mission permanente du Niger auprès des Nations unies à Genève, Avenue du Lignon 36 (2ème étage), 1219 Le Lignon, Suisse. *[email protected] * Office of the President Palais Présidentiel BP 550 Niamey Niger Your Excellency Human rights defender Mr Wada Maman is facing charges of property damage and public participation in an unauthorised gathering following his release from detention on bail on 26 August 2009. Wada Maman was arrested on 22 August 2009 in Niamey, Niger. Wada Maman is the secretary general of the Association Nigérienne de Lutte contre la Corruption – Niger Association of the Fight against Corruption (ANLC) and a leading member of the Publish What You Pay national coalition in Niger, known as ROTAB. Wada Maman has also recently become the secretary general of the Front Uni pour la Sauvegarde des Acquis Démocratiques – United Front for Safeguarding Democratic Gains (FUSAD), a network of NGOs established to preserve democratic structures in the context of Niger’s ongoing political crisis. The president of FUSAD, Mr Marou Amadou is also being held in custody in the Koutoukali high-security prison 113 km from Niamey. On 26 August 2009, at approximately 5.30 p.m., Wada Maman was released from detention on following a court hearing before a judge at the Palais de Justice in Niamey. At the court hearing he was charged with “destruction of property” and “public participation in an unauthorised gathering,” charges that carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a 100,000 FCFA (€150) fine. It is reported that court observers were not allowed to enter the court and that there was a strong police presence guarding the building. Wada Maman was one of eight people to come before the judge on 26 August in connection with protest activities against President Mamadou Tandja's constitutional reform, aimed at securing a new term in office. Ten other people who were also detained in connection with these protests will be brought before the judge on 27 August 2009. On 22 August 2009, Wada Maman was travelling from his home in Niamey to the home of another ANLC member when members of the Republican Guard stopped and arrested him alleging that he had participated in an illegal demonstration held on the same day, in another part of the city, in protest to President Mamadou Tandja's constitutional reform. Wada Maman denied participating in the demonstration, during which 10 more people were arrested. It is believed that the arrest of Wada Maman and the charges pending against him are motivated by the stance he, and the organisations he is involved in, took in relation to the constitutional reform and the use of the country's natural resources. ROTAB recently suspended its participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a process to further transparency in the management of natural resources, due to increased intimidation of civil society activists working on transparency and good governance. On 27 July 2009, the ANLC wrote an open letter to Nigerien President Mamadou Tandja in which it called on the Government to respect the rule of law, safeguard an independent judiciary and guarantee functioning democratic institutions that would further transparency, accountability and good governance. I believe that the charges against Wada Maman, in addition to his arrest which followed the arrest of other human rights defenders including Marou Amadou, may be aimed at intimidating civil society leaders in the lead-up to the general elections in October and may form part of a crackdown on human rights defenders and media personnel in reaction to escalating popular protests against President Tandja. I believe that Wada Maman is at risk of further arrest and intimidation. I call on you to urge the authorities in Niger to: 1. Immediately drop all charges against Wada Maman as it is believed that these measures have been taken against him solely on account of his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights; 2. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Niger are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including police harassment. Yours sincerely NAME ------------------------- ADDRESS ------------------------- ADDRESS -------------------------- Thank you for taking action on behalf of Wada Maman. -- W A Laskar Freelance Reporter and Human Rights Activist with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, http://bhrpc.net.googlepages.com 15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile, Guwahati-781037, Assam, India Cell: +919401134314 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
