Camp Boiro Memorial

Human Rights Violations
in the Popular and Revolutionary Republic of Guinea

Long Term Incommunicado Detention without Trial of Real or Alleged Opponents

The use of detention (often incommunicado) without trial of political prisoners contravenes both Guinean internal legislation and international legislation regarding civil and political rights to which the Guinean authorities are party. The Guinean constitution of 1963 guarantees the rights to freedom from arbitrary arrest, to defense counsel before a tribunal, and to freedom of expression. The Guinean penal code specifies the penalties which will be imposed against officials of the state who operate arbitrary arrest, and provides that no arrested person shall be held longer than 72 hours without judicial sanction. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, signed by Guinea in 1978, guarantees the following rights, among others, to all detainees

• the right to the presumption of innocence
• the right to a trial before an independent and impartial tribunal within a reasonable time, and failing that,
• the right to release; and
• the right to defense counsel of the detainee's choice.

Most of the 22 individuals named on the list submitted by Amnesty International to the authorities were arrested at the time of one of the following waves of arrests:

August 1977
As many as 50 people were detained in Conakry ancl in several other major towns following demonstrations by market women against the activities of the Police economique, Economic Police, which enforced a government ban on private trading. Amnesty International has appealed to the authorities for the release or trial of four named detainees held since August 1977. The authorities stated to the delegation that all four were involved in or accomplices to violent activities, such as arson and riot.

August 1979
At least 10 people were arrested in August 1979, after which the authorities claimed to have discovered a plot to destroy public buildings with explosives. Six of the detainees are reported to have been subjected to the diète noire, black diete the total deprivation of food and water until death, and to have died in Camp Boiro prison shortly after their arrest. Amnesty International has appealed for the prompt trial or release of the remaining four detainees.

May 1980 and February 1981
As many as 100 people were arrested in Conakry following the explosion of a grenade at a public performance at the Palais du Peuple, People's Palace, in Conakry in May 1980. In February 1981, the authorities announced that an attempt to cause explosions at Conakry airport had been foiled, and unofficial sources reported that as many as 100 people were arrested. According to reports received by Amnesty International, the majority of these detainees were released after interrogation, but some 50 others, most of whose names were unknown to the organization, remained in detention without trial. Amnesty International has appealed to the authorities for the prompt trial or release of nine of these detainees, including Barry Mouctar, a Guinean exile extradited forcibly and extrajudicially from the Ivory Coast in April 1981. The authorities stated to the delegation that at least two of the individuals who had been the subject of Amnesty International's appeals had been released, and confirmed the forcible extradition and detention of Barry Mouctar.