In late December 1981 an Amnesty International mission visited Guinea. Several meetings
were held with government ministers including President Sekou
Toure, Dr Sikhe Camara, Minister of Justice, and Sekou Cherif,
Minister of the Interior and of Security, at which Amnesty International's concerns
regarding Guinea were discussed.
Amnesty International's concerns were the detention without trial of suspected political
opponents of the government, the forcible repatriation of refugees, ill-treatment
of detainees and poor prison conditions.
The fate of the thousands arrested in 1970, 1971 and 1976 remained unknown and the
government continued to withhold all information regarding the fate and whereabouts
of political detainees. In late 1980 the last 16 prisoners known to have survived
their detention since 1971 and 1976 were released from Boiro camp in the capital
Conakry. Appeals for information regarding the fate of some 200 named detainees
were addressed to the authorities in 1981 by families resident outside Guinea and
international organizations, but received no response. Amnesty International's mission
to Guinea submitted to the authorities a list of some 80 individuals, most
of whom were arrested between 1970 and 1976, and asked for information on their fate
and whereabouts. The authorities agreed to supply this information to Amnesty International.
Amnesty International continued to seek the release of Camara Senni, nicknamed
"La Presse", and Sankoumba Diaby. They were arrested in August 1977
after demonstrations by market women against restrictions on private trading. Both
were reportedly accused of organizing the transportation of demonstrators, although
they were never tried or sentenced. Amnesty International was investigating the cases
of two gendarmes (police officers), Keita Mohamed and Camara Himy,
who were arrested at the same time and also held without charge or trial The cases
of four individuals arrested in 1979 after the alleged discovery of a plan to dynamite
public buildings were also being investigated by Amnesty International. In late 1979 Bah
Mahmoud and Diallo Mouctar returned to Guinea and were arrested, as
were two alleged accomplices, an Islamic religious leader or Imam, Diallo
Karamoko Gadiry, and a young herdsman, Bah Boye. At least six other individuals
arrested in Boke at the same time were reported to have died in Boiro camp after
total deprivation of food and water, known as the "black diet".
Amnesty International was also investigating the cases of individuals arrested after
the explosion of a grenade in May 1980 at the Palais du peuple (People's Palace).
Lieutenant Camara Moussa Bayo, chief of security at the Presidency, and Wilkinson
Honoré, director of a state enterprise, were among some 40 people
arrested after the explosion who remained in detention without charge or trial throughout
1981. In February 1981 some 100 individuals were arrested. They included members
of the presidential guard on duty at the airport in February 1981, as well as trainee
pilots and airport staff. As many as 50 of those arrested were reported to
have been released by the end of 1981.
The Amnesty International mission submitted to the authorities a list of the 22 detainees
on whose behalf it had worked. Officials told the mission delegates that no prisoners
of conscience were detained in Guinea, and that all the individuals for whom Amnesty
International had appealed had used violence or advocated its use. They also stated
that at least two of these prisoners had been released, and that the remainder had
been tried, convicted and sentenced They undertook to provide Amnesty International
with detailed information following the mission about the charges against each prisoner
on the list and the term of imprisonment imposed.
Amnesty International was concerned about the forcible repatriation of Guineans living
in neighbouring African countries who were suspected of opposition to the government
of President Sekou Toure.
The Guinean Government was believed to have obtained the assistance of the Ivory
Coast authorities in the forcible and extra-legal repatriation of three Guineans
to Conakry in April 1981. On arrival they were detained in Boiro camp and reportedly
badly beaten by prison officers. Two were returned to the Ivory Coast in May
1981, but Barry Mouctar remained in detention in Boiro
camp, apparently accused of involvement in the May 1980 grenade attack. Before
his enforced return to Guinea he had been living in the Ivory Coast for some 16 years.
His case was investigated by Amnesty International.
The Guinean Government was believed to have had collaboration from the Liberian authorities
in the forcible repatriation of at least three Guinean exiles from Liberia in late
November. According to several reports an official Guinean aircraft was permitted
to land at Monrovia airport to take away the exiles. Among them was Cheik Mohamed
Kone, a member of a political group called "Concerned Citizens of the Republic
of Guinea", which had called for the end of the one-party system in Guinea in
early November 1981.
Amnesty International continued to investigate the cases of students arrested in
April 1979 in Kankan, following protests about poor educational facilities and restrictions
on freedom of expression.
At least six students were arrested. Between March and May 1980 there were several
disturbances in educational establishments in Kindia. Students at the agricultural
college went on strike to oppose the appointment of a new rector and some installations
were destroyed. Over 100 students were reportedly arrested and taken to Keme
Boureima Camp in Kindia. It was not known how many were still detained, nor
whether some of those released might have been forcibly conscripted into the army
as had happened in the past. In January 1981 seven students were reportedly
arrested in Kankan following the appearance of antigovernment slogans on walls. All
were taken to Keme Boureima camp and some were reportedly tortured with electric
shocks and deprived of food and water for four days. It was not known how many remained
in detention at the end of 1981.
Although conditions in Boiro camp had improved since 1978, standards of sanitation,
nutrition and medical care remained poor. Amnesty International was concerned by
reports that on entry to Boiro camp prisoners were severely beaten and ill treated
by guards. Amnesty International's mission delegates were allowed to visit Boiro
camp in December 1981 and to interview five prisoners of their choice: Camara
Senni, Sankoumba Diaby, Keita Mohamed, Camara Himy and Bah
Mahmoud. The authorities however refused to give Amnesty International access
to Boiro camp's prison register, and told the delegates that no information could
be supplied regarding deaths in detention.
Amnesty International was concerned that statements made by President Sekou
Toure in early 1981 might have given official sanction to summary killings. He
was reported to have authorized both nationals and foreigners resident in Guinea
to kill all thieves with any means at their disposal.
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