[ad_1]
The wave of arbitrary arrests of political activists and journalists and the crackdown on peaceful protests has reached an alarming level in Benin, Amnesty said before the country's parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Since February, security forces have dispersed peaceful demonstrations with tear gas and batons and arrested opposition officials. At least one person died in clashes between protesters and security forces in February in Kilibo, in the north of the country. This decision follows the decision of the Electoral Commission to allow only two political parties – both from the presidential camp – to stand for election and to exclude all lists of opposition candidates. The local authorities have put in place general prohibitions for demonstrations in the run-up to the elections, notably in the city of Parakou and in the departments of Collines and Zou.
"The growing wave of arrests and detentions in Benin is extremely worrying, especially in the context of elections. Prohibiting peaceful protests and stopping people who denounce the exclusion of opposition parties in parliamentary elections will only fuel political turmoil, "said Amnesty International researcher François Patuel. West Africa.
"The authorities must ensure that the rights to freedom of expression, badociation and peaceful badembly are respected. Security forces must refrain from using force against peaceful protesters in all circumstances. "
Amnesty International has documented at least three cases in which security forces repressed peaceful protests organized by opposition parties before the parliamentary elections. These occurred on April 1, 4 and 19, respectively, when security forces, including the police, used tear gas, batons and air launchers to disperse opposition rallies. Members of the armed forces and police deployed at the demonstration site carried firearms.
On 19 April, security forces fired tear gas at two of Benin's former presidents, Nicéphore Soglo and Thomas Boni Yayi, and the oldest of the deputies, Rosine Vieyra Soglo, who is 83 years old. were addressing protesters at a protest. the capital Cotonou.
Several people have been arrested at demonstrations, including political leaders. Julien Agossou Bodé, a member of the opposition, was arrested on April 19 and charged with inciting violence for a video he had posted on social media. He was released on bail on April 23 while awaiting trial on May 6.
Yibatou Sani Glélé, member of the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) and deputy of the current National Assembly was arrested along with another member of his party at a women's rally at the Ouando market in the city Porto Novo, in the south of the country. April.
They peacefully protested against the exclusion of the PRD from the legislative elections. The police seized their signs and their loudspeakers. They were detained for six hours and charged with "holding an unauthorized gathering" and "inciting to hold an unauthorized gathering". They were released on bail and are scheduled to appear in court on May 6.
Amnesty International considers that the requirements for prior authorization of meetings and the criminalization of peaceful protests violate international human rights law and standards.
Journalists have also paid a heavy price with arrests and intimidations hanging over their heads. On April 18, the managing editor of "New Economy"Journal, Casimir Kpedjo was arrested at his home. His lawyer told Amnesty International that this arrest took place following a complaint lodged by the state magistrate, who represents the State of Benin in court, for a message posted on Facebook in which he claimed that the country had a debt of nearly 725 million USD (428 billion CFA francs) in violation of the finance law for 2019. He was accused of having published "false information". He was released on bail on April 23, but his trial is ongoing.
Ignace Sossou, journalist at the information website beninwebtv.com is being prosecuted for publishing "false information" about two articles he has published on tax evasion in Benin. He has been summoned three times by the Central Bureau for the Suppression of Cybercrime and will be tried on June 10.
Benin has pbaded several repressive laws in recent years, which are now used to crack down on dissent, including a digital code of law enacted in 2017 that criminalizes the publication of false information, online press offenses, and online advertising. Incitement to rebellion online.
The Penal Code of the country, adopted in 2018, criminalizes "attacks on the symbols and values of the State, the Republic, communities and religions", "unarmed gatherings that could disturb public tranquility" and "provocations to unarmed gatherings".
The same year, the National Assembly also pbaded a law on the right to strike which limits the maximum duration of a strike to 10 days a year for all civil servants, local government officials, employees of the public and private sectors and parastatal employees. The law prohibits health personnel from going on strike.
"We call on the authorities to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the elections take place in a climate free from violence, to allow everyone to express their views and to stop intimidation. journalists who have a crippling effect on the freedom of the press, "says François Patuel.
Source link
