IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT UPDATE - TOGO

8 November 2002

Editor arrested and falsely accused of writing article

SOURCE: Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International PEN, London

**Updates IFEX alert of 19 September 2002**

(WiPC/IFEX) - The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned over the
continued imprisonment of Claude Améganvi, editor of the journal "Nwayo",
currently serving a four month sentence. He has been charged with "distributing
false information, defamation and disturbance of the public order" and is
threatened with a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment.

The charges brought against Améganvi relate to an article published in the
weekly "Nouvel Echo" in August 2002, speculating on the alleged personal wealth
of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma. It has since been discovered, however, that the
author of the article is not Améganvi but, by his own admission, Eloi Koussawo,
president of the political movement MO5. It has been suggested that because
Koussawo is in exile and therefore beyond the reach of the Togolese authorities,
his article has been used as a pretext for prosecuting Améganvi, an influential
journalist, author and political leader.

Améganvi joins two journalists who have been prosecuted in the same case. Julien
Ayi, publishing editor of "Nouvel Echo", received a sentence of four months'
imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 CFA francs (approx. US$154) on 16 September.
Meanwhile, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Alphonse Névamé Klu, has gone into
hiding following the publication of the article and the subsequent issue of an
arrest warrant in his name.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- calling for the release of Améganvi and Ayi
- demanding that the Togolese authorities drop the criminal charges against
Améganvi, Ayi and Klu

APPEALS TO:

President Gnassingbé Eyadéma
Office of the President
Lomé, Togo
Fax: +228 21 18 97

His Excellency Ambassador to France
Ambassade du Togo
Paris, France
Fax: +331 56 26 04 46

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information please contact Dixe Wills at the WiPC, International
PEN, 9/10 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AT, U.K., tel: +44
207 253 3226, fax: +44 207 253 5711, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:
http://www.oneworld.org/internatpen/

The information contained in this action alert update is the sole responsibility
of WiPC. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
WiPC.
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