BREAKING: Politicians Held In Custody, See Why

BREAKING: Politicians Held In Custody, See Why

Many Guinean political leaders have been interrogated and held in custody on Monday 24 October, leading the country’s opposition to denounce what they say is a fresh attempt, by the ruling junta, to silence dissent.

According to one of their lawyers, Fodé Oussou Fofana, Cellou Baldé, Bano Sow, Mamadou Sylla, Dembo Sylla, Pépé Francis, Etienne Soropogui and Bouya Konaté are being prosecuted for their participation in, or support for, previous week’s anti-junta protests in which three people died.

“We believe that our clients benefit from the presumption of innocence and have already told their part of the truth in relation to the charges brought against them, which were even mentioned in the letters of convocation, namely prohibited assembly, provocation of prohibited demonstrations and several other assaults and injuries, and others.” Me Salifou Béavogui, lawyer of some of the indicted political leaders said.

The politicians were later released that same Monday, but are due to appear again on Thursday.

The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) had called for the protest to demand a quick return to a civilian led government and the release of all prisoners detained for political reasons.

In a statement released last week, the group called the ruling junta “dictatorial.” and identified the three people killed as Thierno Bella Diallo, Boubacar Diallo and Thierno Moussa Barry. It also added that 20 people suffered gunshot wounds while many others were arrested.

Justice Minister Alphonse Charles Wright confirmed their deaths in a statement on Friday, but said the causes “remain to be clarified by autopsy”.

He ordered prosecutions, without commenting on the alleged perpetrators but stressed that the authorities’ were determined to combat impunity.