Chad: tensions around the holding of a "Citizen Forum" banned by the government
Police patrol in Ndjamena.
(Illustrative image) BRAHIM ADJI / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The Chadian police raided the premises of the private radio station FM Liberté on Friday, November 27 in N'Djaména.
According to the police, 70 people were arrested.
The majority of them were released on Friday evening, but three civil society activists were brought before the public prosecutor, according to the police.
This intervention was strongly condemned by several organizations which are indignant at the tense climate which has prevailed in Chad in recent weeks towards civil society and political parties.
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The Union of Trade Unions of Chad (UST) condemns "
savage intervention and arbitrary arrests
," read a statement.
This episode comes a few weeks after the seats of several political parties and the homes of opposition leaders were surrounded.
Among them: Saleh Kebzabo of the National Union for Development and Renewal, Mahamat Ahmat Alhabo of the Party for Freedoms and Democracy, and Succès Masra who represents the Transformers.
All are suspected of wanting to organize a counter-forum, after the “inclusive national forum” held by the authorities.
Thursday, November 26, a decree published by the government formally prohibited the holding of a "Citizen Forum", initially scheduled for Friday.
► See also: Chad: dozens of people arrested in a private radio
Mahamat Nour Ibedou, secretary general of the Chadian Convention for the Defense of Human Rights, is concerned about this hardening.
“
Three or four months ago, this dictatorial drift began to be felt more and more,
” he notes.
Mahamat Zène Bada, secretary general of the Patriotic Salvation Movement, for his part denounces an "
armed opposition
".
“
This armed opposition is banned by the Constitution.
These people who today claim what is called their forum, it is also for the participation of the armed opposition.
The armed opposition must be treated as such,
”he insists.
For now, three civil society activists were to be brought before the prosecution following the ban on Friday's “Citizen Forum”.
“We are not free.
They control us, they prevent us from meeting ”
Mekondo Sony, President of the Union of Private Radios of Chad (URPT)
Bineta Diagne
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