More than ten (10) Togolese civil society organizations made public a statement yesterday afternoon in which they reviewed the current socio-political situation in Togo. They also insisted, among other things, on the return to the Constitution of 1992 and called on the population to mobilize for the demonstrations on Wednesday and Thursday. Entire statement!
Press Conference of Togolese Civil Society Organizations
Opening Statement Togolese
Civil Society Organizations, signatories to this declaration, are following with deep concern the socio-political situation prevailing in our country. This situation is the result of poverty, extreme poverty, social injustice, frustration and an increased desire for change.
CSOs would like to take this opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to the African Citizen Movements (Lucha and Filimbi of the DRC, Burkina Faso Citizen Broom, Cameroon Youth and Fortress, Senegalese Sindumudja of Burundi, Wake Up of Madagascar, Lyina of Chad) for their admiration, solidarity and encouragement to the Togolese people in their struggle for reform.
It is also the place for CSOs to pay tribute to our Bishops who, once again and through a declaration made public on September 14, 2017, carried the Tibetan people's high aspirations higher and higher again. CSOs are in tune with the Bishops who stressed the urgency of the reforms requested by the people in accordance with the 1992 Constitution. They condemned the excessive use of force against fellow citizens, sometimes even in their own homes, and demanded to adopt a republican attitude of neutrality by avoiding any interference in the political debate, in accordance with our Constitution. Similarly, those responsible for the institutions of the Republic must avoid publicly displaying their political affiliation.
CSOs, signatories to this declaration, note the following:
1. ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, EXPRESSION AND INFORMATION
The demonstrations on 19, 20 August, 06 and 07 September 2017 of the opposition and the armed forces have been violently repressed by law enforcement and security forces with tear gas grenades close at hand and the use of live ammunition. This repression resulted in serious injuries and deaths.
The violence intensified on the night of 07 to 08 September 2017, when the security forces emerged from the field of demonstrations and raged on the populations in the Bè district, pursuing them until their last entrenchment. the dwelling-houses, in the rooms, and exerting upon them severe and violent physical beatings. CSOs also note with deep concern that the city of Kara, a town located in Togolese territory, is still difficult to access to the activities and demonstrations of opposition parties and trade unions, of Article 1 of the Togolese Constitution of 14 October 1992, the Togolese Republic "is one and indivisible".
In addition, CSOs are asking the government to better read the law on public peaceful demonstrations. Indeed, this law, which allows the organized events to be regulated, is not an obstacle to the unfolding of spontaneous manifestations insofar as, for one reason or another, an organized event can evolve towards a spontaneous manifestation. In this case, the administration has an obligation to frame the event. For CSOs, there is no doubt that the threats to the freedom of peaceful assembly and public demonstration are real and serious.
For proof, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Local Government, introduced a preliminary draft Law amending Law No. 2011-010 of 16 May 2011 laying down the conditions for the exercise of freedom peaceful assembly and public demonstration.
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 6-New of this draft law:
"Public demonstrations of large crowds or small groups or any gathering of whatever character are prohibited during the 30 days preceding the holding on national territory, of important national, regional or international events involving the life of the State.
This prohibition also covers the period during which the event takes place and during the 15 days following the said events. "
CSOs are strongly protesting against this demonstrated and renewed will of the government to limit as much as possible, and even to empty even of its quintessence a universal and constitutional freedom, dearly acquired, and which remains the very essence of democracy, raising fantastic, absolute and general prohibitions. CSOs demand that the government simply withdraw this draft law and remain strongly mobilized for this purpose.
This situation of violence and attacks on the physical integrity of citizens culminated with the deliberate interruption of the Internet and courier services on 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 and 10 September 2017, the withdrawal by the Togolese authorities of accreditation to Emmanuelle SODJI, correspondent of the "TV5 Monde" television channel in Togo. At the demonstration sites and while they were in the exercise of their profession, private media journalists such as EKPE Kossi of the "Le Correcteur" newspaper, Theophile ADANLETE of Radio "Victoire FM", Marc ABOFLAN of the Online Press "Elites of Africa" were severely beaten and severely beaten by the police. Another reporter reporter, Combetey Combey, was removed from his camera by the same security guards.
Intimidation and threats against journalists continue with the summoning of the editor of the newspaper "Triangle des stakes", Jérôme SOSSOU, AMENUNYA Junior, editor of the "Kusasa" newspaper, on Friday, 15 September 2017, and persistent information on a probable arrest of the Director of Publication of the biweekly "L'Alternative", Ferdinand AYITE. These numerous impediments and serious infringements of the right to information and communication have plunged the populations into a torpor and a generalized psychosis and contrast with the declarations of the government authorities who advocate peace.
The Togolese State must cease to present itself as a repressive and threatening reality for the populations whose duty it is to guarantee the protection of rights and ensure security in accordance with Article 13 of the 1992 Constitution.
CSOs strongly condemn the bullying and contempt with which the government responds to the legitimate demands of citizens.
2. ON THE QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
The root cause of the current malaise and crisis in our country is rooted in the lack of implementation of these reforms.
On this issue, the information gathered during the recent tour of the Reflection Commission on Political Reforms, as well as the demands made by the populations during the demonstrations on 19 and 20 August, 06 and 07 September 2017, are very eloquent and clear: as far as constitutional reforms are concerned, to return to the original Constitution of 14 October 1992, adopted by referendum to more than 97% of the Togolese. The CSOs signatory to this declaration, for their part, consider that only this Constitution targets anyone. It is therefore neutral and assumes the cardinal characteristics of a law in that it is general, impersonal and obligatory.
This was the position of the CSOs during their meeting on Wednesday, 13 September 2017, with a delegation from the ECOWAS Commission led by its President Mr Marcel de SOUZA, who came to Lomé to meet with protagonists of the crisis that crosses our country Togo.
The different points raised by the delegation during its meeting with CSOs were:
- The limitation of the presidential mandate; - The question of the method of voting; - The vote of the diaspora; - The question of institutions to reinvigorate; - The release of those arrested during the demonstrations on 19 and 20 August 2017.
Regarding the first point that is the point of contention, CSOs clearly supported the position expressed by the people to return to the original version of the Constitution of October 14, 1992. Article 59 of this Constitution provides: "The President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term of office renewable only once. In no case may a person serve more than two terms ". As one can easily see through its formulation, only this Constitution has not had the vocation of settling a personal question. The CSOs then reiterated and insisted on the release of those arrested and detained as part of the demonstrations aimed at reducing the socio-political atmosphere.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission reassured CSOs and affirmed that the Commission will be on the side of the Togolese people as it has been in The Gambia. CSOs have called on the ECOWAS Commission to remain faithful and dynamic to its 2020 ECOWAS vision of the peoples and to work hard to alternate within its EC space. CSOs pledge themselves to do their utmost to ensure that the will of the People, which is alone above partisan and particular interests, can triumph. For them, then, no compromise should be made on the backs of our people. To this end, CSOs call on the Togolese people to remain mobilized for values and principles of national interest.
Consequently, CSOs call on the Togolese in Togo and abroad to mobilize on 20 and 21 September 2017 to demand a return to the 1992 Constitution.
Done at Lomé on 18 September 2017
Signing CSOs. APED, CACIT, CEJP Togo, Torch Citizen, LTDH, NUBUEKE, Twig of Jesse, STT, SYNPHOT, UST, Winiga.
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