Demonstration: A journalist beaten, tells his story

The 2nd day of protest of the coalition of the political parties of the opposition did not end calmly like the first day in Lomé. After 22 hours, the horde of protesters who was in sit-in from the Peace Dove to the Deckon junction were chased away with tear gas.



Théophile Adanlété, a journalist of the radio Victoire FM in reportage, has unfortunately been the victim of the repression at Bè Gakpoto. He was contacted by Global Actu and said he was beaten by six (6) or seven (7) people in civilian clothes, who stormed all passers-by.

"I was walking at 9pm, I was about to leave when it started gassing around 10pm. I took refuge in a house and an hour and a half practically after, I tried to leave the perimeter to take my motorcycle that I parked behind the DCPJ. I took a Zemidjan and went to Akodesséwa to debouch on Bè Gakpoto. People in civilian clothes, in the dark, parked a white car next to it, jumped on the bike that was carrying me and made us fall. And with the aid of the cords of current swathed in hand, they struck us, the zemidjan and me. Before I understood, they would beat all who passed by. No matter who you are, you can shout who you are, we beat you cleanly, "he said.

According to him, his chance was that a few minutes later, other people would arrive. "We were told with blows, to inhale the smoke emanating from a burnt tire and to pick up stones with which the protesters wanted to block the way," he said while adding that this is where he had time to escape.

On his way he said he had advised all those who were coming in the opposite direction to turn back. "Before I went to get my bike from where I parked it, there was a whole belt of law enforcement that was there and told me they were celebrating their birthday. They asked me where I was going. I introduced myself and told them that I came to take my bike. They hesitated but left me after a few minutes. It's horrible, "he said.

Theophile Adanlété says he does not understand why when people want to demonstrate, they rebuke their ears that the police will frame the demonstration, to allow others who do not intend to demonstrate, to go freely to their occupations, but when it comes to suppressing the demonstrators, there is no longer any difference between those who demonstrate and those who do not.