Angola: Immediate release of anti-corruption campaigner required - Global Witness Press Release, 19 February 2007
Graham Saul
Please see below for the Global Witness press release on arrest of Dr. Sarah
Wykes, oil campaigner and Publish What You Pay coalition member, in Angola.
It is also available in French and Portuguese.
Please also see the "fact sheet" on the arrest in the attached file or
online at www.globalwitness.org <http://www.globalwitness.org/> for more
details on the situation.
Angola: Immediate release of anti-corruption campaigner required
Published 19/02/2007
Human rights and anti-corruption campaign group Global Witness is demanding
the immediate and unconditional release of their employee Dr Sarah Wykes, a
highly respected international anti-corruption campaigner.
Dr Wykes was arrested by armed Angolan police on the morning of Sunday 18th
February in Cabinda, whilst visiting the oil rich enclave to meet with local
civil society representatives. She was arrested and taken from her hotel to
a police station, not given food or water for at least 5 hours before being
charged and taken to the local jail late last night.
Global Witness understands that she has been charged with espionage and this
morning was taken to court in Cabinda. Global Witness refutes any allegation
of espionage by Dr Wykes and no evidence to support the charge has yet been
presented. The Angolan authorities are denying Dr Wykes her own lawyers and
are insisting on appointing a Government lawyer.
Dr Wykes has been a tireless campaigner for transparency in the oil sector
and her arrest and subsequent incarceration are an affront to her human
rights. She should be immediately and unconditionally released.
For more information contact: +44 (0)20 7561 6361, +44 (0)20 7561 6395 or
+44 (0)7843 058 756. To view our fact sheet, click here
<http://www.globalwitness.org/data/files/fact_sheet.doc> .
FRANCAIS
Angola: Demande de libération immédiate d'une activiste contre la corruption
demandée
Published 19/02/2007
Global Witness, une organisation travaillant sur les droits de l'homme et la
corruption, exige la libération immédiate et inconditionnelle de leur
employée Dr. Sarah Wykes, une activiste internationale hautement respectée
faisant campagne contre la corruption.
Dr Wykes a été arrêtée par des policiers angolais armés dimanche 18 février
au matin à Cabinda, alors qu'elle se trouvait en Angola, un pays riche en
pétrole, pour rencontrer des représentants de la société civile locale et
discuter des progrès dans la transparence du secteur pétrolier angolais.
Elle a été arrêtée et emmenée de son hôtel à un commissariat de police, n'a
reçu ni nourriture ni eau pendant au moins 5 heures avant d'être inculpée et
détenue dans une prison locale tard hier soir.
Selon les informations disponibles Dr Wykes a été accusée d'espionnage et a
été emmenée au tribunal de Cabinda ce matin. Global Witness réfute toute
allégation d'espionnage par le Dr Wykes. Aucune preuve justifiant cette
accusation n'a été fournie. Les autorités angolaises refusent le choix
d'avocats du Dr Wykes et insistent pour lui assigner un avocat du
gouvernement.
Dr Sarah Wykes est une activiste infatigable, faisant campagne pour la
transparence dans le secteur pétrolier et son arrestation et détention sont
une atteinte à ses droits humains. Elle doit être libérée immédiatement et
inconditionnellement.
Pour plus d'informations, contactez: +44 (0)20 7561 6361, +44 (0)20 7561
6395 or +44 (0)7843 058 756
PORTUGUESE
Angola: requerida a libertação imediata de activista contra a corrupção
Published 19/02/2007
Global Witness, o grupo Britânico que trabalha pelos direitos humanos e
contra a corrupção exige a libertação imediata e incondicional da sua
funcionária Dr. Sarah Wykes, uma activista altamente respeitada no circuito
internacional.
A Dr. Wykes foi detida por polícia Angolana armada na manhã de Domingo, 18
de Fevereiro, em Cabinda enquanto visitava aquele enclave rico em petróleo
para encontros com representantes locais da sociedade civil. Ela foi detida
e levada do seu hotel para a esquadra e não lhe foram dados alimentos ou
água durante pelo menos cinco horas até que foi acusada e conduzida para a
cadeia local ontem à noite.
A Global Witness entende que Sarah Wykes foi acusada de espionagem e hoje de
manhã foi levada a tribunal em Cabinda. A Global Witness rejeita qualquer
alegação de espionagem pela Dr. Sarah Wykes e nenhuma prova que suporte tal
acusação foi ainda apresentada. As autoridades Angolanas estão a recusar à
Dr. Wykes acesso aos seus advogados de escolha e insistindo em designar um
advogado do Governo.
A Dr. Wykes tem sido uma activista incansável pela transparência no sector
petrolífero e a sua detenção e subsequente encarceramento constituem uma
afronta aos seus direitos humanos. Ela deverá ser imediatamente e
incondicionalmente libertada.
Para mais informações, por favor contacte: +44 (0)20 7561 6361, +44 (0)20
7561 6395 or +44 (0)7843 058 756.