UN sends human rights mission to Sao Tome after mistreatment and death of detainees

A mission of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is arriving next week in Sao Tome and Principe following the mistreatment and death of four inmates in custody, a diplomatic source told Lusa.

The United Nations mission, the same source said, intends to verify the “tragic events” that followed the assault on the headquarters of the armed forces of Sao Tome, which took place in the early morning of November 25, “with clear signs of violations.” [dos direitos humanos] based on depictions of the ill-treatment that may have been behind the deaths of four inmates in custody.”

Four people have died and about 20, including 12 military personnel, were arrested last Friday after a military headquarters was stormed by four civilians and alleged accomplices inside the facilities. The attack was classified by the Sao Tome authorities as a “coup attempt” and condemned by the international community.

Early on the morning of the 25th, Sao Tome Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada assured that the attack had been “neutralized” and that the situation was “calm” and “under control”, but a few hours later it was reported that three of the attackers had died, as well as Arlesio Costa , who was detained by the military at home and who was allegedly identified as one of the masterminds of the attack.

Videos were circulated this Wednesday of a detainee who would later die lying on the ground, covered in blood, with his hands tied behind his back, being beaten with a stick by a soldier as several other soldiers watch. Other images show prisoners lying or kneeling in the courtyard of the barracks with their hands tied and wounded.

On the day of the attack and in the following days, images of men with traces of aggression, bloody and with their hands tied behind their backs, still alive, and already in the morgue, were already made public.

This week, civil society organizations called for a meeting with United Nations representatives in the country to call for the “return” of 12 detained military personnel to prison, saying they were taken to headquarters and have no access to their families or lawyers. .

Inspector General of the Armed Forces, Colonel Sebastian Andres, told Lusa this Friday that four soldiers have been disciplined over the video, but internal investigations are still ongoing. As for the investigations into the ill-treatment of detainees, the colonel also said that they are still ongoing, without further details.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Olinto Paquete resigned this Thursday after apologizing for providing the nation with “false information”. Two days after the attack, the brigadier general justified the deaths of the three attackers from injuries caused by the explosion and the death of Arlesio Costa by saying that he “jumped out of the car”.

Following the release of the videos, the São Tomé government filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office on Thursday demanding an investigation into “violence and inhuman treatment” by military personnel against detainees after the attack on military headquarters.

Also this Friday, after an extraordinary meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense, the President of the Republic of Sao Tome, Carlos Vila Nova, said that all actions that took place after the attack on Morro’s military headquarters “should be thoroughly investigated.” and those responsible are held accountable.”

In the first hours after the attack, the military also detained the former chairman of the National Assembly, Delfim Neves, whom the attackers allegedly identified as the mastermind of the robbery.

Delfim Neves was released on Monday after being present at a hearing by a prosecuting judge after being periodically confronted by the authorities and confirming his identity and place of residence, and denied any involvement in the act, which he called “montage” to incriminate him.

At the request of Sao Tome, Portugal has sent a team of investigators and experts from the judicial police and a medical expert in forensic pathology, who will cooperate with the Sao Tome judicial authorities in the investigations.

The United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) have indicated to President Vila Nova that they are willing to cooperate in the investigations.