AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2016/17

equested that the state provide detailed and
updated information about the criminal
investigations and all the efforts made to
identify and bring to justice those suspected
of criminal responsibility for crimes under
international law and human rights violations.
In July, the Supreme Court declared the
1993 Amnesty Law unconstitutional, an
important step forward for victims of past
human rights violations seeking justice. 4
Four military officers who were the subject
of a 2011 arrest warrant issued by a Spanish
judge for their involvement in the 1989 killing
of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and
her daughter were reportedly arrested in
February. However, according to press
reports, the Supreme Court denied the
extradition request in August.
In September, a court ordered the
reopening of the El Mozote case in which
hundreds of civilians were executed by
military officials in December 1981.
During 2016, two former military officers
who served as ministers of defence during
the armed conflict were deported from the
USA to El Salvador accused of human rights
violations committed during the 1980s. 5
1. El Salvador: Release of woman jailed after miscarriage, a victory for
human rights (Press release, 20 May)
2. El Salvador: Scandalous proposal to increase jail terms for women
accused of abortion (Press release, 12 July)
3. Americas: Home sweet home? Honduras, Guatemala and El
Salvador’s role in a deepening refugee crisis (AMR 01/4865/2016)
4. El Salvador rejects Amnesty Law in historic ruling (News story, 14
July)
5. El Salvador debe abolir la Ley de Amnistía y enfrentar su sangriento
pasado (News story, 14 January)
EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Head of state and government: Teodoro Obiang
Nguema Mbasogo
The rights to freedom of expression and of
peaceful assembly were severely curtailed
ahead of presidential elections in April.
Police used excessive force including
firearms against members of opposition
parties. Hundreds of political opponents
and others, including foreign nationals,
were arbitrarily arrested and held without
charge or trial for varying periods; several
were tortured.
BACKGROUND
In April, incumbent President Obiang won
the presidential elections with 93.7% of the
votes cast. There were reports of electoral
fraud and numerous human rights violations
prior to the elections. Independent political
opposition parties boycotted the compilation
of the electoral register and the elections on
the grounds that both contravened electoral
law.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The right to freedom of expression was
suppressed. In January, police in Bata
arbitrarily arrested Convergence for Social
Democracy members Anselmo Santos Ekoo
and Urbano Elo Ntutum, for “disturbing the
peace”, as they distributed leaflets and
announced a meeting of their opposition
party. They were released without charge 10
days later.
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
Between February and May, over 250 people
were arrested for attending opposition parties’
meetings. All but four of those arrested were
released without charge after being held for
over a week. Members and sympathizers of
the opposition party Citizens for Innovation
(CI) were particularly targeted, as were
relatives of the party’s Secretary-General,
Gabriel Nze. Taxi drivers taking people to
meetings were also arrested.
On 28 February, plain clothes security
personnel disrupted a CI meeting in Bata. CI
members Leopoldo Obama Ndong, Manuel
Esono Mia, Federico Nguema, Santiago
Mangue Ndong and Jesús Nze Ndong were
arrested and remained in detention without
152 Amnesty International Report 2016/17