The Hague/New York/N’Djamena
Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) expresses profound concern and condemnation at the arrest of one of its Member-Parliamentarians and the arrest warrant issued against another member in Chad in the context of the wave of arrests and intimidation against Parliamentarians, pro-democracy activists, journalists, army officers and civilians since the beginning of May by Chadian authorities.
Following an alleged Coup d’Etat attempt on 1st May, which reportedly resulted in the killing of eight persons, several Parliamentarians, including PGA Member Saleh Makki, MP (leader of the opposition party PUR), have been arrested while others have been subject to arrest warrants, including PGA Member Saleh Kebzabo, MP (leader of the opposition party UNDR) for allegedly having participated in the “destabilisation of the Republic” even in the absence of the required authorisation prescribed by the Constitution for the waiver of their parliamentary immunity .
Parliamentarians for Global Action fully supports the statement of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Haroun Kabadi, MP, who firmly called upon the Government to respect the constitutional procedures relating to the arrest of Parliamentarians. In this respect, PGA calls on the competent Chadian authorities to ensure that fair, impartial and genuine investigations and prosecutions are carried out in order to shed light on the alleged events that led to the issuance of the arrest warrants.
Given the current tense climate in Chad, Chadian authorities must ensure that these arrests and arrest warrants do not lead to an escalation of violence and that Members of Parliament as well as civil society representatives continue to enjoy their most basic human rights, including freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.
PGA stands in solidarity with the PGA National Group in the National Assembly of Chad and expresses its strong support for the people and the representatives of the democratic institutions of Chad.
PGA is currently engaged, within the framework of its Campaign for the Effectiveness and Universality of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) System, in promoting the full implementation of the Rome Statute in the domestic legal order of Chad.
Update: PGA is pleased to inform that on 25 September, PGA Member Hon. Makki was finally provisionally released from detention and is now waiting for a trial date. In addition, on 3 September, the National Assembly rejected the government's request to lift the parliamentary immunity of PGA Member Hon. Kebzabo. PGA remains seized of the matter and ready for action when appropriate to support our members in Chad.
On behalf of the PGA Executive Committee,
Dep. Mamadou Lamine Thiam (Senegal), Convenor, International Peace and Security Program