Guinea activist assaulted by Presidential Guard. Democracy Digest relates the agression.
Democracy Digest | February 16, 2015
Human rights and democracy advocates are expressing concern at reports that a leading Guinean activist was subjected to a savage assault by members of the Presidential Guard. Thierno Souleymane Balde, who heads the Conakry-based Research Institute on Democracy and Rule of Law, filed a complaint on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 before the Court of First Instance.
The assault may have been prompted by Balde’s role as one of the lawyers who defended Judge Morlaye Soumah who had been molested by the Commander of the Presidential Guards’ BATA security unit. It follows the recent assassination of another civil society activist, Thierno Aliou Diaouné, a former Minister of Youth and Sports and National Coordinator of United Nations Fund for Peacebuilding.
Balde has been the victim of several attacks by security guards because of his activities, which consist of providing legal assistance to ordinary citizens, victim of arbitrary arrest and violation of human rights. “He has previously filed several complaints but no action has been taken against the perpetrators,” the group said.
Guinea’s military has been complicit in serious human rights abuses, including a notorious massacre of civilians.
