\t\t\t\tEquatorial Guinea : Release Cartoonist Jailed for Two Months Without Charge
\nAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
\nPRESS RELEASE
\nUnder embargo until 00.01 GMT on 16 November 2017
\nEquatorial Guinea: Release cartoonist jailed for two months without charge
\nAuthorities in Equatorial Guinea must immediately and unconditionally release a cartoonist critical who has now spent two months in jail for criticising human rights violations in the country, Amnesty International said today.
\nRam\u00f3n Esono Ebal\u00e9 was arrested on 16 September 2017 in the capital Malabo. Although the law in Equatorial Guinea says a suspect cannot be detained for more than 72 hours without charge,\u00a0Esono\u00a0has been detained for two months but has not been formally charged. Prosecutors say witnesses have accused him of heading an organisation involved in money laundering and counterfeiting \u2013 accusations he categorically denies.
\n\u201cIn this latest example of arbitrary arrest and detention, the authorities in Equatorial Guinea have levelled baseless accusations against Ram\u00f3n Esono Ebal\u00e9, who was simply enjoying his right to freedom of expression through his art,\u201d said Marta Colomer, Amnesty International West Africa campaigner.
\n\u201cRam\u00f3n is a prisoner of conscience who has been languishing in jail for 60 days, detained solely for his peaceful activism. He must be immediately and unconditionally released.\u201d
\nThe court has yet to respond to a request submitted by Ram\u00f3n\u2019s lawyers on October 9 to cross-examine the prosecution\u2019s witnesses. Ram\u00f3n\u2019s lawyers believe there will be no case against him once they prove that the witnesses are giving false testimony but fear the authorities are using delaying tactics to keep him in prison.
\nIf the court does not respond to their submission by 30 November, the end of the judicial year in Equatorial Guinea, then Ram\u00f3n could remain in prison until at least 16 January.
\nRam\u00f3n\u2019s wife Elo\u00edsa\u00a0Vaello Marco who is abroad, told Amnesty International:
\n\u201cRam\u00f3n\u00a0uses his drawings to satirize the government of Equatorial Guinea and denounce things that he considers to be unjust. He does it through a smart sense of humour from the bottom of his heart. His tools are images, drawings, video, illustrations and animations.\u201d
\nUpset about the lack of contact with her husband since his arrest,\u00a0Elo\u00edsaadded:
\n\u201cThis hurts me a lot. Since he is in prison I have just been able to talk to him once. It was when he had his hearing in Court. There were just a few words. Since then, communications with him have not been possible, but I try to send him messages of strength and confidence through his sisters, to whom I talk every day.\u201d
\nRam\u00f3n\u2019s family in Malabo can visit him in prison. They told Amnesty International that he is in good health, his spirits are high and he is being allowed to continue drawing.
\nOne of Ram\u00f3n\u2019s sisters, told Amnesty International : \u201cThere are moments of sadness but we try to keep strong. His 17-year-old son, who is with us here, started crying the first time he visited him in jail. We all believe that my brother doesn\u2019t do counterfeiting. This is just a false accusation and that has been very clear since the first day of his arrest.\u201d
\nOn 2 November, the Cartoonists Rights Network International announced that Ram\u00f3n had been awarded the 2017 Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning. This is an annual award given to cartoonists who have exhibited great courage and self-sacrifice in the pursuit of their craft and in the exercise of free speech.
\n\u201cWe have witnessed the use of arbitrary arrests and detention to try and silence dissenting voices in Equatorial Guinea for many years\u2019,\u201d said Marta Colomer.
\n\u201cThese practices should be brought to an end, and the release of Ram\u00f3n Esono Ebal\u00e9 would be a welcome starting point.\u201d
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Equatorial Guinea : Release Cartoonist Jailed for Two Months Without Charge AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE Under embargo until 00.01 GMT on 16 November 2017 Equatorial Guinea: Release cartoonist jailed for two months without charge Authorities in Equatorial Guinea must immediately and unconditionally release a cartoonist critical who has now spent two months in jail for
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