GUINEA BISSAU: Freedom of expression is under attack in the aftermath of an army rebellion.

Several opposition politicians were arrested between 24 and 26 November 2000 in the capital, Bissau, accused of supporting the rebellion led by General Ansumane Mané, the former leader of the disbanded Military Junta which ousted former President João Bernardo Vieira in May 1999.

In the evening of 26 November, President Kumba Ialá, ordered that thedetainees be released from prison and placed under house arrest. However,they remain in detention.

Several members of the União para a Mudança, (UM), Union for Changeopposition party, including Aminé Saad, former Procurator General; ManuelRambout Barcelos, Carambá Turé, a member of Parliament were arrested atdifferent times on 25 November. Agnello Regala, director of Bombolón radioand UM member, was arrested at about 1.20 am on 26 November. The previousevening he had denounced the arrests of the opposition politicians and theattacks on freedom of expression. The president of the Partido Africanopara a Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC), African Party for theindependence of Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde, Francisco Benante was alsoamong those arrested.The president and the spokesperson of the Aliança Socialista da Guiné(ASG), Socialist Alliance of Guinea (Bissau), respectively Fernando Gomes-formerly president of the Guinea-Bissau Human Rights League - and FernandoMendoça were arrested on 26 November.

The detainees have not been formally charged. Two of the detainees,including Fernando Gomes, were reportedly beaten at the time of theirarrest.

Background

Following the appointment of army officers by President Kuamba Ialá,General Ansumane Mané, who objected to it, revoked the appointments,dismissed the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and his deputy and orderedtheir arrest, and proclaimed himself chief of staff of the armed forces.

On the early hours of the morning of 23 November, fighting eruptedbriefly in Bissau between army factions loyal to the government and GeneralAnsumane Mané's supporters. The rebellion was soon quelled by forces loyalto the government and many of General Ansumane Mane's supporters werearrested. The General himself remains at large.

The UM and the PAIGC had publicly blamed the government for the tensesituation in the country following the appointments of military officers.