Chad: Update to Responses to Information Requests TCD28464, TCD28465 and TCD28466 of 15 December 1997 regarding the relatives of Bichara Idriss Haggar, Abbas Deby and Bichara Idriss and their whereabouts
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TCD28574.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Chad: Update to Responses to Information Requests TCD28464, TCD28465 and TCD28466 of 15 December 1997 regarding the relatives of Bichara Idriss Haggar, Abbas Deby and Bichara Idriss and their whereabouts, 1 December 1997, TCD28574.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab6c94.html [accessed 21 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following is an English summary of the attached 15 December 1997 fax from the Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'homme (LTDH), in response to a 10 December 1997 Research Directorate query on the relatives of Bichara Idriss Haggar, Abbas Koty and Bichara Idriss and their whereabouts.
Although the attitude at "the decision level" is towards appeasement with regard to human rights associations, the danger of slippages and excesses on the part of the "hawks" in the current government is still real. In those conditions, the LTDH cannot provide any assurances regarding the security of government opponents and/or their immediate relatives.
Any relative of a political opponent in Tchad is a "virtual" victim because anything can happen at any time, Chad being a risk-prone and mood-changing country, as illustrated by the September 1996 assassination of Bichara Digui and the (1993) assassination of Abbas Koty who returned to Njamena following a reconciliation agreement. Although the relatives of Abbas Koty and Bichara Digui are not subject to flagrant retaliation measures, there is no doubt that they are under constant surveillance and "insidious" harassment that jeopardize their individual freedoms.
The LTDH can not offer any assurances regarding the security of returning political opponent's relatives for the reasons invoked above. The LTDH mentions the case of a Chadian student Mallou Sougui and Chadian armed forces member Haliki Taher who were refugees in Niger under UNHCR protection but were arrested on 17 May 1997 by the Niger authorities on their way to an hospital, and extradited to Chad where they were sent to "Camp des martyrs" on 7 June 1997. The LTDH has not heard of them since that date.
The LTDH would be willing, if necessary, to make the list of relatives of Bichara Idriss Haggar, Abbas Koty and Bichara Idriss. However, establishing such a list would require the co-operation of the persons concerned who might fear to be seen with representatives of human rights organizations.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Ligue tchadienne de droits de l'homme (LTDH). 15 December 1997. Letter sent by fax.
Attachment
Ligue tchadienne de droits de l'homme (LTDH). 15 December 1997. Letter sent by fax.
