Djibouti: Djiboutian Human Rights League-LDDH (Ligue djiboutienne des droits humains), including its structure, purpose and members

Information on the date of foundation of the Djiboutian Human Rights League–LDDH is contradictory and attempts to reach a representative of that organization at the telephone number provided were unsuccessful.

In correspondence dated 1^st February 2000, the President of the Association pour le respect des droits de l'homme à Djibouti–ARDH, a Paris–based non government organization for the defence of human rights in Djibouti provided the following information.

Based in Quartier V, Boulevard de Gaulle No 66, BP: 74, Djibouti, the Ligue djiboutienne des droits humains (LDDH) was founded around December 1991. Maître Mohamed Aref and Jean-Paul Noel Abdi, its current president and former member of National Assembly of Djibouti were among the LDDH founders. Today, because of the lack of means and pressure from government authorities, the LDDH is a "micro-organization" with neither structure nor members and is piloted by Jean-Paul Noel alone. The LDDH's main objectives include the defence of human rights in Djibouti and alerting (informing) international human rights organizations and media about human rights violations, abuses and repression committed by the successive régimes in Djibouti. Consequently, Jean-Paul Noel is often arrested on a regular basis by the police or the gendarmerie agents, questioned and released after some hours. The LDDH is affiliated with the Paris–based Fédération internationale des ligues de droits de l'homme (FIDH) and its communiqués are diffused through the ARDHD. Samples of its communiqués are attached (in French).

In its 1999 annual report entitled Human Rights Defenders on the Frontline, the FIDH states that "Fifteen days after the filing of the constitutional documents for the Djiboutian Human Rights League, a grenade was thrown, on 23 May 1999, at the organization's headquarters, wounding several passers-by." (54). The report adds that, the LDDH's president and vice-president were temporarily arrested on the very same day, and days later, they were placed in police custody for 48 hours (ibid.). The report does not provide the name of those LDDH leaders.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Association pour le respect des droits de l'homme à Djibouti (ARDHD), Paris. 1 February 2000. Correspondence.

Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH). 1999. Human Rights Defenders on the Frontline. Annual Report.

Association pour le respect des droits de l'homme à Djibouti (ARDHD), Paris. 1 February 2000. Correspondence.

Ligue djiboutienne des droits humains. 29 January 2000. Communiqué de presse N5/LDDH/00.

_____. 25 January 2000. Note d'information No 2/LDDH/00.

_____. Communiqué de pressse No 5/LDDDH/00.

_____. 9 January 2000. Communiqué de presse No 2/LDDH/00.

_____. 7 January 2000. Communiqué de presse No 1/LDDH/00 : Appel pour la paix.

_____. 20 December 1999. Note d'information No 13/99/LDDH.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential January 1996 - December 1999.

Africa Research Bulletin  January 1996-Jannaury 1999.

Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. Weekly.

La lettre hebdomadaire de la FIDH 1996-1999.

New African [London]. Monthly.

IRB Databases

LEXIS, NEXIS

WNC.

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International Online.

Human Rights Watch Online.

FIDH.