Togo: Student demonstrations in April 2004 at the University of Lomé, particularly the chain of events and the arrests; whether the students arrested were released (April - May 2004)

Various sources indicate that, on 30 April 2004, some Togolese students organized a demonstration on the University of Lomé campus (Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2.b; La Maison du journalisme n.d.; BBC 3 May 2004; UN 3 May 2004; RFI 18 May 2004; Radio Togo 1 May 2004; Ghanaian Chronicle 4 May 2004). According to a Radio Togo report, on 28 April 2004, some students from the University of Lomé began gathering on campus and attacking passers-by and students who did not want to join them (1 May 2004). A United Nations (UN) report indicates that the demonstration, which got out of hand on 30 April, 2004 with violent clashes between the students and security forces, lasted several days (3 May 2004; see also Ghanaian Chronicle 4 May 2004).

The students had organized the demonstration to demand payment of government grants and increased financial assistance (Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2.b; La Maison du journalisme n.d.; BBC 3 May 2004; UN 3 May 2004; RFI 18 May 2004; BBC 1 May 2004; Ghanaian Chronicle 4 May 2004) and to protest against "what [they] saw as preferential treatment" accorded to students at the University of Kara in the northern part of the country (Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2.b).

Corroborating sources indicate that security forces cracked down violently on the students, who reacted by breaking windshields and setting security forces' vehicles on fire (Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2.b.; see also UN 3 May 2004; La Maison du journalisme n.d.). Information on the number of people killed, injured or arrested as a result of the demonstration varies from source to source. One person was reported killed (BBC 1 May 2004) and at least eighteen others injured (ibid.; ibid. 3 May 2004; Ghanaian Chronicle 4 May 2004), including two students and sixteen police officers (ibid.; BBC 3 May 2004). However, a student leader, cited in a UN report, claimed that between fifteen and twenty students were injured by the police (UN 3 May 2004). According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004, fifteen people were arrested as a result of the demonstration (28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2.b). In contrast, other sources indicate that thirty-five people were arrested, including twenty-four students (Radio Togo 1 May 2004; UN 3 May 2004). Nine people, including six students, were sentenced to 18 months in prison (Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sect. 2.b; see also RFI 18 May 2004) before they were granted a presidential pardon on 7 September 2004 (Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2.b).

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 3 May 2004. "Togo University Shut after Riots." [Accessed 3 May 2005]
_____. 1 May 2004. "Togo: One Killed, 35 Arrested, 18 Injured Following University Students' Riot." (Dialog/BBC)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004. 28 February 2005. United States Department of State. Washington, D.C. [Accessed 2 May 2005]

Ghanaian Chronicle [Accra]. 4 May 2004. Ebow Godwin. "Lome University Doors Slammed After Violent Clashes with Police." (Dialog/AllAfrica)

Maison du Journalisme. N.d. "Un journaliste de NANA FM battu par les forces de l'ordre." [Accessed 3 May 2005]

Radio France Internationale [Paris, in French]. 18 May 2004. "African Evening News." (Dialog)

Radio Togo [Lomé, in French]. 1 May 2004. "Togo: One Killed, 35 Arrested, 18 Injured Following University Students' Riot." (Dialog/BBC)

United Nations (UN). 3 May 2004. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). "TOGO: University Closed After Days of Rioting." [Accessed 3 May 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Publications: Africa Confidential, Africa Research Bulletin, Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Resource Centre country file.

Internet sites, including: AllAfrica, Amnesty International (AI), European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Crisis Group (ICG), MISNA, ReliefWeb, United States Department of State, West Africa.