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AfricaFocus Bulletin Feb 28, 2005 (050228) (Reposted from sources cited below)
Editor's Note
Less than a day after the African Union imposed sanctions demanding a return to constitutional legality in Togo, Faure Gnassingbe stepped down from the presidential post he had assumed after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema three weeks ago. Virtually unanimous condemnation was followed by sanctions from Togo's West African neighbors and from the continent-wide organization. This sent the unmistakable message, in the words of one commentator's headline, that there would be "no business as usual for Baby Eyadema." Presidential elections have been promised within two months. As opposition protesters in Lome clashed with police over the weekend, however, it was clear that the coming period is unlikely to provide an easy transition to democracy. While Gnassingbe handed over interim authority to a newly chosen speaker of the national assembly, Abass Bonfoh, critics demanded that the post be occupied by the former speaker Fambare Ouattara Natchaba, as stipulated in the constitution. Both the regional West African organization ECOWAS and the African Union are planning to play an active role in this transitional period. But their capacity to be effective will depend on whether there is scope for Togolese citizens and civil society organizations, as well as political parties, to build a climate for change that does not descend into political violence. There are also large Togolese communities living outside the country, both political exiles and other migrants, who are actively debating their country's future. This AfricaFocus Bulletin contains the February 25 press release from the African Union announcing sanctions (now suspended) and a February 19 position paper from a large coalition of civil society and diaspora organizations. The paper includes contact information for the National Congress of the Civil Society (CNSC-Togo) and the Togolese Diaspora for Democracy and Development (DIASTODE), as well as other websites (primarily in French) for additional information. For links to background information, including a country profile and timeline from the BBC, visit http://www.africafocus.org/country/togo.php Ongoing news updates from allafrica.com and IRIN are available at http://www.africafocus.org/country/togo_news.php and http://www.africafocus.org/country/togo_irin.php The commentary cited above, "No Business as Usual for Baby Eyadema," is from the Pan-African Postcard by Tajudeen AbdulRaheem, General Secretary of the Pan-African Movement and codirector of Justice Africa. It is available at http://www.justiceafrica.org/postcard.htm, as well as on http://www.pambazuka.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ Many thanks to those subscribers who have recently sent in voluntary subscription payments to support AfricaFocus Bulletin. And a reminder to others that this free service depends on those among you who are able and willing to support it. See http://www.africafocus.org/support.php for details.
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Position Paper of the Togolese Civil Society and Diaspora Organizations' on the Political Crisis in Togo
(http://www.diastode.org, February, 2005)
February 19, 2005 The death of Gnassingbe Eyadema on February 5th, 2005, after 38 years in power is a real opportunity for a democratic transition in Togo. The internal civil society and Diaspora organizations are mobilized, with the whole population of the country in order to use efficiently this opportunity. But the decision by the Army to put in power Faure Gnassingb, in violation of the national constitution is an unacceptable situation. The National Congress of the Civil society and the Togolese Diaspora for Democracy and Development, in the face of this situation, called for a general mobilization of the Togolese society and appealed for support of the international community.
worthwhile transition, the putsch by Faure Gnassingbe and his aides has brought the political tension to its highest point since the 1992 general strike.
3- Reform and modernize the National Army with the assistance of the above-mentioned African Union Military Mission, so as to ensure that the army will not interfere in the electoral process and will improve in professionalism 4- Establish a National Unity Interim Government comprising all main political groups including the former ruling party; with the aim of facilitating the holding of free and fair general elections organized by a United Nation's Electoral Mission in Togo and supervised by ECOWAS, the AU and the EU. The interim government, whose members should renounce running for upcoming elections, should be backed by an Interim Parliament inclusive of all political tendencies. 5- Implement a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission backed by an African Union Political Support Mission in Togo. However, the authors of all political crimes perpetrated after 4 February 2005 and their national and international accomplices should be brought before the relevant national and international tribunals.
Our Organizations
The Togolese civil society is formed by both organizations and social movements from the country and the Diaspora. This duality is due to the fact that many activists of the civil society, persecuted by the regime have been forced into exile. The most important alliance of non partisan democrats in Togo is formed by the National Congress of the Civil Society (CNSC-Togo) and the Togolese Diaspora for Democracy and Development (DIASTODE). For several years, the two organizations are co-operating for democratic change in Togo. Their commitment in the social mobilization facing the new political situation is decisive. 1) The CNSC-Togo Founded in June 2002, the National Congress of the Civil Society is a network of NGOs, community development associations, trade unions, women coalitions, religious groups, students organizations, etc dedicated to democracy, human rights and development. Since then, CNSC has taken a leading role in the civic commitment for democracy. More than 150 organizations are affiliated to the CNSC. Since its creation, the CNSC has initiated various actions regarding citizen mobilization for the political change.
June 2002 May 2003: National Program for citizen mobilization; March 2003: International Colloquium on the political crisis in Togo (Dakar, Senegal); June 2003: creation of the CONEL, an Independent National Council for the Monitoring of the June 2003 presidential elections; Since January 2004: civil society's participation in the political dialogue; January-February 2004: Meeting of the internal civil society and the Diaspora in Porto Novo, Benin, to elaborate and launch "Alternative Togo," a Program for the commitment of the Togolese in the country and in the Diaspora for a sustainable solution to the ever drifting political crisis.
2) DIASTODE The Togolese Diaspora for Democracy and Development was created in 1992 in Hull-Canada, in order to coordinate the Togolese Diaspora groups. DIASTODE includes organizations from various countries where the community is important, such as Germany, France, Canada, USA, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, South Africa, etc.
DIASTODE has organized several activities, involving the Togolese Diaspora in the democratization process in Togo.
Publication of the document, "Pourquoi Eyadema doit partir" (Why Eyadema must quit power); Advocacy and diplomatic actions in favor of the democratic process in Togo; Colloquia, conferences and open discussions on the political situation in Togo; Financial and judicial support for persecuted journalists, scholars at risk; and human rights activists. Financial and logistic support to the CONEL, the Independent National Council for the Monitoring of the June 2003 presidential elections Financial support to internal civil society congress, for the implementation of various initiatives toward political change; Information and communication of the Togolese and international opinion.
Since 2003, DIASTODE and CNSC have engaged in common programs for an effective citizens' participation in the democratization process.
Additional References
Valuable information and supporting evidence on the situation in Togo can be found on the following web sites: http://www.diastode.org http://www.togodebout.com http://www.letogolais.com http://www.icilome.com http://www.togoforum.com http://www.ablodeblibo-togo.com http://www.amnesty.org http://www.fidh.org http://www.afp.fr
CNSC-TOGO BP 81190 Lome Tel: +228 905 32 38/ 948 10 64; Fax: +228 221 32 33 E-mail: cnsctogo@yahoo.fr DIASTODE C. P. 79043; Hull, (Qubec) J8Y 6V2 Canada Tel: 1 (819) 776-1613; Fax: 1 (819) 776-3559 E-mail: diastode@diastode.org Web site: http://www.diastode.org AfricaFocus Bulletin is an independent electronic publication providing reposted commentary and analysis on African issues, with a particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus Bulletin is edited by William Minter. AfricaFocus Bulletin can be reached at africafocus@igc.org. Please write to this address to subscribe or unsubscribe to the bulletin, or to suggest material for inclusion. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the original source mentioned. For a full archive and other resources, see http://www.africafocus.org