AFRICA/EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Human rights at risk in view of the elections

Malabo (Agenzia Fides) - The campaign for the administrative and municipal elections have just begun and will be held in the country on 26 May. The population of Equatorial Guinea still has no fundamental freedoms as well as being victims of serious violations of human rights. According to the NGO Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and EG Justice, an organization dedicated to the defense of human rights and the rule of law in Equatorial Guinea, what is worrying are the many violent incidents that have occurred in recent months, due to political reasons, in addition to the current situation of harassment towards representatives of political opposition in the country, accusations of intimidation to voters and the denial of freedom of expression and other rights in the pre-election period. The representatives of the NGOs have also expressed concern about interference in the electoral process and restrictions on international observers. The population has never participated freely in any kind of election and now it has to elect the members that will integrate the new parliament and councilors. For the first time voters will choose 55 members of a new Senate in accordance with the provisions of the new text of the Constitution, which was promulgated in February 2012. The other 15 senators are directly appointed by the country's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in power since 1979. The legislative and municipal elections of May 26 will be the first in the country after the referendum on a series of constitutional reforms, approved by 97.7% of the vote held in the month of November 2011. The Democratic Party to the Government, holds a virtual monopoly of power, funds and access to national media, unlike the opponents who suffer severe restrictions such as practices of arbitrary detention, torture and all sorts of intimidation. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 15/05/2013)