Gumersindo Ramírez Faustino
Gumersindo Ramírez Faustino | |
---|---|
Nationality | Equatoguinean |
Occupation | political activist |
Known for | 2008 imprisonment |
Political party | Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea |
Gumersindo Ramírez Faustino is an
Ramírez Faustino was active with the Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea (PPGE), a banned political party opposing the long-dominant Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea.[1] In late March 2008, he was arrested without a warrant.[2] Within a week, fellow PPGE activists Cruz Obiang Ebele, Emiliano Esono Michá, Juan Ecomo Ndong, Gerardo Angüe Mangue, and Bonifacio Nguema Ndong were also arrested. He was held for two months at the police station, turning which time he was allegedly tortured.[2]
In May 2008, the six men were charged with knowledge of a weapons cache in the home of another PPGE activist, Saturnino Ncogo. Ncogo had died in prison on early March in suspicious circumstances. Authorities alleged he had thrown himself from the top bunk of his cell to commit suicide, but relatives received his body in an advanced state of decomposition, and no investigation was ever conducted.[2] According to Amnesty International, the six men were given an unfair trial at which no evidence was presented save the weapons from Ncogo's home and the statements the six had made under duress; in addition, the six defendants alleged that police had altered their statements after the defendants had signed them.[2]
Despite being charged with unrelated crimes, the six were tried alongside
The US State Department considers Ramírez Faustino a political prisoner, and has objected to his continued imprisonment.[1] Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience, and has called for his immediate release.[2]
References
- ^ US State Department. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Five prisoners of conscience - Imprisoned on politically motivated charges". Amnesty International. 15 October 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ "Equatorial Guinea". Amnesty International. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2012.