TNAG-0652-FCO40-801-Planning-Staff-papers-on-human-rights-and-foreign-policy-cou-1977 — Page 211

CONFIDENTIAL

TOGO

Report by British High Commission, Accra

Right No.

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

There are instances of imprisonment without trial - normally in cases of serious opposition to the Head of State. Numbers are difficult to quantify but thought to involve less than two dozen persons.

There is little doubt, but equally little hard evidence, that cruel treatment occurs in political cases involving suspects as at (i) above. Generally, the police are inclined to treat common criminals and suspects roughly and beatings are common place.

Rating suggested by Post

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Slavery is not known to exist.

о

(iv)

All printed matter including news- papers and periodicals are censored by the Ministry of the Interior. Similar arrangements are in forcë

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for the cinema, TV and radio services.

(+)

(vi)

(vii)

In theory the judiciary is independent. In practice government intervention is frequent and effective in non-civil

cases.

There is only one trade union, formed from the left wing of the Party (RPT). As such it is merely another arm of the government. The union's freedom to negotiate and strike is complete in the private sector but strictly controlled in the public sector.

There are no restrictions on emigration beyond strict control on the movements of financial assets.

CONFIDENTIAL

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