These are ” the forgotten of october 20 “: 18 people arrested that day in the city of Moundou, capital of the province of Western Logone in the south of the country, during the bloody repression of October 20, 2022, are still languishing in prison. They went on a hunger strike on Monday May 22 to draw attention to their case.
Many Chadians call it “Black Thursday”, the repression of the demonstrations of October 20, 2022 against the extension of the transition for another 24 months and the maintenance of Mahamat Idriss Déby at its head. On October 20, despite the authorities’ ban, marches take place at the call of the opposition in several cities.
If in some, like Sarh or Bongor, they take place without too many clashes, they turn into riots in Ndjamena, Moundou, or Koumra. Irepression left 73 dead according to the government and more than 300 killed according to the Chadian Convention for the Defense of Human Rights (CTDH).
Hundreds of people had been arrested in several cities of the country and were judged, then largely pardoned, whether in Ndjamena or Doba. But in Moundou, those arrested are still imprisoned. They went on a hunger strike on Monday May 22 to draw attention to their case.
A hunger strike to be heard
After 7 months of preventive detention without trial for some of them, these 18 defendants consider themselves “ the forgotten of october 20 “. They decided to remember the good memories of the authorities. One of their lawyers, Mr. Roosevelt Djiro, went to see them on Monday at Moundou prison. ” I confirm this. They let me know that they are starting the hunger strike to make themselves heard, because they believe that the procedure against them has lasted so long compared to the other demonstrators. Protesters from other localities met their fate. Judgments were passed on them and many are also freed “, he explains.
Some of these 18 detainees were arrested during the “Black Thursday” demonstrations, others at their homes in the days that followed and the last four barely a month ago, according to their lawyer. ” Enough is enough “, they say, asking that we shorten ” their ordeal “.
” We are launching a cry of alarm for the institutional judge of the High Court of Moundou, to be able to weigh on his side so that these demonstrators know the fate reserved for them. And those who did not commit the acts with which they are charged, may they be released “, continues Mr. Roosevelt Djiro.
The investigating judge at the High Court of Moundou, Hassaballah Bakhit did not wish to react to RFI’s questions.
► To read also: October 20 demonstration in Chad: a freed journalist testifies to the repression suffered