Equatorial Guinea: “I want to congratulate you for the work you do and for getting me free,” says released prisoner of conscience
Posted: August 12, 2008
Reverend Samba was imprisoned for almost five years in Equatorial Guinea without charge or trial. He was released after Amnesty members campaigned on his behalf. © Private
Reverend Bienvenido Samba Momesori was released from prison in Evinayong, Equatorial Guinea, on June 7, 2008, after a presidential pardon.
A Protestant pastor and member of an ethnic group native to Bioko Island, Reverend Samba had been detained since October 2003 without charge or trial. Amnesty International considered him a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for his peaceful political opinions and because of his ethnic origin.
On October 26, 2003, about eight police officers wearing civilian clothes went to Reverend Samba's house. His wife told them that he was in the church and asked one of her daughters to go to fetch him. The police followed the daughter in cars, and waited outside the church.
When the pastor and his daughter came out the police took them to the police station. Reverend Samba was taken into one of the offices while his daughter waited outside. After one and a half hours, she became worried and went to look for her father inside the offices, but he was not there. An officer told her he had gone home, but when she arrived home he was not there.
While the authorities denied detaining Reverend Samba, the family tried to find out what had happened to him. After two weeks they discovered he was being held in the notorious Black Beach prison and were able to take him food for a week in secret. He was removed from Black Beach prison, and again the authorities refused to disclose his whereabouts.
Speaking to Amnesty on June 9, 2008, Reverend Samba said: “I want to thank you and congratulate you for the work you do and for getting me free. I knew of your work because two years ago I received a letter in prison, from a woman in Spain who said she was a member of an NGO. I was a miracle that I received it.
“I also received the letters sent to me via the lawyer Fabian. And when you published your annual report I heard on Radio Exterior de España [Spanish world service radio] my name mentioned and that you have been working on my behalf since my arrest in October 2003. Thank you for your solidarity.”
Reverend Samba's son had also spoken to Amnesty International earlier, on June 6, and thanked Amnesty International for its “support and collaboration to release my father. We are with you and we have seen that your influence and your work all over the world deserves gratification. God bless you all”.