Equatorial Guinea: Freed prisoner of conscience thanks Amnesty supporters
Posted: December 1, 2006
Weja Chicampo: one of many opponents of the government in Equatorial Guinea who have been arrested and tortured. © Private
A presidential pardon in Equatorial Guinea on June 4, 2006, led to the release of politician and prisoner of conscience Weja Chicampo. The next day, Chicampo was put on a plane and flown to Madrid, Spain.
Chicampo had returned to Equatorial Guinea in August 2003, after President Obiang called for exiles to come back to the West African country.
But a few months later, Chicampo was arrested by a group of hooded army officers who forced their way into his home. He was severely beaten during his arrest and his jaw was broken.
Chicampo was held at the notorious Black Beach prison in the country's capital, Malabo. At times, prisoners there have been at risk of starvation. In late February 2005, prisoners were reportedly receiving no food at all for days at a time.
Speaking to Amnesty International after his release, Weja Chicampo said that he had been overwhelmed by all the letters he had received from Amnesty members.