February 17, 2000
GUINEA : SOLIDARITY RELEASE PROFESSOR ALPHA CONDE NOW!
Professor Alpha Conde, leader of the Guinean Opposition organization Rassemblement du Peuple de Guinee, continues to be detained without judgment in the civil prison of Conakry, Guinea. He was arrested in December 1998 by the government of General Lansana Conte, at a time when he was contesting the presidential elections. For long a principled combatant for the rights of his people and a supporter of the struggle of the Ethiopian people for democracy, professor Alpha Conde has been formally interrogated twice but has not yet been brought before a court of law to be properly tried. The government tirelessly alleges that he was involved in a "plot" and that "proofs" of this abound. International calls for the release of the professor have not been heeded by the government that is plainly perpetuating and/or duplicating the evil practices of the defunct Sekou Toure regime. SOCEPP continues to express its solidarity with fraternal Guineans struggling for the respect of rights in Guinea and raises its voice against the violations perpetrated by the government of General Lansana Conte. SOCEPP calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Professor Alpha Conde whom General Conte is said to consider as his "personal prisoner".
