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PLACE DU PETIT-SACONNEX
1211 GENEVA 19, SWITZERLAND

CASE N° CHD/01 - NGARLEJY YORONGAR - CHAD

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council
at its 164th session (Brussels, 16 April 1999)


The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Referring to the resolution adopted at its 163rd session (September 1998) concerning Mr. Ngarléjy Yorongar, of Chad, whereby, in the light of a number of serious concerns, the Council considered the sending of a Committee delegation to Chad at the kind invitation of the country's authorities,

Having studied the detailed report of the delegation which visited Chad from 21 to 27 November 1998,

Having taken note of communications dated 28 January and 3 February 1999, supplemented by oral information on 4 February 1999, from the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Chad announcing that Mr. Yorongar had been pardoned and consequently released on 4 February and that he would be resuming his seat in the National Assembly,

Having also taken note of Decree N° 047/PR/MJ/99, which states: " Article 1: On humanitarian grounds, a pardon is granted to Yorongar Ngarléjy who had been sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs by decision N° 372 of 24 December 1998 of the Court of Appeal, and to Yaya Batit Ali who had been sentenced by decision N° 55/99 to 1 year's imprisonment and a fine of 25,000 CFA francs; Article 2: This pardon is without prejudice to the rights of the State  ",

Considering that, according to the explanations supplied by the Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic on 18 March 1999, the notion of " droits de l'Etat " (State rights or dues) in Article 2 of that decree means that the pardon granted Mr. Yorongar does not cancel the fine imposed on him or the costs he is required to pay, and that the sentence will stay on his police record,

Considering that, after his release, Mr. Yorongar and his home were reportedly once more subjected to close surveillance by National Security Agency personnel; considering further that, according to Mr. Yorongar, the President of the Republic and the Minister of Justice gave him to understand that he would in future have to keep silent if he wished to avoid trouble,

Noting finally that Mr. Yorongar is at present in Europe for medical treatment and that, according to the sources, he will shortly be returning to Chad,

  1. Takes note with great interest of the delegation's report and endorses its conclusions and recommendations; warmly thanks the delegation for the manner in which it fulfilled its mandate;
  2. Extends special thanks to the parliamentary, governmental and judicial authorities of the Republic of Chad for the welcome they gave the delegation and the facilities and authorisations they afforded it, including permission to meet Mr. Yorongar at N'Djamena central prison without witnesses and without time constraints or any other restrictions, and for the precise and detailed information they supplied to it;
  3. Also thanks all those persons and organisations that provided the delegation with support and information;
  4. Takes note with satisfaction of the pardon granted Mr. Yorongar and of his release in line with the recommendations of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which release will enable him to resume his parliamentary activities;
  5. Nevertheless notes that on leaving prison Mr. Yorongar was reportedly once more placed under surveillance and advised to remain silent;
  6. Decides to close public examination of this case; nevertheless requests the Committee to continue examining it under its confidential procedure pending Mr. Yorongar's return to Chad and resumption of parliamentary activities.


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