the Applicants. The - Court now sets out to examine, each of these
grievances.
A. CONCERNING VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE, THE SECURITY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON, AND
PRAYERS TO THE COURT
TO FIND
ACTS OF
TORTURE RESULTING FROM VIOLENT ACTS
Arguments of Aziagbede Kokou and· 34 Others, Atsou Komlavi and 4
Others, Tomekpe Lanou and 29 Others
29. The Applicants allege that, at Lome (in the case of Aziagbede Kokou and
34 Others), Amlame (as regards Atsou Komlavi and 4) and Atakpame
(concerning Tomekpe Lanou and 29 Others), where
they respectively
reside or are established, the law enforcement agencies or security
forces of the Republic of Togo perpetrated violent acts against them and
members of their families. They notably claim that some of them were
beaten to bleeding point,
and others,
to death;
maltreated and sprayed with tear gas, while others
that
some
were
were shot. They
affirm that these acts resulted in the violation of their physical integrity,
in some instances, irreversibly. That some of them now bear scars of the
lifetime effects of those violent acts, while others have died in atrocious
conditions. They further state that they suffered material damage
psychological harm.
30. They argue that such acts on the part of the Republic of Togo constitute
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and that the said acts violate
human dignity and security of the human person. They conclude that
there is violation of Article 21(1) and (2) of the Constitution of Togo,
Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,
Articles 3 and 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 7
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and equally,
-
violation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, i. n spirit and letter.
Arguments of the Republic of Togo ·
31. The Republic of Togo contends that, it is apparNent f rom the copies of
pleadings lodged as evidence by the Applicants in the case file, that the
alleged perpetrators of the said acts, which they claimed to be victims
of, were allegedly umasked armed ·persons dressed in military combat
'
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