Human rights defender Mr. Raleva detained
On 26 October 2017, Mananjary Court found Raleva guilty of 'use of a false title' of the Head of District and passed down a two-year suspended sentence.
On 3 October 2017, human rights defender Mr. Raleva, who only goes by his last name, was transferred to a prison in Mananjary, Madagascar, following four days of detention in police custody.
Mr. Raleva is a human rights defender and member of the regional branch of Observatoire Indépendant des Droits Economiques Sociaux et Culturels à Madagascar – OIDESCM (Independent Observatory for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Madagascar) in Mananjary, Madagascar. OIDESCM was created to respond to the need in communities for information, communication and education on human rights violations associated with foreign investment and mining projects in Madagascar. OIDESCM is coordinated by Centre de Recherche et d’Appui pour les Alternatives de Développement – Océan Indien – CRAAD-OI (Centre for Research and Support for Alternatives to Development – Indian Ocean), an independent Pan-African organisation which promotes alternatives to development based on human rights and the principles of equality and social, economic and ecological justice.
On 26 October 2017, Mananjary Court found Raleva guilty of 'use of a false title' of the Head of District and passed down a two-year suspended sentence. The human rights defender was released the same day following 25 days in detention, the majority of which was spent at Mananjary prison. Following his release, Raleva filed an appeal against the conviction.
Front Line Defenders, along with Amnesty International, CCFD – Terre Solidaire, CIVICUS, CRAAD-OI and Collectif TANY, released a statement on the case as these organisations believe the conviction is based on Raleva's legitimate human rights work defending environmental rights in Madagascar.
On 3 October 2017, human rights defender Mr. Raleva, who only goes by his last name, was transferred to a prison in Mananjary, Madagascar, following four days of detention in police custody.
Download the Urgent Appeal (PDF)
On 3 October 2017, Mr. Raleva was transferred from police custody to a prison in Mananjary where he will remain while awaiting trial. He has been charged with impersonating the Head of the District. The human rights defender was arrested on 27 September 2017 due to his advocacy for communities affected by gold mining by a Chinese company in Mananjary district. In early 2017, the Head of the District ordered the end of gold mining activities in Mananjary district following a campaign by OIDESCM. The campaign criticised the gold mining process including the use of mercury which put communities at risk. Gold mining activities by the Chinese company restarted in Marokarima, a rural community in the district, and this was announced by local authorities at a public meeting on 27 September 2017. When the local authorities did not show any legal authorisation or permit for the mining to start again in the region, Mr. Raleva demanded that the authorities produce the authorisation, following which he was arrested.
This is not the first time that Front Line Defenders has reported on the judicial harassment of human rights defenders working to end gold mining activities in Madagascar. On 4 November 2016, two environmental rights defenders were convicted and given a suspended sentence of one year’s imprisonment after campaigning for the suspension of gold mining activities by a Chinese gold mining company.
Front Line Defenders expresses serious concern at the arrest and detention of Mr. Raleva as it believes this is solely linked to his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights in Madagascar.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Madagascar to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Raleva and drop all charges against him, as Front Line Defenders believes that he is being held solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Ensure that the treatment of Mr. Raleva while in detention adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment', adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
3. Cease targeting all human rights defenders in Madagascar and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
