AFRICA/TOGO - Catholic Bishops of Togo thank French Bishops for closeness and solidarity x

Wednesday, 25 May 2005

Lome (Fides Service)- “We are extremely concerned for the situation of human rights in Togo” the International Federation of Human Rights Organisations said in a letter addressed to Kofi Annan United Nations Secretary General, Omar Konoré President of the African Union Commission and Louise Arbour UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. IFHR called for an international investigation in Togo where dozens of people were killed in unrest following presidential elections on April 24.
The situation in the country is tense as it can be seen by the increased number of refugees in other countries which was 31,964 and is now 33,385.
In a message to the President of the French Bishops’ Conference Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux, Archbishop Fanoko Kpodzro, of Lomé President the Togo Bishops’ Conference says “The sincere support of the Bishops of France went straight to our heart and brought us great comfort and encouragement to continue to work for social peace in our country. On behalf of the Bishops of Togo and on my own behalf I wish to thank the Bishops of France for the message of closeness and fraternal solidarity with the trials we have been suffering for more than three months” the Archbishop wrote.
“On 17 May in Sokode (336km from Lomé) we held a special session of the Bishops’ Conference to discuss the social-political situation and see what should be done to promote the rebuilding of the country and authentic national for which all true patriots long” the Bishop concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/5/2005 righe 27 parole 308)


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