No mention of an organization called "Division de la surveillance du territoire" could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, article 12 of Decree No. 98-324 of 2 September 1998 on the organization of the Ministry of the Interior, Security and Territorial Administration (ministère de l'Intérieur, de la Sécurité et de l'Administration du territoire) names the directorates under the authority of this ministry, including the "Direction générale de la surveillance du territoire," or Territory Surveillance Directorate (Congo 2 Sept. 1998). This directorate is itself governed by Decree No. 98-318 of 2 September 1998 (ibid.). However, no copy of the said decree nor any information about the official mandate of the Territory Surveillance Directorate could be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A cabinet document of November 1999 announced the appointment of Colonel Albert Dimi to the head of the Territory Surveillance Directorate (Congo 24 Nov. 1999). Following the decision to set up military patrols along the Congo and Oubangui rivers, Colonel Dimi, cited as [translation] "director general of territorial surveillance (DST)," stated that the purpose of these patrols was to [translation] "track down all armed men who are sowing unrest along these rivers and disrupting free movement" (PANA 12 Jan. 2001). In November 1997, Colonel Dimi had been named commander of the air and border police of Congo, while Colonel Norbert Datse had been named the head of the territorial surveillance service (SAPA 12 Nov. 1997).

In a report published in April 2000, the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) reported the death, on 17 May 1999, of Gabriel Louya, while held in the prison of the "Direction régionale de la sécurité du territoire," or Regional Territorial Security Directorate. The FIDH also reported the detention of Joachim Moukongo and the questioning of Joseph Makana by the "Direction régionale de la surveillance du territoire," or Regional Territory Surveillance Directorate (FIDH Apr. 2000). According to the report,

[Translation]

what these two individuals have in common is that they have expressed at one time or another sympathy with or membership in either the political party of Mr. Bernard Kolelas, the MCDDI [Mouvement congolais pour la démocratie et le développement intégral, or Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development], or the political party of Mr. Pascal Lissouba, the UPADS [Union panafricaine pour la démocratie sociale, or Pan-African Union for Social Democracy].

What is more, neither of these persons was ever brought before a judicial authority following their arrest. They did, however, have to appear before a commission ... [that] was headquartered at the Regional Territory Surveillance Directorate and specialized in tracking down political opponents and displaced citizens from Pool, Niari, Bouenza and Lekoumou.

A report of the FIDH of June 1999, prepared in co-operation with the Congolese Observatory of Human Rights (Observatoire congolais des droits de l'homme, OCDH), reported that

[Translation]

since coming to power, the current authorities and their security services ([including] ... the Territory Surveillance Directorate (DST)) are well known for the systematic persecution of former civilian and military collaborators, even relatives and sympathizers, of the deposed authorities and political leaders now in exile. Active members, real or presumed, of the parties of the latter are also targeted by this repression.

In March 1999, four Europeans, who had been hired to provide security for President Nguesso and to train other agents of the security service, were arrested and accused of fomenting an attack on the president (IPS 10 Dec. 1999). They were held in the prison of the "dreaded Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST)" (ibid.). They escaped from the DST jail and sought the assistance of the French Embassy in Brazzaville, but French officials returned the four men to the Congolese authorities for trial (ibid.). One of the accused stated that he was held "under terrible conditions in a 2-metre dungeon," that he had been tortured and that a DST agent had threatened to kill him unless he confessed to the crimes of which he was accused (ibid.). In December 1999, the four men were sentenced to prison terms (ibid.).

On 29 November 1999, the World Organisation Against Torture expressed its concerns about the fate of some 20 people who had disappeared nearly a year before in Congo-Brazzaville, among them Jean Marie Mayembo, Batantou Lacle Anselem, Tite Bavedila and Luc Moussabou, held by the Direction régionale de la surveillance du territoire (DRST), or Regional Territory Surveillance Directorate, since October or November 1998.

The OCDH reported in October 1999 the release of 13 people from [translation] "arbitrary detention," but said it was concerned about the [translation] "continued detention, quite unlawfully and for political reasons, of 12 people ... at the Regional Territory Surveillance Directorate (DRST) in Pointe-Noire," and about the fate of some 30 detainees who had disappeared in Pointe-Noire, including Tite Bavedila (see previous paragraph) and Gabriel Louya (FIDH 28 Oct. 1999). The death of the latter was subsequently reported (see above) (ibid. Apr. 2000).

In its 2000 annual report, Amnesty International reported that a number of journalists who had been critical of the government had been threatened and intimidated. The humanitarian organization named, for example, journalist Maurice-Lemaire Moukouyou, who had reportedly been arrested in late May 1999 by the Regional Territory Surveillance Directorate in Pointe-Noire and held without charge before being released in October that same year (AI 2000).

The weekly La Semaine africaine reported in June 1999 the arrest of another journalist, Hervé Kiminou-Missou of the radio station Africa No. 1 (AFP 3 June 1999). Arrested by agents of the security service who [translation] "manhandled and beat" him, he was placed in detention in [translation] "the premises of the Territory Surveillance Directorate (DST) in Pointe-Noire" (ibid.).

In a report published on 25 March 1999, Amnesty International expressed its concerns that Congolese judicial officials rarely visited detention centres, particularly those of the security forces, such as the Territory Surveillance Directorate (DST). The organization reported, notably, the death of Jean-Paul Tsoumou on 24 November 1998 following a ruptured pancreas sustained after being beaten by DST agents when they arrested him the previous month (AI 25 Mar. 1999).

According to this same report, dozens of suspected or known supporters of former president Lissouba had reportedly been arbitrarily arrested since the return to power in October 1997 of Denis Sassou Nguesso (ibid.). Among others, former government officials, including Henri-Marcellin Dzouma-Nguelet and Colonel Jean-Michel Ebaka, were held at the DST's regional headquarters in Pointe-Noire (ibid.). In another document, Amnesty International reported that the conditions in which these two men were held amounted to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" and that they were frequently denied the medical attention they needed (ibid. 1 June 1999). In a communiqué of 21 July 1998, the OCDH reported that Henri-Marcellin Dzouma-Nguelet, former advisor to ex-president Lissouba, and Jean-Michel Ebaka, former prefect of the Cuvette region, [translation] "[h]aving never appeared before a judicial authority at the time of their equally arbitrary arrest more than five months ago ... have not been formally notified of the [charges] against them."

Alexis Nzambi Tombé, a garage owner and nephew of a former colonel associated with the Lissouba government, was arrested in March 1998 by DST agents, who also seized vehicles in his possession (AI 25 Mar. 1999). The agents, who claimed that the vehicles belonged to the government and that Tombé had obtained them from his uncle, also accused Tombé of arms trafficking and influence peddling (ibid.). He was released in July 1998 after being detained without charge or trial (ibid.). According to Amnesty International, a number of other people detained by the DST had been released in the months leading up to this incident and some reportedly bribed DST agents to release them (ibid.).

Amnesty International reported that the Congolese government authorities had also arrested, in 1998 and 1999, children suspected of supporting the armed opposition (ibid.). The humanitarian organization stated that the place of detention of these children was not known, but it was believed they were being held in either DST detention centres, or in facilities of the Military Intelligence Directorate (Direction des renseignements militaires, DRM) (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources additional consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 3 June 1999. "Un correspondant d'Africa N-1 arrêté au Congo-Brazzaville." (Courrier AFP)

Amnesty International. 2000. Annual Report 2000. "Congo (Republic of the)." http://www.web.amnesty.org/web/ar2000web.nsf/countries/daf9db3885a3b2ae802568f200552915?OpenDocument [Accessed 20 Aug. 2002]

_____. 1 June 1999. Africa Update: A Summary of Human Rights Concerns in Sub-Saharan Africa. September 1998-March 1999. « Republic of Congo ». (AI Index: AFR 01/002/1999) http://www.web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/index/AFR010021999 [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

_____. 25 March 1999. Republic of Congo: An Old Generation of Leaders in New Carnage. (AI Index: AFR 22/01/99) http://www.web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/index/AFR220011999 [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

Congo. 24 November 1999. "Conseil des ministres du 24 novembre 1999." http://www.gouv.cg/gouv/cm/bottin/cm991124.htm [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

_____. 2 September 1998. "Décret no 98-324 du 2 septembre 1998 portant attributions et organisation du ministère de l'intérieur, de la sécurité et de l'administration du territoire." http://www.gouv.cg/gouv/interieur/decret98-324.htm [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

Congolese Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), Pointe-Noire. 21 July 1998. "Appel urgent pour 22 détenus politiques dans des prisons clandestines et improvisées au Congo-Brazzaville." http://www.fidh.imaginet.fr/ocdh/ocdh12.html [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH). April 2000. No. 291. Congo Brazzaville : saisir l'opportunité d'une paix durable. http://www.fidh.org/afriq/rapport/2000pdf/fr/cngpxdur.pdf [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

_____. 28 October 1999. La Lettre. No. 26. "Congo Brazzaville : des libérations insatisfaisantes." http://www.fidh.org/lettres/1999pdf/fr/n26.pdf [Accessed 20 Aug. 2002]

International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) and Congolese Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH). June 1999. Congo Brazzaville : l'arbitraire de l'État, la terreur des milices. http://www.fidh.org/afriq/rapport/1999pdf/fr/rap-braz.pdf [Accessed 20 Aug. 2002]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 10 December 1999. Lyne Mikangou. "Four European Mercenaries Handed Prison Sentences." http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/35/067.html [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 12 January 2001. "Des patrouilles mixtes le long des fleuves Congo et Oubangui." (AllAfrica) http://allafrica.com/stories/200101120110.html [Accessed 20 Aug. 2002]

South African Press Association (SAPA). 13 November 1997. "Congolese Strongman Names Aides to Key Security Posts." (ANC Daily News Briefing) http://www.anc.org.za/anc/newsbrief/1997/news1113 [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

World Organisation Against Torture, Geneva. 29 November 1999. "Case COG 291199: Concerns on Missing People in Congo Brazzaville." (AllAfrica) http://allafrica.com/stories/199911290047.html [Accessed 20 Aug. 2002]

IRB Databases

Two oral sources were unable to provide information on the requested topic.

Internet sites including:

Africa Confidential

Africatime

AllAfrica

Amnesty International

BBC

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 1998-2001

Les Dépêches de Brazzaville

International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH)

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent

MISNA

Reliefweb

World News Connection (WNC)

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