A representative of La Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec (LDLQ), who was a member of a three-person 1992 fact finding mission to Togo, provided the following information in a 2 February 1995 telephone interview.

The Groupe de réflexion et d'action pour la démocratie (GRAD) is a student organization, that has been part of the general political opposition fighting for multiparty democracy and human rights in Togo, particularly between 1990 and 1992. During that period GRAD has participated in demonstrations, strikes and denunciations of the government.

GRAD is a student organization that does not have access to regular or generous funding sources. GRAD therefore depends on whatever it has been able to obtain from its student membership. Because it has been a member of the opposition groups opposed to the Eyadema government, the Togolese government has treated GRAD with the hostility it has reserved for opposition groups.

According to a report issued by a 1992 three-person fact finding mission to Togo sponsored by LDLQ and other Quebec non-governmental organizations (NGOs), GRAD belongs to the Collectif des mouvements estudiantins de lutte pour la démocratie (CMELD), which is a coalition of student groups fighting for democracy (La Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec 1992, 38). Although the report does not indicate the specific date of GRAD's formation, it states that most of the student organizations belonging to CMELD were created in 1990. The report adds that before 1990 some of these student groups existed underground (ibid.). The same source states that CMELD has also been identified with the opposition Collectif de l'opposition démocratique (COD), which is a coalition of pro-democracy and human rights groups in Togo. For additional information on the objectives and activities of GRAD, please refer to the attachments.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

References

La Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec (LDLQ), Montréal. 2 February 1995. Telephone interview with representative.

La Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec. 1992. Nabe Vincent Coulibaly, Pierre Poupart and Claude Zanchettin. Togo: Rapport de mission 22 novembre-2 décembre 1992. Montréal: La Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec.

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 21 March 1991. "Togo Grievances Set Out by Students During Meeting with President Eyadema." (NEXIS)

_____. 20 March 1991. "Togo Communique Outlines President's Concessions to Opposition Grouping." (NEXIS)

_____. 15 March 1991. "West Africa in Brief; Togo University Students' Strike Leads to Clashes and Arrests." (NEXIS)

La Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec. 1992. Nabe Vincent Coulibaly, Pierre Poupart and Claude Zanchettin. Togo: Rapport de mission 22 novembre-2 décembre 1992. Montréal: La Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec, p. 38.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly.

Africa Events [London]. Monthly.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. Monthly.

Afrique/Asie [Paris].

Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

Angel, William D. 1990. Youth Movements in the World.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly.

DIRB country file Togo.

Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. Weekly.

The Europa World Year Book. Yearly.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. Weekly.

Keesing's Record of World Events. Monthly.

La lettre du continent [Paris]. Weekly.

New African [London]. Monthly.

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1991.

West Africa [London]. Weekly.