According to Amnesty International, the Armed Forces for the Federal Republic (FARF) have been operating actively in the south of Chad, particularly in the city of Moundou, since 1995 and have committed "human rights abuses against the civilian population, including deliberate and arbitrary killings and rape" (20 Mar. 1998). An AFP report of 6 November 1998 also states that the FARF engaged in "selective killings" of civilians in Moundou.

Additional information on human rights violations committed by the FARF is available in the following documents available at Regional Documentation Centres: Amnesty International. Chad: Hope Betrayed of March 1997, page 10; Chad: Under the Arbitrary Rule of the Security Forces published on 10 October 1996, page 44; Amnesty International Reports 1998, page 127; Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997, page 59.

In retaliation for the activities of the FARF, however, government security forces reportedly carried out several acts of torture and extrajudicial executions against villagers (ibid.; FIDH 2-16 Apr. 1998, 15; 10-26 Mar. 1998; 13 Nov. - 4 Dec. 1997, 35; The World Organisation Against Torture 23 Mar. 1998).

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.

Agence France Presse. 17 March. 1998. "Chadian Rights Group, Unions to Protest Fighting." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 19 March 1998. Urgent Action. Chad: Extrajudicial Executions/Fear for Safety. (AI Index: AFR 20/03/98). London: Amnesty International.

_____. March 1997. Chad: Hope Betrayed. (AI Index: AFR 20/04/97). London: Amnesty International.

_____. 10 October 1997. Chad: Under the Arbitrary Rule of the Security Forces. (AI Index: AFR 20/11/96). London: Amnesty International.

Lettre de la Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH). 2-16 April 1998. Nos. 739-741. "Tchad: Exécutions, torture et harcèlement des militants des droits de l'Homme. Communiqué conjoint Amnesty, FIDH."

_____. 19-26 March 1998. Nos. 737-738. "Tchad: Les massacres continuent."

_____. 13 November - 4 December 1997. "Tchad: Reprise des affrontements armés. Les ONG tchadiennes enquêtent. Conclusions."

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) [Geneva]. 23 March 1998. "Chad; Action Alert: Summary Executions." (NEXIS/Africa News)