The lawyers of General Bienvenue Lamah have expressed their discontent with recent statements made by lawyer Thierry Breton and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) on September 28, the 17th anniversary of the massacre at the Stade du 28-Septembre in Guinea. In a statement, they accused Breton of contesting Lamah's acquittal and criticizing his promotion to the rank of General of Brigade by the President of the Republic.
The lawyers argue that Breton's statements create confusion between the initial accusations against Lamah and the court's decision to acquit him. They claim that continuing to refer to Lamah as the main accused without mentioning his acquittal is damaging to his reputation and amounts to a "condemnation by the media". The lawyers emphasize that guilt must be established by competent courts, respecting the rights of the defense.
The lawyers also highlighted Lamah's professional background, recalling that he had previously served as commander of the Conakry Regional Gendarmerie. They praised his promotion to General of Brigade and thanked the President for recognizing his qualities and competence. Furthermore, they questioned the FIDH's stance on the compensation of victims of the 2009 events, citing contradictions in their positions.
The lawyers expressed concerns about the transparency of the compensation process, particularly regarding payments made to victims in the first part of the trial. They asked the FIDH to clarify its position on the guarantees of transparency and to explain the conditions under which these payments were made. The lawyers also inquired about the FIDH's involvement in a procedure concerning a former Minister of Defense.
The lawyers demanded that any alleged irregularities be examined based on verifiable evidence and invited the FIDH to publicly clarify its position on these guarantees. They criticized the FIDH for contesting Lamah's acquittal while remaining silent on a decision that prevented the opening of an investigation into another person responsible at the time.
The lawyers defended the sovereignty of the Guinean justice system, emphasizing the importance of respecting the independence of judges and the rights of victims and the defense. They called on Thierry Breton and other parties to cease making statements that they consider damaging to General Lamah's reputation.
The lawyers announced that they reserve the right to take appropriate action before competent courts and to file complaints with disciplinary bodies concerned. They concluded that Guinea needs a respected justice system, protected victims, and guaranteed defense rights, and reaffirmed their commitment to the independence of the Guinean justice system.
Key points
- The lawyers of General Bienvenue Lamah responded to criticisms from Thierry Breton and FIDH.
- They defended Lamah's acquittal and promotion, and questioned FIDH's stance on victim compensation.
- The lawyers emphasized the importance of respecting the Guinean justice system's sovereignty.
