President Obiang Affirms Legality and Transparency if Judicial Proceedings for Coup Perpetrators

BATA, Equatorial Guinea, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Equatorial Guinea's (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo addressed the second regular session of the House of Representatives of the People in Bata and stated the following regarding the judicial process and prosecution of a group of men accused of involvement in the terrorist attack and attempted coup d'etat on February 17, 2009 by armed assault on the Presidential Palace in Malabo:

"The trial during the week of August 13th was no different from those held in courts in other parts of the world. They have respected and complied with the laws in force in Equatorial Guinea, the proceedings of the legal process were transparent, impartial, with guarantees for defense and resources as necessary. It was a trial with all the judicial proceedings that have been established in the country since the declaration of the multiparty system.

"Equatorial Guinea has not abolished the death penalty. The pardons and commutations of sentences do not represent a weakness or tolerance of our legal system, but rather it is an effort to rehabilitate those who have violated the principles underpinning the state of law in Equatorial Guinea. The laws and tribunals have been established for many reasons, the most important being to maintain peace, security, political and social balance and economic development for the welfare of the people. If we must take exceptional measures to uphold these in the future, we will do so."

About Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country will host the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatoarialpress.com.

This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. More information on this relationship is on file at the United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea

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