The South African Parliament has unanimously urged the release of businessmen Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter, who are unlawfully imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea. This motion follows support from the UN regarding their arbitrary detention linked to a complex legal dispute involving the Equatorial Guinea vice-president. Families and public supporters are calling for immediate diplomatic action for their release.
The South African Parliament has unanimously rallied for the release of two South African businessmen, Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter, who are being held unlawfully in Equatorial Guinea. This initiative comes after the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention expressed support for the two engineers, who were imprisoned in February of the previous year in connection with an ongoing legal dispute involving assets owned by Teodoro “Teddy” Nguema Obiang Mangue, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea. In a decisive parliamentary motion, legislators condemned the arrests and urged the government to advocate for the men’s release. The motion emphasized South Africa’s commitment to international law and human rights, also acknowledging the need for accountability regarding violations of these principles. Families of the detained businessmen expressed gratitude for the parliamentary motion. Shaun Murphy, speaking on behalf of the Potgieter family, remarked that Parliament has endorsed the UN Working Group’s conclusion that the detention is both arbitrary and illegal, emphasizing the breach of fundamental human rights associated with their imprisonment. Similarly, Francois Nigrini, representing the Huxham family, noted the significant international support, including nearly 15,000 signatures on a petition demanding their release, stressing that such actions represent a flagrant injustice and must be condemned vehemently. Huxham and Potgieter, professionals in the offshore oil and gas sector, were sentenced to 12 years on allegations of drug smuggling, charges linked to events that were apparently outside their control. Their arrests coincided with the detention of a superyacht owned by Vice President Obiang in Cape Town, alongside the seizure of his luxury properties in the area due to ongoing legal disputes involving a South African businessman who was also previously incarcerated in Equatorial Guinea.
This situation involves the unlawful detention of Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter, who are South African businessmen accused of drug smuggling in Equatorial Guinea. They have been imprisoned since February of last year as a result of political dynamics surrounding Vice President Teodoro Obiang’s assets and legal disputes that involve their country. The support from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention highlights the international community’s attention to issues of legality and human rights in this context. The calls from South African Parliament aim to secure diplomatic action towards their release, indicating a broader concern about the implications of hostage diplomacy.
In summary, the South African Parliament has taken a firm stance advocating for the release of Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter, amid international recognition of their wrongful imprisonment. The support from both the families and the UN underscores the pressing need for accountability in cases of arbitrary detention. The growing public support and the urgent calls to action signal a commitment to uphold human rights and ensure justice in international relations.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
