Chad: A political party called the Action Forces for the Republic Front (Front des forces d'action pour la république, FAR/FFAR), particularly the treatment of its members and their families by the current government authorities (June 2006)
No information on the current existence of a political party called the Action Forces for the Republic Front (Front des forces d'action pour la république, FAR/FFAR) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, corroborating sources indicate the existence of a Chadian political organization called the Federation Action for the Republic (Fédération, action pour la république, FAR), which is headed by Ngarlejy Yorongar (Europa 2005 2005, 1105; US 13 June 2006; Cameroun Tribune 5 Apr. 2006; Afrique Express 6 May 2002). FAR's statutes, published on the Web site of the International Committee to Support Ngarelejy Yorongar (Comité international de soutien à Ngarelejy Yorongar), indicate that FAR is also called the Federation Party (Parti fédération) and that the first section of its statutes lists its name as the Federation Action for the Republic (Fédération, Action de la République), abbreviated as FAR/Federation Party (FAR/Parti fédération) (16 Feb. 2006; see also Le Messager 28 Mar. 2006).
In the last legislative elections, in April 2002, FAR saw 9 out of 155 deputies elected, which put them in third place after the Patriotic Salvation Movement (Mouvement patriotique du salut, MPS), which won 110 seats, and the Rally for Democracy and Progress (Rassemblement pour la démocratie er le progrès, RDP), which won 12 seats (US 13 June 2006; African Elections Database 29 May 2006). In the 2001 presidential election, Ngarelejy Yorongar won approximately 15 percent of the vote, putting him in second place after the current Chadian president, Idriss Deby (approximately 65 percent) (ibid.; Cameroon Tribune 5 Apr. 2006; Fraternité Matin 26 Mar. 2006). In the last presidential election on 3 May 2006 (Cameroon Tribune 5 Apr. 2006; Fraternité Matin 26 Mar. 2006), various sources indicate that the FAR party leader used the excuse that the voting [translation] "would not be transparent" to boycott the election (ibid.; Cameroon Tribune 5 Apr. 2006; Le Messager 28 Mar. 2006; Reuters 30 Mar. 2006).
No information on the treatment of FAR members or of their families could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
African Elections Database. 29 May 2006. "Elections in Chad." <http://africanelections.tripod.com/td.html> [Accessed 14 June 2006]
Afrique Express [Paris]. 6 May 2002. "Tchad : Majorité absolue à l'Assemblée pour le parti du président Déby. Le parti du fédéraliste Ngarlejy Yorongar prend racine." <http://www.afrique-express.com/archive/CENTRALE/tchad/tchadpol/249majoriteabsolue.htm> [Accessed 14 June 2006]
Cameroon Tribune [Yaoundé]. 5 April 2006. "Menace sur le scrutin." (Factiva/AllAfrica)
The Europa World Year Book 2005. 2005. Vol. 1. 46th Edition. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
Fraternité Matin [Abidjan]. 26 March 2006. "Idriss Déby face à quatre 'petits' candidats." (Factiva/AllAfrica)
Le Messager [Douala]. 28 March 2006. "Tchad : La présidentielle plombée." (Factiva/AllAfrica)
Reuters. 30 March 2006. "Chad Opposition to Boycott Tense Presidential Poll." (Factiva/AllAfrica)
United States (US). 13 June 2006. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Chad." The World Factbook. <http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cd.html> [Accessed 14 June 2006]
Yorongar.com. 16 February 2006. "Federation, action pour la republique (F.A.R) dit Parti fédération." <http://www.yorongar.com/article.php3?id_article=102> [Accessed 13 June 2006]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact the president of the FAR/parti fédération were unsuccessful.
Internet sites, including: Africa Confidential, Africa Research Bulletin, afrik.com, Amnesty International (AI), BBC News, ECOI.net, International Crisis Group (ICG), Fédération internationale des ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH), Human Rights Watch (HRW), Jeune Afrique, Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Political Parties of the Word, United States Department of State.