Togo: Opposition postpones planned massive demonstrations

Lomé, Togo (PANA) – The massive demonstrations across Togolese cities, scheduled to begin Monday and planned by the opposition and civil societies, have been postponed, PANA reported, quoting reliable sources.

The opposition and civil societies planned to use the demonstration to drive home their demands for institutional and constitutional reforms before the March presidential elections in Togo.

On Monday, the march which was due to begin in three different places of the capital has ben cancelled and the demonstrated asked to return home.

Organizers said they postponed the demonstrations following an appeal by a senior opposition Member of Parliament that the issues should first be discussed before the Law commission at Parliament.

They said that in November, the opposition political parties in Parliament had introduced a draft bill on constitutional and institutional reforms, particularly on issues related to the restriction of the presidential term to two, the return to the 1992 Constitution approved through a referendum by 98.11%, the revision of the laws of institutions such as the national independent electoral commission (CENI), the constitutional Court, the high audiovisual and communication regulation authority (HAAC).
-0- PANA FAA/JSG/MSA/VAO 6Jan2015