Families of Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, South African engineers imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea since February 2023, have welcomed a unanimous call from the South African Parliament for their release. The motion, proposed by Emma Powell, aligns with a UN opinion deeming their detention arbitrary and unlawful. The families urge government action, citing strong public support for the engineers’ freedom amidst accusations of hostage diplomacy.
The families of South African engineers Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, who have been detained in Equatorial Guinea since February 2023, expressed profound gratitude towards the South African Parliament for its unanimous motion calling for their immediate release. The motion, proposed by Emma Powell of the Democratic Alliance, condemns the unlawful imprisonment and aligns with the findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which deemed the men’s arrests as arbitrary and illegal. Shaun Murphy, representing the Potgieter family, stated that the engineers are victims of injustice, while Francois Nigrini, on behalf of the Huxham family, highlighted the significant public support for their release. The families urge the South African government to act decisively in securing the engineers’ freedom, condemning the situation as an egregious example of hostage diplomacy. The strong backing from the global public, evidenced by thousands of signatures on a petition, reflects the urgent demand for justice in this matter.
The situation involving Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham lies within the broader context of legal and diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. Following the seizure of luxury assets linked to Teodore Nguema Obiang Mangue, son of Equatorial Guinea’s president, the two engineers were arrested, prompting allegations of retaliation. Their continued detention has raised significant concerns regarding human rights violations and the fairness of their imprisonment, drawing attention from various human rights groups and the United Nations.
In conclusion, the unanimous motion by the South African Parliament represents a significant move towards advocating for the release of the imprisoned engineers, highlighting the serious concerns surrounding their detention. The ongoing public support and governmental commitment are critical in addressing this issue, with families calling for immediate actions to rectify this situation and uphold international human rights standards.
Original Source: www.engineeringnews.co.za
