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A 74-year-old politician with “critical” health issues is in jail as Togolese authorities crack down on dissent, an spokesperson for the nation’s opposition coalition says.<\/p>\n
Tensions heightened after Togo’s parliament passed a bill proposing huge changes to the political system.<\/p>\n
Elections scheduled for 20 April were later postponed.<\/p>\n
Five opposition activists were arrested for campaigning against the reforms, a DMK coalition spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Under the bill passed on 25 March, the president of the West African nation would become a symbolic position selected by parliament, rather than being directly elected.<\/p>\n
Executive power would instead go to a prime minister.<\/p>\n
Opposition parties have rejected the reform, arguing that it could allow President Faure Gnassingb\u00e9 to stay in power.<\/p>\n
He succeeded his father, Gnassingb\u00e9 Eyad\u00e9ma, who died in 2005 after ruling the country with an iron fist for 38 years.<\/p>\n
Members of the DMK (Dynamique Monseigneur Kpodzro) were arrested last week after publicly campaigning against the reform, spokesperson Ben Djagba told the BBC.<\/p>\n
He said there were concerns about the health of Dovi Amouzou, a 74-year-old politician, who is among the five detainees.<\/p>\n
“Her heart conditions are worrisome as she has ongoing heart-related issues and is under constant care by her physician. Since her detention, she no longer has access to her doctor,” Mr Djagba said.<\/p>\n
The five politicians have been held on “public order charges”, their lawyer, Elom Kpade, was quoted as saying by press agency AFP.<\/p>\n
French broadcaster RFI reported that the five have been taken to the civil prison in the capital, Lom\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Public prosecutor Talaka Mawama said an investigation had been opened into “individuals caught distributing leaflets and chanting slogans inciting popular revolt” during an unauthorised protest.<\/p>\n
Mr Djagba told the BBC that these were “bogus allegations”.<\/p>\n
No new date has been given for the elections.<\/p>\n
The Conference of Togolese Catholic bishops has urged President Gnassingb\u00e9 not to sign the constitutional changes into law, citing the need for “broad consultation and a more inclusive national debate”.<\/p>\n
Opposition parties boycotted Togo’s previous elections and are poorly represented in Togo’s parliament.<\/p>\n
As a result, the constitution change was approved almost unanimously – with only one legislator voting against and one other abstaining.<\/p>\n
The presidency said on Wednesday that the delay was to allow for “consultations” over the contested constitutional changes.<\/p>\n
Correction: An earlier version of this story wrongly said those arrested were lawmakers.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h3>\n