Harry Olympio
Encyclopedia
Harry Octavianus Olympio is a Togo
lese politician and the National President of the Rally for the Support of Democracy and Development
(RSDD).
(UFC) President Gilchrist Olympio
, was appointed Minister for the Promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law in 1998; as a result of his acceptance of a position in the government, he was widely considered a traitor by the opposition. After Amnesty International
released a report in May 1999 alleging that hundreds of opposition supporters had been killed in the wake of the controversial June 1998 presidential election
, Olympio criticized the report as being "characterized by its frivolousness"; he said that an inquiry should be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations
and the Organization of African Unity.
He was also the head of the Joint Follow-up Committee, involved in preparations for a planned parliamentary election, when on May 5, 2000 he was allegedly the victim of an attack near his office in Lomé
. According to an official inquiry into this attack, he organized the attack on himself, assisted by his brother Antonio Olympio. Olympio denied this accusation, but on June 16, 2000 his dismissal as Minister for the Promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law was announced. Some suspected that the attack was actually the work of the security forces.
pardoned him in 2001.
, despite the opposition boycott of the election; Olympio said that "the leaders of the traditional opposition have run out of new ideas, and they must bow out". Olympio was again appointed to the government as Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament on December 3, 2002. He was kept in that position in the government named on July 29, 2003, but he promptly resigned on August 4, saying that he had already made clear to Prime Minister Koffi Sama
, prior to the announcement of the new government, that he was unwilling to remain in his previous position and would only serve in the government if he was given "the opportunity to work for peace and national reconciliation". It was suggested that he had wanted the post of Minister of Justice, with combined responsibility for national reconciliation.
. Although the main opposition coalition united behind the candidacy of Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
of the UFC, Olympio said that "the struggle for change is represented by dynamic, youthful leadership", not, in reference to Bob-Akitani's age, "the image of an old man who is not capable of running a hectic race". Olympio received 0.55% of the national vote according to official final results, placing fourth and last.
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
lese politician and the National President of the Rally for the Support of Democracy and Development
Rally for the Support of Democracy and Development
The Rally for the Support of Democracy and Development is a political party in Togo. Its National President is Harry Olympio.In the parliamentary election held on 27 October 2002, the RSDD won 3 out of 81 seats. The party led the first protests against the succession of President Gnassingbé...
(RSDD).
First period in government, 2000 attack dispute
Olympio, the cousin of Union of Forces for ChangeUnion of Forces for Change
The Union of Forces for Change is the main opposition political party in Togo. The President of the UFC was Gilchrist Olympio and its Secretary-General is Jean-Pierre Fabre until August 10th 2010. Olympio is the son of the first President of Togo, Sylvanus Olympio, who was assassinated in a 1963...
(UFC) President Gilchrist Olympio
Gilchrist Olympio
Gilchrist Olympio is a Togolese politician and the President of the Union of Forces for Change , the country's main opposition party. Since the late 1970s, Mr...
, was appointed Minister for the Promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law in 1998; as a result of his acceptance of a position in the government, he was widely considered a traitor by the opposition. After Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
released a report in May 1999 alleging that hundreds of opposition supporters had been killed in the wake of the controversial June 1998 presidential election
Togolese presidential election, 1998
A presidential election was held in Togo on 21 June 1998. President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in power since 1967, was re-elected with 52.1% of the total vote according to official results...
, Olympio criticized the report as being "characterized by its frivolousness"; he said that an inquiry should be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and the Organization of African Unity.
He was also the head of the Joint Follow-up Committee, involved in preparations for a planned parliamentary election, when on May 5, 2000 he was allegedly the victim of an attack near his office in Lomé
Lomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
. According to an official inquiry into this attack, he organized the attack on himself, assisted by his brother Antonio Olympio. Olympio denied this accusation, but on June 16, 2000 his dismissal as Minister for the Promotion of Democracy and the Rule of Law was announced. Some suspected that the attack was actually the work of the security forces.
2001 arrest
In 2001, Olympio was arrested and convicted in a "seriously flawed" trial for the production and possession of explosives. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $500 (360,000 CFA francs); however, President Gnassingbé EyadémaGnassingbé Eyadéma
General Gnassingbé Eyadéma , was the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005. He participated in two successful military coups, in January 1963 and January 1967, and became President on April 14, 1967...
pardoned him in 2001.
2002 parliamentary election, second period in government
The RSDD participated in the October 2002 parliamentary electionTogolese parliamentary election, 2002
Parliamentary elections were held in Togo on 27 October 2002. Like the previous elections in 1999, they were boycotted by nine opposition parties , following the replacement of the Independent National Electoral Commission by a seven-magistrate committee and a revision of the Electoral Code...
, despite the opposition boycott of the election; Olympio said that "the leaders of the traditional opposition have run out of new ideas, and they must bow out". Olympio was again appointed to the government as Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament on December 3, 2002. He was kept in that position in the government named on July 29, 2003, but he promptly resigned on August 4, saying that he had already made clear to Prime Minister Koffi Sama
Koffi Sama
Koffi Sama was the Prime Minister of Togo from 29 June 2002 until 9 June 2005.-Biography:Sama was born in Amoutchou in Ogou Prefecture...
, prior to the announcement of the new government, that he was unwilling to remain in his previous position and would only serve in the government if he was given "the opportunity to work for peace and national reconciliation". It was suggested that he had wanted the post of Minister of Justice, with combined responsibility for national reconciliation.
2005 presidential election
Following the death of President Eyadéma in February 2005, Olympio announced in mid-March that he would be a candidate in the April 2005 presidential electionTogolese presidential election, 2005
A presidential election was held in Togo on April 24, 2005, following the death in office of long-time president Gnassingbé Eyadéma. The main candidates were Eyadéma's son, Faure Gnassingbé, and opposition leader Emmanuel Bob-Akitani. The election and the period preceding it were marked by...
. Although the main opposition coalition united behind the candidacy of Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
Emmanuel Bob-Akitani is a Togolese politician who was the main opposition candidate in the 2003 and 2005 Togolese presidential elections. He is the Honorary President of the Union of Forces for Change ....
of the UFC, Olympio said that "the struggle for change is represented by dynamic, youthful leadership", not, in reference to Bob-Akitani's age, "the image of an old man who is not capable of running a hectic race". Olympio received 0.55% of the national vote according to official final results, placing fourth and last.