6 February 2015
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
Ravina Shamdasani
Location: Geneva
Subjects: (1)
DRC
(2) Burundi
_________________________________
(1) DRC
At least 300 people remain in detention in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo after mass arrests during the recent protests there, in
Kinshasa and in Lubumbashi, the second largest city in the DRC. Of these, at
least 11 are believed to be in incommunicado detention, including prominent
civil society representative Christopher Ngoyi Mutamba. His family members and
defence lawyers have had no news of him for more than two weeks. This raises
serious due process concerns.
The UN joint human rights office in the DRC has been working
with the authorities to secure the release of all those who have been illegally
detained, as they enter their third week of detention without access to
lawyers. We reiterate our call to the authorities to release all those imprisoned
for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, for expression of their views,
for their affiliation with the opposition or for disagreeing with the
amendments to the electoral bill.
Internet and mobile text messaging services have also been
restricted for more than two weeks now, causing great disruption, particularly
to vulnerable communities. We urge the Government to promptly re-establish
these services and to create a space for civil society discussion, to avoid
entrenching the divisions in the country ahead of the upcoming elections.
(2) Burundi
We are concerned about the arrest and detention of Burundian
journalist Bob Rugurika, the Director of the independent Radio publique
africaine (RPA). Rugurika was arrested on 20 January following RPA broadcasts
which included allegations about the involvement of senior intelligence
officials in the killing of three Italian nuns. This past Wednesday, 4
February, a Bujumbura court refused to hear a request by his lawyers for his
provisional release. The journalist may face long-term imprisonment for
complicity in murder, among other charges could be considered.
Rugurika’s case raises serious concerns about the exercise
of the freedom of expression in Burundi, particularly ahead of the upcoming
elections. We have previously urged the Government to review the Media Law,
which requires journalists to reveal their sources when they report on issues
such as state security and public order. The legislation leads all too easily
to infringements of freedom of expression.
We call on the authorities to ensure that Rugurika’s case
will be handled in line with international due process standards and fair trial
guarantees, in accordance with Burundi’s international commitments. No one
should be prosecuted for legitimately exercising his fundamental right to
freedom of expression and opinion. The UN Human Rights country office in
Burundi has visited Rugurika in prison, has held discussions with the
authorities and will continue to monitor the case.
ENDS
Audio recordings of the press briefing will be made
available in the early afternoon, Geneva time, on: http://goo.gl/54O06t
Video footage will also be available early afternoon, Geneva
time, on the following website, under the "Geneva press briefings"
tab: http://webtv.un.org/media/
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