Free Aloys Kabura!

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 16/010/2006
27 June 2006

UA 180/06 Arbitrary Detention / Medical Concern/Possible Prisoner of
Conscience

BURUNDI Aloys Kabura (m), journalist with the Burundian Press
Association, l'Association Burundaise de Presse, ABP

Aloys Kabura, a journalist with the Burundian Press Association (l’Association
Burundaise de Presse - ABP) has been illegally detained in Ngozi prison in
northern Burundi since 1 June. Since his detention, he has developed a severe
medical condition with his legs and is unable to walk. He requires immediate
medical treatment.

Aloys Kabura is reportedly detained with several other inmates in a cell nine
meters squared. Prisons in Burundi are often overcrowded and unsanitary, and
detention can amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. On 21 June,
Aloys Kabura officially contacted the director of Ngozi Prison requesting to
consult a doctor or nurse at Ngozi hospital about the medical condition with
his legs because no doctors or nurses visit the prison. He has no received any
answer.

Aloys Kabura was arrested after he reportedly made comments in a bar
criticizing the conduct of the national police forces when they detained, and
in some cases severely assaulted, around 30 journalists at a press conference
held at the house of National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for
the Defense of Democracy (Conseil national pour la defense de la
democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie, CNDD-FDD) parliamentarian,
Matthias Basabose, in Kinindo, Bujumbura on 17 April, 2006.

Aloys Kabura was initially detained on the basis of article 273 of the Burundi
penal code, which imposes the maximum punishment of 2 months in prison and/or a
fine of 5,000 Burundian francs (US$5) for: "…[those who] in public, commit any
act or make any gesture or remark that demonstrates or incites contempt in
relation to the established powers, to agents of public authorities…"

The penal procedure code only allows for the pre-trial detention of those
suspected of crimes which carry a punishment of over one year imprisonment.
The public prosecutor in the province of Kayanza was questioned on 4 June about
this apparent violation of the penal code procedure. The following day he
issued a new arrest warrant, which was back-dated to the date of the original
warrant, listing additional offences to strengthen the grounds on which Aloys
Kabura could be held in pre-trial detention.

On 23 June 2006, the Ngozi appeal court confirmed the legality of the pre-trial
detention of Aloys Kabura. In their ruling, which is officially dated 29 June
although it was issued on 23 June, the judges of the appeal court stated that
they did not find any irregularities in the procedure. Even though Aloys Kabura
went to the appeal court hearing on makeshift crutches, the judges stated: "We
admit that we are judges not knowledgeable about medicine. It is therefore
necessary to obtain a report by a qualified doctor for clarification to enable
us to make a correct and fair ruling." ("Nous sommes un juge et nous l'avouons,
ignorant en matière de médecine d'où la nécessité d'une pièce émanant d'un
médecin compétent pour nous éclairer afin de pouvoir prendre une décision juste
et équitable").

If convicted, Amnesty International will consider Aloys Kabura a prisoner of
conscience, as he has been detained solely for peacefully exercising his right
to freedom of speech.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Over the last few months, Amnesty International has received reports of members
of civil society being subjected to intimidation by the authorities. Arbitrary
arrests and detentions seem to be increasingly used by the authorities to
target people critical of either government policy or the conduct of security
forces.

Terence Nahimana, the director of the NGO Cercle d’initiative pour une vision
commune (CIVIC), has been detained in Mpimba Prison since 10 May 2006 after
claiming that the government were intentionally stalling peace negotiations
with the National Liberation Forces (Forces Nationales de Libération, FNL) (see
UA 147/06, AFR 16/007/2006).

Three members of the organisation AC Genocide were arrested on 21 May as they
attempted to hold a monthly meeting at a local centre in the town of Gitega.
One was released on medical grounds. The other two were charged with
"threatening state security", and each paid 20,000 Burundian francs (US$20) as
bail. Their lawyer stated that the release will be permanent as no formal
charges were brought against them (see UA, 149/06, AFR 16/008/2006).

Burundi, human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa

D.R. Congo: As Vote Nears, Abuses Go Unpunished in Katanga
Congolese Army and Mai Mai Commanders Should Be Charged with War Crimes

(New York, July 21, 2006) – As the Democratic Republic of Congo
prepares for elections, the government's failure to take prompt and
effective action against soldiers and others responsible for killing, raping
and torturing civilians in Katanga could encourage further violence and
insecurity in the southern province, Human Rights Watch said today.

With testimonies, analysis, photographs and video, the multimedia web
special entitled "The Triangle of Death: A Place of Horrors in Katanga
Province" documents widespread abuses committed by government
soldiers and combatants of a local defense force known as the Mai Mai
during three years of violence in central Katanga. Hundreds have been
killed and more than 150,000 have fled their homes from the zone of
military operations that local residents have dubbed "the triangle of
death."

Incumbent President Joseph Kabila, himself from Katanga, is the current
front-runner in the presidential contest, but with more than 30 other
contenders, he may well face a run-off election weeks or even months
after the first poll, which is scheduled for July 30. In addition,
parliamentary elections require a two-stage process, lengthening the
period before a new government is finally installed.

"The electoral period will be lengthy and characterized by uncertainty
before a new government takes power," said Alison Des Forges, senior
Africa adviser at Human Rights Watch. "During this time, justice cannot
wait. Authorities must start holding abusers accountable if they want to
discourage others from using similarly abusive tactics now and in the
future."

In November 2005, the Congolese army launched a military operation to
quell an insurgency in Katanga led by the Mai Mai. Government soldiers
rounded up hundreds of civilians suspected of being Mai Mai, and
deliberately killed or tortured to death dozens of them. They gang-raped
scores of women alleged to have supported the Mai Mai.

Mai Mai combatants under the command of Kyungu Mutanga, known as
Gédéon, and another Mai Mai leader, Makabe Kalenga Ngwele, have also
killed, raped and otherwise abused civilians since 2002. In some cases, the
Mai Mai publicly tortured victims before killing and cannibalizing them in
public ceremonies intended to terrorize the local population.

The Mai Mai of Katanga were launched in 1998 as a popular resistance
force against the invading foreign armies of Uganda and Rwanda, but later
turned against the central government and local communities.
In the web special posted today, Human Rights Watch documents the war
crimes committed by both sides to this conflict and urges the government
to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators.
To date, Congolese authorities have failed to act effectively against
abusers. On May 12 Gédéon surrendered to United Nations peacekeepers
in Mitwaba, central Katanga. Several days later, he was handed over to
Congolese judicial officials who have kept him in detention but have not
charged him with any crime.

The current government has appointed former warlords from other parts of
Congo, such as Ituri and the Kivus, as generals in the national army,
ignoring credible information implicating them in war crimes and crimes
against humanity. The most recent appointment was made on July 17,
when the government granted the post of colonel in the national army to
Peter Karim, a commander from the Nationalist and Integrationist Front
(FNI), a murderous armed group in Ituri.

United Nations officials have provided the Congolese government with
information about human rights abuses by members of armed groups and
soldiers of the national army, including a file about military abuses
submitted to the government in January.

"If President Kabila and other government ministers currently standing for
elections are serious about a commitment to justice, they should not
appoint suspected war criminals to high military ranks and they must bring
to justice their own soldiers accused of such crimes," said Des Forges. "A
national army staffed by war criminals is unlikely to provide any security
to its citizens whether during elections or after."

For more of Human Rights Watch's work on the Democratic Republic of
Congo, please visit: http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=africa&c=congo

Burundi, Congo,human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa

Residents of Bujumbura-Rurale denounce Rwasa, urge international community to investigate FNL atrocities

A statement addressed to the South African government minister and peace talks mediator Charles Nqakula, and signed by Placide Nsengyunva "in agreement with the survivors of Bujumbura Rurale" has urged the international community not to accept any deal which involves a pardon for the FNL leader Agathon Rwasa, arguing that only Rwasa's victims have the right to give any such pardon.

"..it is us who lost our possessions and who were driven out of the hills where we were born. Therefore, it is us who should have the last word, which is nothing other than that Justice is returned, and the guilty be punished according to the law", the survivors argue.

Also included in the statement is a list of more than seventy alleged civilian victims of Rwasa's FNL. The survivors urge "whoever would like to know more on this subject" to come to Bujumbura and investigate these deaths.

Full statement (English translation):

We have the honour to address your high Authority, with an aim of presenting our dismay at the provisional immunity and of the pardon desired by Mr. Agathon RWASA and in addition, to present this list of innocent civilian victims cut down under the command of Mr. Agathon RWASA. Exellence, Mr. the Mediator, immunity, pardons or General Amnesties cannot be delivered before justice has been done. We demand insistently that National and International justice be given an important place among the agreements which are made and signed, here we urge your Government to avoid falling into the traps of Mr. Agathon RWASA. There can be nogotiation, and no acceptance of the pardon that Mr. RWASA demands in the place of the survivors or the victims, it is us who lost the our possessions and who were driven out of the hills where we were born. Therefore, it is us who should have the last word, which is nothing other than that Justice is returned, and the guilty be punished according to the law.

Concerning the list that we referred to at the beginning: We do not have much to add, only that we invite whoever would like to know more on this subject to join us in Bujumbura. We are ready to guide anyone who would like to make a proper investigation. Thus the truth will be established and the errors and lies avoided from all those sides which are involved in this business. We challenge Amnesty International and Humans Rights Watch to come to inquire into ground so that the crimes, tortures and ignoble acts that have been inflicted on the humble peasants of Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bujumbura Rural can be made plain to the general public.

Original French text:

Exellence,

Nous avons l'honheur de venir au près de votre haute Autorité, dans le but de prèsenter nos inquietutide à propos de l' Humminité provisoire et du pradon souhaité par Mr Aghaton RWASSA et en plus de çà aussi : Prèsenter cette liste de quelques victimes civil et Innocents abattus sous l' ordre de Mr Aghaton RWASSA .
Exellence Mr le Médiateur .
l'humminité , le pardon ou l'Amnesties Géneral ne peut pas excuter sans que la justice soit rendu . nous demende avec insistance que la justice Nationale et Inernationale ait une place importante parmi les accords qui serrons arrêtés et signés,
ici nous attirons l'attention de vnotre Gouvernement d' éviter de tomber dans les pièges de Mr Aghaton RWASSA il ne peut pas négocier , à accepter le pardon que demende Mr RWASSA à la place des réscapés ou des victimes , c'est nous qui ont perdu les notres nos biens qui ont été chassés dans nos collines d'orgine .
De là alors , c'est nous qui ont le dernier mot qui n'est pas autre chose que la Justice soit rendu , les coupables punis selon la loi
- Concernant la liste que noues avons cité au début :
Nous n'avons pas beaucoup à parler la dessus seulement ,
Nous invitons à quiconque qui vaut savoir à ce sujet , de nous rejoindre à Bujumbura nous sommes prêt de la conduire sur terrain pour qu'il fasse ces propres Enquêtes
Ainsi la vérité sera éclairci les erreurs et les mensonges evités dans tout les côtés qui onty part dans cette affaire . Nous interpellons Amnesties International et Humman Rhit Watch de venir enquêter sur terrain pour que les crimes les tortures les suplices ignoble
qui pese sur les Humbles Paysans de Bubanza Cibitoke et Bujumbura Rural soit uni au grand Public.
Nous vous remercions .

NSENGIYUNVA Placide

C . P .I
- Délégué du Gouvernement à Dar es saalam
- Amnesties International
- Humman Rhigt Watch.

LISTE DES PERSONNES TUES PAR LE PALIPE HUTU-FNL
EN COMMUNE KANYONSHA

1. 45 Personnes de même colline NYAMABOKO en 1999 ici pour plus d'information à
demender l' Administrateur de Commune KANYONSHA.
2. NTAGISIGAYE Gervain colline RUVUMU Zone Kiyenzi
3. NDUWIMANA Clavert colline RUVUMU Zone Kiyenzi
4. NDERAGAKURA Augustin colline Ruvumu Zone Kiyenzi
5. NDERAGAKURA Jeanne Appolinie Ruvumu Zone Kiyenzi
6. FILS Muhindo Ruvumu Zone Kiyenzi
7. KIRIMA Berthe et ses 3 enfants Ruvumu Zone Kiyenzi
8. KIRIMA Agricole RUVUMU Zone Kiyenzi
9.MUSTINTSIMA Pascal RUVUMU Zone Kiyenzi
10. NYABENDA Daniel RUVUMU Zone Kiyenzi
11. Vincent RURINZI Zone Kiyenzi
12. Baltazar BUHINA Zone Kiyenzi
13. BUKURU Minani avec enfant de 14 ans BUHINA - BUYENGERO
14.Famillle RYABOZE 11 Personnes BUHINA Zone Kiyenzi
15. NKUNDWANABAKE Mathias BUHINA Zone Kiyenzi
16. BARUCAMWO Mathieu ROHE- GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
17. Fréderic ROHE -GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
18. CUGAZO ROHE - GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
19. Fils BARANSESA Francois BENGE-GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
20. Un viallard BACUMBA de 85 ans GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
21. Fabien GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
22.NDUMBUYE Venant GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
23. GATUKURA Gaspard NYAMABOKO Kiyenzi
24. TABU Aline KANYONSHA Mairi
25. Famille BAGUFI RURINZI Zone Kiyenzi
26. RWATEKERA Emmanuel SOROREZO Zone Muyira
27. Vianney GISOVU Zone Kiyenzi
28.NSHIGIKIYE Gaspard KABUYE Musagara
29. Conseiller NTAHONVUKIYE Bruno MPARO Zone Ruyaga
30. KIGERI Jean Bosco MPARO " "
31.MUBESHI Emmanuel MPARO " "
32. BAKUNDUWUKOMEYE Serge MBOZA Zone Ruyaga
33.SIMBA SOROREZO " Muyira
34.TUNGIRAYO Antoine KAMABUYE " "
35.NTAHOTURI " " "
36.Chef de Zone BIYANKE J. Paul avec sa femme Rweza " "
37. NDUWIMANA Marie enseignante
38. Et so FILS
39.GAPOSHO Salongo Zone Ruyaga
40. BANYIKWA Andre Gashinge Zone Ruyaga
41. NYABENDA Vianney "" "" ""
42. BANYIKWA Bosco "" "" ""
43. NZEYINGORO Pie "" "" ""
44. Jean Marie "" "" ""
45. MURWABUSOVU Gaspard "" "" ""
46. HATO Pascal "" ""
47. MARYUWISI Vitus Muvune RUYAGA
48. Audifax KIZIBIRA
49. BUKURU Coga MUYIRA
50. KARAMANDA Joseph Pera MUYIRA
51. KEZAKIMANA Donavine Mboza RUYAGA
52. CHRISOSTOME KAMESA MUSAGA
53. André "" ""
54. MUSURE Jean MASANGO RUYAGA
55. NAHIMANA Diomede MPARO RUYAGA
56. BAKUNDUWUKOMEYE Benoit GASHINGE RUYAGA
57. RUBARIKA Joél MPARO "
58. MUTUNGO Gabriel BIGOMA MUYIRA
59. MUKIMBA Appolinaire KIROMBWE "
60. Chef de Zone NTIBAMPAMATE Salvator KABINGO "
61.Chef de Zone Djuma KAVUMU
62. Céléstin SALONGO RUYAGA
63. NTIBAGIRWA Audace PERA MUYIRA
64. BUCUMI Daniel GITOBORO MUYIRA
65. MIJURIRO Cornelle PERA MUYIRA
66. SEKERA Bdoro PERA MUYIRA
67. NDARUVUKANYE Mathieu MUYAGA " "
68. BITWI Andre et ses 2 fils RUYAGA RUYAGA
69. Un fille d' orgine de NGOZI " BUCUMI " tué a SOROREZO MUYIRA
70. NAHIMANA Spéciose BANGATELI MUYIRA
71. Chef cuisinier BARANZIRA Alex COGA MUYIRA

Burundi, human rights, Current Affairs, Politics, Africa