(RSF/IFEX) – In an 18 June 1999 letter to François Ndayiragije, the attorney general for the Republic of Bujumbura, RSF protested the detention of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, head of the press agency Net Press. Pointing to Burundi’s international commitments as well as several provisions of the press law of 21 March 1997, Robert Ménard, secretary general […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In an 18 June 1999 letter to François Ndayiragije, the attorney
general for the Republic of Bujumbura, RSF protested the detention of
Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, head of the press agency Net Press. Pointing to
Burundi’s international commitments as well as several provisions of the
press law of 21 March 1997, Robert Ménard, secretary general of RSF, asked
that Kavumbagu “be freed immediately” and that “Net Press be allowed to
continue to publish its daily reports with complete freedom.”
According to information obtained by RSF, Kavumbagu was arrested on 17 June,
after having been brought before the attorney general for the Republic of
Bujumbura. The attorney general charges that Kavumbagu violated article 22
of the Press Law of 21 March 1997, which obliges newspapers to complete a
registration of copyright. Failure to do so will result in a fine of 80 000
Burundi francs (US$175). However, press agencies are not covered by article
22 of the Press Law. They are covered by article 24, which makes them
subject to the same requirements as radio and television stations, which do
not have copyright registration requirements. The legal proceedings against
Net Press are therefore unfounded and contrary to Burundi law. It appears
that Kavumbagu may be the victim of politically motivated considerations.
According to a source from the attorney general’s office, Ndayiragije has
called Net Press “extremist and divisive”.
