(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – In a 23 October 2000 letter to President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, ARTICLE 19 expressed its concern about the torture of André Tshowa Mbuisha, an activist with Journaliste en danger (JED). It seems he was arrested by soldiers on 17 October, stripped naked and subjected to a mock execution, because they accused him of […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – In a 23 October 2000 letter to President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, ARTICLE 19 expressed its concern about the torture of André Tshowa Mbuisha, an activist with Journaliste en danger (JED). It seems he was arrested by soldiers on 17 October, stripped naked and subjected to a mock execution, because they accused him of damaging the country’s reputation. At the time of his arrest, he was apparently distributing a report which ARTICLE 19 jointly published with JED, entitled, “REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO – Vers une nouvelles stratégie pour la liberté d’expression”.
ARTICLE 19 stated that it is deeply shocked by this gross violation of the rights of Tshowa and noted that torture is in complete violation of international human rights law. Those responsible for subjecting Tshowa to this most severe of punishments simply for the non-violent exercise of his right to freedom of expression and association must be brought to justice.
This extreme example of violence on the part of the military illustrates a fundamental lack of respect for human rights. As such, ARTICLE 19 urged the president to immediately take all necessary steps to end impunity for torture and to permit journalists and others the right to freely express themselves. The organisation noted that freedom of expression is a vital part of any process for resolving the conflict which is currently ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– stating that this extreme example of violence on the part of the military illustrates a fundamental lack of respect for human rights
– urging the president to immediately take all necessary steps to end impunity for torture and to permit journalists and others the right to freely express themselves
– suggesting that freedom of expression is a vital part of any process for resolving the conflict which is currently ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Laurent-Désiré Kabila
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Ngaliema
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Fax: +243 88 02120
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
