On 6 August 1996, Amiel Nkuriza, director of the privately-owned newspaper “Intego” and editor of the independent newspaper “Le Partisan”, was arrested by officers of the security forces. He is reportedly being held at the information services department. No formal charges have been made against him. **New cases, plus update to IFEX alerts dated 1 […]
On 6 August 1996, Amiel Nkuriza, director of the privately-owned
newspaper “Intego” and editor of the independent newspaper “Le
Partisan”, was arrested by officers of the security forces. He is
reportedly being held at the information services department. No
formal charges have been made against him.
**New cases, plus update to IFEX alerts
dated 1 August and 1 April 1996**
Isaie Niyoyita, editor of “Intego”, has gone into hiding amid
rumours that he, too, is being sought by the authorities. He
reportedly went into hiding following the arrest of his
colleague.
Appolos Hakizimana, a journalist with “Intego” who was picked up
by police on 30 July and accused of being an “interahamwe” (a
term used to designate Hutu accomplices to genocide), continues
to be held at Muhima Brigade in Kigali.
The arrests of Nkuriza and Hakizimana occurred after authorities
seized the latest issue of “Intego” in July and prohibited
publication of future issues until further notice. It is believed
that these moves were prompted by an article in the seized issue
which was critical of certain government authorities and,
especially, a government campaign the stated intention of which
was to raise awareness among the population of security risks
posed by armed opposition groups close to former members of the
Rwandan army. The article implied that these awareness-raising
efforts in fact resembled a terror campaign. It referred to a
warning reportedly issued by the Minister of Interior who had
stated that if one person were killed in a particular locality,
all the residents of that locality would answer for it.
Journalists working for “Intego” have been singled out for
harassment because of what is perceived as the critical editorial
line of the newspaper. On 10 June, Nkuriza was previously
arrested and detained briefly after publishing an article about
the difficulties of cohabitation between the Hutu and Tutsi
ethnic groups in southern Rwanda. Joseph Akimana, another
“Intego” journalist, was beaten up by soldiers in mid-June.
“Intego” is the successor of the independent newspaper “Le
Messager”. The editor of “Le Messager”, Edouard Mutsinzi, almost
lost his life in February 1995 after being attacked by a group of
men, some of whom wore military insignia. Niyoyita replaced
Edouard Mutsinzi as editor of “Le Messager” before it was closed
and forced to change its name following pressure from military
authorities.
Meanwhile, journalist Joseph Ruyeuzi, who was arrested on 29
March, is still being detained without charge at the central
prison in Kigali. Mauass Mugabo, a reporter for “Radio Minuar”
and the former editor of the United Nations (UN) news service
radio broadcast “Kinyarawanda”, is still missing. The Rwandan
government had opposed the UN broadcast (see IFEX alert dated 1
April 1996).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Hakizimana and Amiel Nkuriza unless they are to be charged with
recognisable criminal offences
lawyers, doctors and family members, that they are not being
ill-treated and that their physical safety will be guaranteed
Appeals To
His Excellency Pasteur Bizimungu
President
Presidential Palace
BP 15
Kigali, Rwanda
Fax: +250 7 2904 (via Foreign Affairs Ministry) or +250 8 3975/8
4769
Paul Kagame
Vice President and Minister of Defence
BP 15
Kigali, Rwanda
Fax: +250 8 3975/8 4769/7 2431/7 6969
Pierre-Celestin Rwigema
Prime Minister
Presidence de la Republique
BP 15
Kigali, Rwanda
Fax: +250 8 3714
Colonel Alexis Kanyarengwe
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
BP 446
Kigali, Rwanda
Fax: +250 8 5477/4373/3374
Marthe Mukamurenzi
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
BP 15
Kigali, Rwanda
Fax: +250 8 6396/7 4915/7 4583
Jean-Pierre Bizimana
Minister of Information
BP 1532
Kigali, Rwanda
Fax: +250 8 4604/8 5335
Major Wilson Rutayisire
Director
Office rwandais de l’Information (ORINFOR)
Kigali, Rwanda
Fax: +250 7 6185
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
