(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting against the incommunicado detention incommunicado of a journalist in Kigali. According to RSF’s information, John Mugabi, editor of the monthly “The Newsline,” was arrested on 26 February 1999. Summoned by the public attorney, the journalist was arrested and transferred to two different military police camps in Kigali. After checking this […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting against the incommunicado detention
incommunicado of a journalist in Kigali.
According to RSF’s information, John Mugabi, editor of the monthly “The
Newsline,” was arrested on 26 February 1999. Summoned by the public
attorney, the journalist was arrested and transferred to two different
military police camps in Kigali. After checking this information, RSF
has established that he is no longer in those places and that he has
apparently been taken to a secret place. The public attorney revealed, a
few days later, that Mugabi was detained in Kimironko prison. Although
they have an official authorisation, the journalist’s family was not
allowed to see him when they went to the prison.
In an article published in “The Newsline” on 3 February, Frank Rusagara,
general secretary of the Ministry of Defence, was accused of receiving
bribes during a transaction with the Rwandan state. The source of the
article was a “high official of the Ministry of Defence” who wanted to
remain anonymous. According to the attorney general, the journalist was
arrested because he did not want to reveal the name of his source.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the vice-president:
guaranteed by Rwandaâs 1991 press law and by the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, which has been ratified by Rwanda
is guaranteed by the press law of 1991, article 35. Thus, a journalist
cannot be arrested because he refuses to disclose the names of his
sources
released immediately
Appeals To
His Excellency Paul Kagame
Vice-President of the Republic
President’s office
Kigali – Rwanda
Fax: +250 8 3975/8 4769/7 2431/7 6969
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
