Burundi

In a letter to the Ambassador of Burundi in Canada, CJFE condemns the arbitrary arrest of Burundi human rights defender Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa. The dubious charges leveled against him include spreading false rumours to incite an uprising, in relation to comments he made over the radio.

ARTICLE 19 is concerned that the government is increasingly becoming hostile towards the media, civil society and opposition political parties in Burundi, as the government seeks Constitutional change by a referendum that would allow the incumbent president to run for a third term in office.

In response to a petition from the Union of Burundian Journalists (UBJ), the Constitutional Court has quashed certain provisions of the media law that was promulgated on 4 June 2013. The court’s ruling, issued on 7 January, invalidated articles providing for huge increases in fines and other penalties that could be imposed on journalists in an arbitrary manner.

Hassan Ruvakuki, was released on “health grounds” in March after 15 months in prison, and has now been granted a formal “conditional release” that allows him to go back to work. Ruvakuki was originally sentenced to life imprisonment for reporting on a rebel group in Tanzania.

The survivors of a brutal police assault on a religious group in northern Burundi that caused nine deaths are still waiting for justice four months later, Human Rights Watch said today.

Burundi’s new media law introduces a requirement for journalists to have set levels of education, fundamentally undermines the protection of journalistic sources and imposes debilitating fines for media organisations who are deemed to be contravening the law.

Burundi’s National Communication Council suspended Iwacu‘s online reader’s forum, alleging that the website had violated legal provisions, including “endangering national unity” and “public order and security.”

Pierre Havyarimana was stripped of his job as a police officer and given 15 years in jail after shooting a journalist who inquired about a roadblock in Bujumbura.

The Burundian national assembly adopted a bill that would rein in press freedom by reducing protection for sources, increasing fines and requiring all journalists to have a university degree regardless of their work experience.

The Burundian national assembly adopted a bill that would rein in press freedom by reducing protection for sources, increasing fines and requiring all journalists to have a university degree regardless of their work experience.

News reports say Hassan Ruvakuki was released from prison to attend a medical checkup. The journalist had been imprisoned on charges related to his interview with a rebel leader.

Police beat journalists with the butts of their guns and fired tear gas at them as they marched peacefully for the release of journalist Hassan Ruvakuki.

ARTICLE 19 calls on the Burundian Government to make concrete commitments to promote the rights of freedom of expression, information and association following the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the country at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Reporter Hassan Ruvakuki was released provisionally in March for health reasons after being sentenced to three years in prison after previously being sentenced to life.

An appeals court must reverse the ruling against a journalist sentenced to life in prison on vague terrorism charges, says CPJ.

The outcome was a grave disappointment to those who have campaigned for Manirumva’s killers to be held to account, as potentially important evidence in the case was not pursued.