Radio station director comes out of hiding, but fears for his safety once again following partial closure of station
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 August 2006 CPJ press release: BURUNDI: CPJ condemns partial closure of private radio station New York, August 21, 2006 – Authorities in Burundi have stopped local broadcasts of the private radio station Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) in the northern province of Ngozi since Friday. The reason authorities gave […]
African Public Radio’s Ngozi-based station closed
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the 18 August 2006 decision by the Telecommunications Regulation Agency (Agence de régulation et de contrôle des télécommunications, ARCT) to close privately-owned African Public Radio’s station in Ngozi, northern Burundi. The station had allegedly “considerably surpassed” the time period that it was licenced to use its radio frequency. RPA’s director, […]
Journalists threatened by authorities; RSF appeals to president to improve poisonous relations between government and press
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has written to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza voicing concern about the pernicious state of relations between his government and the media, and the alarming number of press freedom violations during his first year in office. “The press plays a stabilising role in democracies by channelling and giving structure to the […]
CPJ condemns harassment of radio director
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 4 August 2006 CPJ press release: CPJ condemns harassment of Burundian radio director New York, August 4, 2006 – A prominent radio journalist went into hiding for fear of arrest after police searched his home on Thursday. Alexis Sinduhije, founder and director of Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) and a […]
Legal irregularities keep outspoken news agency reporter in prison
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Aloys Kabura of the government-owned Agence Burundaise de Presse (ABP), who has been kept in detention for the past two weeks in the northern city of Kayanza by means of legal irregularities and manoeuvres by the local prosecutor. Kabura was arrested on 31 May […]
Journalist jailed for publicly criticising the government
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of RSF’s alert: A Journalist is Jailed for Publicly Criticising the Government Reporters Without Borders has requested that Burundi’s intelligence service drop its legal proceedings against Burundi Press Agency (Agence burundaise de presse, ABP) journalist Aloys Kabura. Kabura has been detained in the central prison of Ngozi […]
Activist imprisoned, faces charges of “threatening state security”
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Burundi: Free Expression Under Threat Prominent Peace Advocate Imprisoned (New York, May 19, 2006) – The former parliamentarian and activist Térence Nahimana should be released at once, Human Rights Watch said today, adding that his imprisonment raises questions about freedom of expression in Burundi. […]
Police hold journalists hostage at parliamentarian’s home after ruling party quarrel
(RSF/IFEX) – The action of the Bujumbura police in holding around 20 journalists hostage at the home of parliamentarian Mathias Basabose for more than seven hours on 17 April 2006 was “absurd and astounding,” said Reporters Without Borders. The reporters had been invited to a press conference about Basabose’s expulsion from the ruling party. “We […]
RPA allowed to resume broadcasting
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has hailed a 27 July 2005 decision by the National Communications Council (Commission nationale de la communication, CNC) to allow the privately-owned radio station Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) to resume broadcasting. CNC head Jean-Pierre Manda had submitted his resignation a day earlier to Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye in order to discredit rumours […]
Eight journalists detained, released as radio station remains closed
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 July 2005 CPJ press release: Independent radio station remains closed in Burundi New York, July 25, 2005 – Radio Publique Africaine remained off the air today after police in Burundi closed the independent broadcaster’s offices on Friday night, briefly detaining eight journalists and continuing a standoff over the […]
Police shutter independent radio station
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: BURUNDI: Police shutter independent radio station New York, July 22, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply shocked about today’s closure of independent radio station Radio Publique Africaine. The closure took place despite an earlier compromise deal between the authorities and RPA, local sources […]
Banned independent radio station stops broadcasts for two days
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 19 July 2005 CPJ press release: BURUNDI: Banned independent radio station stops broadcasts for two days New York, July 19, 2005 – Independent station Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) went off air yesterday, after a compromise was reached with the National Communications Council, according to local sources. RPA agreed to […]
Independent radio station faces government ban
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: In Burundi, independent radio station faces government ban New York, July 15, 2005 – Burundi’s National Communications Council has ordered the popular independent station Radio Publique Africaine off the air indefinitely, alleging that RPA’s recent election coverage was biased and that it had insulted the council. […]
Radio station suspended for indefinite period
(JED/IFEX) – On 15 July 2005, Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), a privately-owned station based in the capital Bujumbura, was suspended for an “indefinite period” by the National Communication Council (Conseil National de la Communication, CNC), the body that regulates the media in Burundi. The CNC accuses RPA of having “violated the law on the respect […]
Journalist who said president is “depressed” is freed on bail
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 23 June 2005 CPJ press release: In Burundi, journalist who said president ‘depressed’ is freed on bail New York, June 23, 2005 – Radio and online journalist Etienne Ndikuriyo was released on bail today after spending more than a week in jail for writing a story about the health […]
CPJ calls for release of journalist still jailed without court hearing
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 20 June 2005 CPJ letter to Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye: June 20, 2005 His Excellency Domitien Ndayizeye President of Burundi C/o The Embassy of The Republic of Burundi 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW Suite 212, Washington DC 20007 Via facsimile: (202) 342-2578 Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is […]