“Umuvugizi” editor latest target in harassment of independent press
(RSF/IFEX) – Bosco Gasasira, the editor of the weekly “Umuvugizi”, has told Reporters Without Borders that since 10 August 2006, he has been receiving telephone threats and has been under surveillance by military intelligence whenever he goes out. “Some calls from ‘private numbers’ have threatened me with being beaten to death,” he said. Gasasira refused […]
Sources suggest editor, previously reported as missing, has gone into hiding
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 9 August 2006 CPJ press release: In Rwanda, newspaper editor goes into hiding New York, August 9, 2006 – The editor of the private newspaper Umuco has gone into hiding following official criticism of articles in his paper and a police summons, according to several local sources. Bonaventure Bizumuremyi […]
Newspaper editor goes missing, another targeted by threats and smears
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep concern about the editors of two independent weeklies, Bonaventure Bizumuremyi of “Umuco” and Charles Kabonero of “Umuseso”. Bizumuremyi went missing 24 hours after the police came to his newspaper to arrest him, while Kabonero is the target of a government-orchestrated campaign of threats and false accusations. “Rwanda’s […]
High Court upholds one-year suspended sentence and heavy fine for editor who published political analysis
(RSF/IFEX) – On 3 August 2006, Rwanda’s highest court upheld a suspended sentence of one year in prison and a fine of one million Rwandan francs (approx. 1,400 euros) imposed against newspaper editor Charles Kabonero for “public insult” stemming from a series of analytical articles criticising the way the government operated. However, the court quashed […]
Journalist Jean-Léonard Rugambage finally freed after being held for 11 months by popular tribunal
(RSF/IFEX) – Jean-Léonard Rugambage of the Kigali-based independent fortnightly “Umuco” was freed on 28 July 2006 after a ‘gacaca’ popular tribunal finally recognised on appeal that the warrant for his arrest issued on 7 September 2005 was fraudulent and that his detention was therefore arbitrary, Rugambage has told Reporters Without Borders. His release came two […]
Journalist kept in prison after conviction overturned on appeal
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the failure to release newspaper reporter Jean Léonard Rugambage after the judges of a “gacaca” people’s court in Mbati, in the district of Ruyumba, overturned his conviction on a charge of “contempt of court”, on 26 July 2006, for which he had already served eight months of a […]
Authorities urged to explain why RFI correspondent was forced to leave the country
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called on the Rwandan government to explain its behaviour towards Sonia Rolley, the accredited Kigali correspondent of the French public radio station Radio France Internationale (RFI), who was ordered to leave the country on 10 June 2006 after being unable to renew her visa. “Once again RFI is the […]
On the occasion of the visit of Secretary General Abdou Diouf, RSF appeals to La Francophonie over three wrongly imprisoned journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has urged Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), to intervene with President Paul Kagame on behalf of three wrongly imprisoned journalists, when he makes an official visit to Rwanda on 21 February 2006. The journalists are Jean-Léonard Rugambage, Tatiana Mukakibibi and Dominique Makeli. “Not […]
Journalists verbally attacked by president, publicly censured by government officials
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is stunned by the Rwandan government’s inquisitorial behaviour towards two journalists working for the international media, who were publicly censured by the information minister, public radio chief and police spokesman on 26 January 2006, two days after President Paul Kagame spoke of the press with contempt at a cabinet meeting. […]
Editor threatened by armed men who invaded his home at night
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced alarm at the threats made against Bonaventure Bizumuremyi, the editor of the opposition fortnightly “Umuco”, by four armed intruders who invaded his Kigali home in the earlier hours of 15 January 2006. “This latest attack on one of the few newspapers still critical of the government is all […]
Journalist jailed for one year on contempt charge, facing genocide charges
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 29 November 2005 CPJ press release: Rwandan journalist jailed for one year on contempt charge New York, November 29, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the one-year prison sentence imposed on Jean-Léonard Rugambage, a Rwandan journalist who reported alleged corruption among judges in the semi-traditional “gacaca” […]
Belgian courts urged to exonerate Guy Theunis
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has welcomed Father Guy Theunis’ return to Belgium on 20 November 2005 under an accord between Rwanda and Belgium under which the Belgian judicial authorities will investigate charges brought against him in Rwanda. The press freedom organisation said it was ready to prove to the Belgian investigators that the case […]
RSF delegation meets with detained priest, calls for his immediate release
(RSF/IFEX) – After visiting Rwanda from 30 September to 6 October 2005 and meeting with detained Belgian priest Guy Theunis, the former editor of the Rwandan magazine “Dialogue”, Reporters Without Borders insists that the charges against him were politically motivated and baseless and reiterates its call for his immediate release. The press freedom organisation also […]
Authorities to allow transfer of former editor who faces death penalty for alleged role in genocide
(RSF/IFEX) – On 4 October 2005, the Rwandan authorities said they had agreed to transfer responsibility for carrying out the judicial investigation against Father Guy Theunis to Belgium at the latter’s request. The Belgian Foreign Ministry said the two countries would have “detailed talks on the technical modalities” for implementing this agreement. Theunis, who is […]
Police confiscate opposition fortnightly, editor detained for seven hours
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced concern about the Rwandan government’s continuing crackdown on the opposition press after police seized issues of the latest edition of the fortnightly “Umuco” and detained its editor, Bonaventure Bizumuremyi, for seven hours on 19 September 2005. “The authorities seem determined to silence all critical voices by force,” the organisation said. […]
Journalist imprisoned for criticising popular tribunals
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the arrest of Jean Léonard Rugambage, of the fortnightly “Umuco”, on 7 September, 10 days after he wrote an article accusing certain popular tribunal judges in the district of Ruyamba of corruption. Police spokesman Deo Badege said the journalist was arrested on the orders of judges with the popular tribunals, […]