DRC: Alarming increase in arbitrary arrests and detentions
President Joseph Kabila should take immediate steps to ensure that his government and security forces practice what he promises the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amnesty International urged today as reports show an alarming increase in arbitrary arrests and detentions.
News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
8 January 2002
AFR 62/001/2002
4/02
President Joseph Kabila should take immediate steps to ensure
that his government and security forces practice what he promises
the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amnesty
International urged today as reports show an alarming increase in
arbitrary arrests and detentions.
In his new year address to the nation on 31 December
2001, President Kabila expressed his belief in the fundamental
value of freedom. Meanwhile his police and security services
continued to arbitrarily detain and ill-treat those who dared to
criticise his government.
"The continuing arrests of political opponents, students
and journalists who have not committed a recognisably criminal
offence demonstrate that promises of political openness and
respect for human rights are virtually empty," Amnesty
International said. " This failure to tolerate dissenting voices
bodes extremely badly for the Inter-Congolese dialogue slated for
the end of January 2002. The success of the dialogue must be
measured against the establishment of and a commitment to the
rule of law, including the right to freedom of expression and
association."
Political opponents detained
Although in May 2001 President Joseph Kabila issued a decree
revoking the ban on political parties imposed by the late
president Laurent-Désiré Kabila, activities by opposition parties
continue to be routinely curtailed. On and around 5 December
2001, five members of one of the DRC's main political parties,
the Union pour la démocratie et le progrès social (UDPS), Union
for Democracy and Social Progress, were arrested after a meeting
which was reportedly held to plan a demonstration through the
streets of the capital, Kinshasa. The demonstration, which was
apparently due to take place on 14 December, never took place.
The five -- Modeste Sadiki, Jean-Baptiste Bomanza, Roger
Kankonge, Kadima Kadima and Jean-Baptiste Mwampata -- are
currently held in Kinshasa's main prison, the Centre
pénitentiaire et de réeducation de Kinshasa (CPRK), Kinshasa
Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre. Although they have been
questioned about the planned march and other UDPS activities,
they have not been formally charged.
"The detainees should either be charged with a
recognisably criminal offence and promptly given the opportunity
to answer these charges in a court of law or be immediately
released," the organization said.
Severe ill-treatment of students
Amnesty International is also concerned about the severe
ill-treatment of many students of the University of Kinshasa
(UNIKIN) who were arrested by the police on 14 December following
a student demonstration. More than 400 students were reportedly
detained at the police headquarters known as the Inspection de
police de Kinshasa (IPK). Many were subjected to beatings and
whippings with military belts (cordelettes) and forced to use
earth and sand as toothpaste until their gums bled. They were
also made to walk around the paved courtyard of the IPK on their
knees. Almost all the students were released the following day,
although courses at UNIKIN remain suspended and many of the
students have not been allowed to return to their accommodation
on the campus. Eight students, who are accused of being
ringleaders of the demonstration, remain in custody.
Tensions first mounted at UNIKIN on 12 December when
police clashed with students demonstrating to demand a lowering
of tuition fees. A police officer was reportedly seriously
injured during clashes the following day. Amnesty International
has not been able to confirm claims by the authorities that three
police officers were killed during the disturbances.
In a separate demonstration by students at the University
of Lubumbashi (UNILU), the police injured as many as seven
students, at least one of whom was shot, in the capital of the
southeastern province of Katanga. The students were protesting
against newly introduced or increased accommodation and tuition
fees.
While Amnesty International recognises the right of the
authorities to bring to justice those suspected of criminal acts,
the organization deplores the arbitrary arrests and unlawful
detention of several hundred students and their ill-treatment.
"Those still in detention should be protected from
further ill-treatment and any legal proceedings against them
should conform to international human rights law and practice,
including the right to legal counsel and to have their case heard
by an independent judicial official", Amnesty International said.
Journalists targeted
Two journalists working for the satirical publication Pot-pourri
-- it's editor Guy Kasongo Kilembwe and secretary Vicky Bolingwa
-- were also briefly detained between 31 December and 3 January.
Their arrest appeared to be linked to articles published in their
paper on 31 December which criticised the policies of Joseph
Kabila and his government. They were initially accused of
endangering state security (atteinte à la surêté de l'Etat), a
charge which is regularly abused by the government as a means of
imprisoning and intimidating its critics and opponents, but the
charges against them were later dropped. Over 20 journalists were
arbitrarily detained in the course of 2001, the majority for
periods ranging from a few hours to several days. Freddy Loseke,
editor of Libre Afrique, spent six months in prison on charges of
libel, having previously been imprisoned for seven months in 2000.
President Kabila was reported to have expressed his hope
that 2002 would see peace in the DRC and that all citizens would
be able to move freely throughout the country and cherish the
fundamental values of freedom and national unity.
"President Kabila is urged to give a tangible meaning to
these words by bringing an end to the practice of arbitrarily
depriving Congolese citizens of their liberty, and by
guaranteeing their right to freedom of expression and freedom of
association," Amnesty said.
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