19 12 11 AI – DRC: Post-election intimidation through arrests must end
Dozens of
arrests have been carried out across the country since the 28 November
elections, frequently targeting members and supporters of the political
opposition.
“The Congolese security forces seem to be taking advantage
of the tense climate of uncertainty following the recent elections to carry out
this series of politically motivated arrests, including unlawful and arbitrary
arrests that threaten to stifle freedoms of expression and assembly,” said Paule
Rigaud, Amnesty International’s Deputy Africa Programme Director.
“These
arrests must end. Those detained must be released unless they are promptly
charged with legitimate criminal offence and brought before a judge to challenge
the legality of their detention with full respect of their fair trial rights,
including access to a lawyer.”
Reports
suggest that the practice is used as a method of intimidation and the victims
include civilians, journalists, lawyers and opposition politicians, as well as
some security force officers themselves.
Four community radio
journalists were arrested by agents of the national intelligence agency (Agence
nationale de renseignements, ANR) on 14 December, early morning, in Kabambare,
in the eastern province of Maniema after being accused of violating an official
decision to close down their radio station. Three of them were released in the
afternoon the same day, while the fourth one was released on 15 December in the
afternoon.
On 13
December in Bukavu, South Kivu, agents of the Congolese National Police (Police
Nationale Congolaise, PNC) reportedly beaten and arrested lawyer Eustache Nsimba
and brought him to an unknown location. He had been taking part in a march
organized by the opposition. Bukavu’s mayor had been previously informed about
the march but allegedly banned it during a radio announcement. Eustache Nsimba
was released later the same day.
Amnesty international has also learned
that security agents were involved in the arbitrary arrests of at least two
Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la Démocratie et le Progrès
Social, UDPS) members in Katanga province. Both members of the main opposition
party are still being detained, with one of them held incommunicado at the ANR
holding cell.
According
to a local NGO, members of the national army (FARDC) have also reportedly
abducted or arbitrarily arrested a dozen of other army officers and PNC agents
as well as civilians since the beginning of December in Kinshasa. All those
arrested were allegedly targeted because they come from Equateur province and
the two Kasai provinces, two strongholds of the opposition.
The
whereabouts of some of the detainees is unknown, while others are being detained
incommunicado in military camps in Kinshasa such as Kokolo camp or in other
facilities that fall outside the scrutiny of any judicial authority, such as the
Tshatshi camp and the Groupe Litho Moboti (GLM) Building.
Amnesty
International urges the Congolese authorities to clarify the fate of those being
detained, and release them if they are not promptly charged with a legitimate
criminal offence, allowed to challenge the lawfulness of their continuing
detention and granted access to their families and lawyers.
The
organization also calls on the Congolese authorities to ensure a thorough,
impartial and independent investigation is carried out into reported human
rights violations, including unlawful killings of demonstrators, carried out by
the DRC security forces and others in the immediate run-up to the elections.
“Numerous reports of human rights violations marred the run-up to the
Congolese elections, and continue, with restrictions placed on freedom of
expression and assembly, and security forces intimidating opposition supporters
and human rights defenders,” said Paule Rigaud.
“All those responsible
for such violations must be investigated and swiftly brought to justice.
Impunity would only fuel further violence and abuses.”