Posted
October 2nd, 2008
by
English PEN protests the three-week detention on defamation charges of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the online press agency Net Press, who was arrested on 11 September 2008.
The charges stem from an article written by Kavumagu in which he suggested that the President had allegedly overspent during his visit to the Beijing Olympics, causing the late payment of some civil servants’ salaries.
The following is a press release issued by Amnesty International on 12 September 2008:
‘Journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu was arrested on 11 September and charged with defamation. He alleged in an article that the cost of President Nkurunziza’s trip to see the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics caused some civil servants’ salaries to be paid late. He is held in Mpimba Central Prison, in the capital, Bujumbura. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
Burundi is a state party to both the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the right to freedom of expression.
Jean-Claude Kavumbagu is the director of Burundian online press agency Net Press. The article alleged that the President had spent 100 million Burundian francs (about US$90,000) on his 8 August trip to China. The lawyer acting on behalf of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu told the local press that the government claimed that the trip had only cost half that amount, and that Jean Claude Kavumbagu was responsible for “libellous writing and insulting remarks.”
Article 72 of the Burundian Code of Criminal procedure states that the accused must be brought before a court within 15 days of an arrest warrant being issued. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to between six months and five years in prison, and a fine of between 100,000 and 300,000 Burundian francs (US$90-260).’
English PEN believes that Kavumbagu is being imprisoned in violation of his right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Burundi is a state party. We are, therefore, calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
An online petition has been set up in support of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu. To sign the petition, please click here.
For more information on this case, please see the RSF report, ‘Website editor jailed for report about how much President spent on trip to Beijing’ and Amnesty International UK blog ‘Free Jean-Claude Kavumbagu!’
Please send appeals (in French if possible):
- Expressing grave concern that journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu has been detained on a charge of defamation, simply for criticising government expenditure;
- Urging the authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression;
- Reminding the authorities that Burundi is a state party to both the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the right to freedom of expression.
Appeals to:
President
Président de la République Pierre Nkurunziza
Présidence de la République
Boulevard de l’Uprona
Rohero I
BP 1870
Bujumbura
Burundi
Fax: 257 22 22 74 90
Salutation: Monsieur le Président/Excellence
First Vice-president
Premier Vice-président Yves Sahinguvu
Présidence de la République
BP 1870
Bujumbura
Burundi
Fax: 257 22 22 74 90
Salutation: Monsieur le Premier Vice-président/Excellence
Second Vice-president
Deuxième Vice-président Mr Gabriel Ntisezerana
Présidence de la République
BP 1870
Bujumbura
Burundi
Fax: 257 22 22 74 90
Salutation: Monsieur le Deuxième Vice-président/Excellence
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Ministre des Relations Extérieures et de la Coopération Mme Antoinette Batumubwira
Ministère des Relations Extérieures et de la Coopération
BP 6078
Bujumbura
Burundi
Fax: 257 22 22 39 70
257 22 24 41 16
Salutation: Madame la Ministre
Minister of Justice and Keeper of Seals
Monsieur Jean-Bosco Ndikumana
Ministre de la Justice et Garde des Sceaux
Ministère de la Justice et Garde des Sceaux
BP 1880
Bujumbura
Burundi
Fax: 257 22 21 86 10
Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre
Originally posted with the url: www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/burundionlineeditorjailedfordefamation/
