Burundi: Journalists and human rights monitors under attack
Press freedom and human rights in Burundi suffered a severe blow yesterday, when around thirty journalists and human
rights monitors were held -- and some severely assaulted -- by police officers after a press conference in Kinindo,
Bujumbura.
The press conference had been called by the CNDD-FDD parliamentarian
Mathias Basabose.
The journalists faced no difficulties in gaining access to the premises when they arrived. Reports state that members of
the national police and intelligence services were already present from the start of the conference.
When the conference ended, the police officers asked journalists to hand in their tapes and recording equipment so that
the information could be checked. The condition was that anyone who did so would then be able to leave the premises.
The journalists refused to comply with the orders to hand over their equipment. One journalist, Charles Nshimiye, tried
to escape to hand his tapes over to his colleagues waiting outside. A police officer allegedly stopped him from leaving
and physically assaulted him. According to reports, the police officer then stood back and took aim at Nshimiye with his
gun, but was prevented from shooting when his colleagues intervened.
On hearing the news, other journalists started to arrive in order to investigate the reports of the incident taking
place. An estimated 50 police officers were stationed outside to seal off the premises. Several journalists were
reportedly beaten by police officers with the butts of their Kalashnikov guns or with their truncheons. Chantal Gatore,
a journalist for Radio Isanganiro, was beaten up and taken to hospital.
"The use of force exercised by police officers was clearly excessive and tantamount to cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment," said Tawanda Hondora, Acting Director of Amnesty International's Africa Programme.
The conference participants were held for more than six hours. Amongst those held were two human rights monitors from
Ligue ITEKA.
Amnesty International considers last night’s incident to be an assault on press freedom in Burundi and a violation of
the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in international human rights standards, including article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which clearly states that: "Everyone shall have the right to
freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds“"
"The Burundian press must be allowed to operate freely, independently, without fear of reprisals and with the full and
unconditional protection from the Burundian authorities," said Tawanda Hondora, Deputy Director of the Africa Programme
at Amnesty International.
"Journalists provide a vital contribution to making society more open, fair and transparent by independently reporting
on and examining the activities and performance of the government. They must not be intimidated into silence."
All AI documents on Burundi: