Principal » África » República Democrática del Congo

Front Line calls for justice for assassinated human rights defender Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi

8 September 2005

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Commission of Enquiry into the murder of a leading human rights defender has failed to bring justice, Front Line said today. The mandate of the commission ended on September 6 without a report on its conclusions or any proposals to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Congolese government established the Commission of Enquiry following the murder of the executive secretary of human rights agency Hértiers de la justice, Mr Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi (55). Three armed men shot the human rights defender in front of his family, in Bukavu, eastern Congo on July 31, 2005.

Hértiers de la justice has a longstanding record of documenting human rights violations including serious abuses committed by the militias, which have terrorised eastern Congo since the civil war broke out in 1998. Mr. Kibembi was a courageous and tireless human rights defender who was well known in the DRC. His murder has resulted in outrage and fear among the Congolese human rights community.

Mary Lawlor, Director of Front Line said:” The Congolese authorities must ensure that the perpetrators of this abhorrent crime are not allowed to remain unpunished. It is imperative that the authorities ensure those responsible are brought to justice. If they fail to do so, Congolese human rights defenders will continue to live in fear.”

The Commission, which was set up on August 6, is composed of military, security and civilian officials and chaired by the Military prosecutor of south Kivu. Local observers have criticised it for its lack of resources and questions concerning its impartiality have been raised.

Front Line in collaboration with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Christian Aid has issued five open letters calling for urgent action to bring those responsible to justice and to ensure that the Commission is conducted in an “independent, impartial and competent” manner. The jointly issued letters to the Congolese government, the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union also call for urgent measures for the protection of human rights defenders in the DRC so they can continue their legitimate work without fear of reprisals.

Downloadable pdfs

»