Pascal Kabungulu

One year on and still no justice for Pascal Kabungulu

27 July 2006

One year ago, on 31 July 2005, hugely respected human rights defender Pascal Kabungulu was shot dead in front of his family at his home in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by three armed men.

Pascal was the Executive Secretary of human rights organisation Heritiers de la Justice. He is survived by his wife Kitumani Kasiba and their six children, who were forced to go into exile shortly after his murder.

Front Line is extremely concerned with the lack of progress of the legal investigations into his death. There have been two separate investigations; the first was a commission of enquiry established by the acting governor, Didace Kaningini. The members of this commission concluded that they could not act on the case as the commission had lost credibility when the governor was accused of fabricating evidence to incriminate members of Heritiers de la Justice.  Read More

Front Line Mission report on the case of Pascal Kabungulu

6 February 2006

Pascal Kabungulu - findings & recommendations of Front Line/Amnesty International mission in DRC: 1 – 11 November 2005

People interviewed:

Lt. Col. Majaliwa Mulindwa (Auditeur Supérieur or Military Prosecutor): Président de la Commission d’Enquête [phone interview]

Meli Meli Idumbo (Avocat Général): Vice-Président de la Commission d’Enquête

Anicet Muhimuzi Rutebuka (Major P2): Membre de la Commission d’Enquête

Didace Kaningini, Gouverneur (p.i.) de la Province du Sud-Kivu

Lt-Col Thierry Ilunga (Commandant de la 105e Brigade)

Maître Bisimwa (lawyer for the wife of Pascal Kabungulu)

Maurice Bahati, Chargé de l’Administration & Finances, Héitiers de la Justice

Maître Roger Muchuba (Héritiers de la Justice)

Roger Anderson (“petit frère” de Pascal Kabungulu)

Facts relating to the case:

· Pascal Kabungulu’s house is located about halfway down a hill (approximately 50 metres) & is accessed by a steep muddy footpath from the upper road. The track continues down to a lower road. · There are a number of other private houses in the same area. None is protected by a fence or other barrier.  Read More

3rd Dublin Platform is a success

26 October 2005

Human rights defenders, Irish government ministers, NGO workers and EU and UN officials gathered in Dublin from Thursday 13 October to Saturday 15 October to attend Front Line’s 3rd Dublin Platform.

Human rights defenders from over 70 countries around the globe, participated in workshops on Front Line’s Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders, discussed ways of overcoming the numerous and varied threats they face and gave testimonies of their experiences.

Irish minister for foreign affairs and Envoy of the UN Secretary General on UN reform, Mr Dermot Ahern praised the “idealism and courage” of human rights defenders in the opening session of the platform. He offered a special welcome to Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, winner of the inaugural Front Line Human Rights Defenders Award. Dr Mudawi was arrested in his native Sudan earlier this year only a few hours prior to his departure to Ireland to collect his award from the President of Ireland, Mary Mc Aleese

Mr Ahern spoke of the importance of a stronger UN for human rights defenders and stressed Ireland and the EU’s commitment to the UN reform process.  Read More

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