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DRC: Verdicts in trial of killers of murdered human rights defender Floribert Chebeyaposted on: 2011/06/24

On 23 June a military court in DRC announced the verdict in the trial of the alleged killers of human rights defender and founder of Voix Des Sans Voix, Floribert Chebeya Bahizire. Four of the accused were sentenced to death, one was sentenced to life imprisonment and three were acquitted.

Further Information

While Front Line welcomes the conviction of those involved in the killing of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, the organisation urges the DRC Minister for Justice to commute the death sentences to life imprisonment.

One of those sentenced to death is Colonel Daniel Mukalay who was Chief of Police Intelligence at the time of the killing of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire and his driver Fidèle Bazana and whom the judge identified as the intellectual author of the crime. At the time of his killing Floribert Chebeya Bahizire was on his way to a meeting with Police General John Numbi who remains suspended from his post "pending investigation".

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DRC: UPDATE - 8 Police officers go on trial for murder of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizireposted on: 2010/11/11

On 28 October 2010 a military magistrate (Auditorat General des Forces Armees) announced that an investigation into the murder of human rights defenders Mr Floribert Chebeya Bahizire and Mr Fidele Bazana Edadi had concluded. It was announced on 10 November, that the trial is due to begin on 12 November 2010 at 9:00am at the Military Court of Kinshasa-Gombe. Eight police officers, including national police special investigations section chief, Colonel Daniel Mukalay go on trial on kidnap and murder charges.

DRC: Joint statement by international and congolese NGOs on urgent need to protect human rights defenders at riskposted on: 2010/09/08

(Goma, September 8, 2010) – Congolese authorities should open a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation of the abduction and ill-treatment of a human rights defender in North Kivu province in late August 2010, a coalition of 36 international and Congolese human rights organizations said today. The authorities should publicly condemn this act and identify and bring to justice those responsible, the coalition said.

DRC: Human Rights Defender Abducted, Mistreatedposted on: 2010/09/08

DRC: Human Rights Defender Abducted, Mistreated - Investigate This Case and Protect All Activists at Risk

(Goma, September 8, 2010) – Congolese authorities should open a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation of the abduction and ill-treatment of a human rights defender in North Kivu province in late August 2010, a coalition of 36 international and Congolese human rights organizations said today. The authorities should publicly condemn this act and identify and bring to justice those responsible, the coalition said.

DRC: Human Rights Defender Abducted, Mistreatedposted on: 2010/09/08

DRC: Human Rights Defender Abducted, Mistreated - Investigate This Case and Protect All Activists at Risk

(Goma, September 8, 2010) – Congolese authorities should open a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation of the abduction and ill-treatment of a human rights defender in North Kivu province in late August 2010, a coalition of 36 international and Congolese human rights organizations said today. The authorities should publicly condemn this act and identify and bring to justice those responsible, the coalition said.

Further Information

Sylvestre Bwira Kyahi, civil society president in Masisi territory, was abducted by armed men in Congolese army uniforms traveling in a private Jeep on August 24 in the Ndosho neighborhood of Goma, North Kivu Province, information gathered by the coalition members indicated. He was found on August 30 near Sake, about 30 kilometers west of Goma.

DRC - Update: Disappeared human rights defender Sylvestre Bwira Kyahi is found in Gomaposted on: 2010/08/31

Human rights defender Sylvestre Bwira Kyahi has been found alive on 31 August in Goma. He had disappeared a week before, on 24 August 2010. Those who saw him shortly after he was found reported that he was weak and presented signs of torture. He is currently in hospital in Goma for treatment.

Dublin: Front Line condemns abject failure of international community to protect human rights defenders in Congoposted on: 2010/06/08

In an Opinion Piece published in today's Irish Times Front Line's Deputy Director Andrew Anderson analyses how the failure of the international community to respond to the security needs of human rights defenders has contributed to the climate of impunity in DRC.

Dublin: Front Line condemns abject failure of international community to protect human rights defenders in Congoposted on: 2010/06/08

In an Opinion Piece published in today's Irish Times Front Line's Deputy Director Andrew Anderson analyses how the failure of the international community to respond to the security needs of human rights defenders has contributed to the climate of impunity in DRC.

Abject failure of international community to protect human rights defenders in Congo

The killing this week of Floribert Chebeya, one of Congo's most respected and longstanding human rights defenders, is not only a devastating loss for his family, many friends, and the human rights movement in Congo and internationally. It is also bloody confirmation of the abject failure of the international community to protect human rights defenders in Congo.

DRC: UPDATE - Front Line calls for investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizireposted on: 2010/06/02

Front Line is calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizire. Mr Chebeya Bahizire's body was found in his car on the outskirts of Kinshasa on Wednesday 02 June, according to a police source. The body of Mr Chebeya Bahizire's driver Mr Fidele Bazana Edadi has reportedly been found today (Thursday).

DRC: Ten people sentenced for the murder of Didace Namujimboposted on: 2010/05/06

On 4 May, the Military Tribunal in Bukavo rendered its judgement on the trial for the murder of human rights defender and journalist Didace Namujimbo of Radio Okapi. He was killed on 21 November 2008 in Bukavu, South Kivu. Three of the fifteen men accused have been sentenced to capital punishment, seven of them to prison terms ranging from seven months to five years, and five have been acquitted.

DRC – UPDATE – Main suspect in murder of journalist Mr Didace Namujimbo escapes from prisonposted on: 2009/12/01

Front Line was appalled to learn today of the escape from prison of Corp. Sébastien Tandema, the main suspect in the murder of journalist and human rights defender Mr Didace Namujimbo. Sébastien Tandema escaped from a prison cell in the 10th Military Region's headquarters in the eastern city of Bukavu on 23 November 2009, five days after he was arrested. A deserter from the Congolese army's 3rd Joint Brigade, Sébastien Tandema allegedly confessed to the killing when he appeared before military prosecutors some days after his arrest, but would not name the person who ordered the killing.

DRC – UPDATE – Main suspect in murder of journalist Mr Didace Namujimbo escapes from prisonposted on: 2009/12/01

Front Line was appalled to learn today of the escape from prison of Corp. Sébastien Tandema, the main suspect in the murder of journalist and human rights defender Mr Didace Namujimbo. Sébastien Tandema escaped from a prison cell in the 10th Military Region's headquarters in the eastern city of Bukavu on 23 November 2009, five days after he was arrested. A deserter from the Congolese army's 3rd Joint Brigade, Sébastien Tandema allegedly confessed to the killing when he appeared before military prosecutors some days after his arrest, but would not name the person who ordered the killing.

DRC - UPDATE - Robert Ilunga Numbi released on bailposted on: 2009/10/01

Mr Robert Ilunga Numbi, president of Les Amis de Nelson Mandela (ANMDH), has been released on bail today 1 October 2009 from the Malaka central prison, after a month in detention. Robert Ilunga was arrested on 31 August 2009 by agents of the national intelligence agency (ANR) in Kinshasa and held incommunicado for nine days.

DRC - UPDATE - Sentencing of human rights defender, Mr Golden Misabikoposted on: 2009/09/23

On 21 September 2009, the Court of Lubumbashi sentenced human rights defender, Mr Golden Misabiko to one year imprisonment, of which eight months have been suspended. He had been accused of publishing false information and undermining the security of the state but was finally charged with 'publishing false information with intent to harm.' Lawyers for Mr. Misabiko have decided to appeal this decision.

DRC: Human rights defenders Floribert Bahizire, Dolly Inefo Mbunga and Donat Tshikay releasedposted on: 2009/03/18

Human rights defenders Floribert Bahizire, Dolly Inefo Mbunga and Donat Tshikaya who were arrested on 15 March 2009 were released on the evening of the 17 March.