RDC: “Concerne: Lancement Operation Strategique Kin-Ouest” (15.12.2016)

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You are not forgotten Sam Mugumya!

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I cannot and as I am together with others, who stand for justice, rule of law and freedom cannot forget the brave men like Sam Mugumya, who has been detained in Democratic Republic of Congo, as he was traded for the release of M23 soldiers and deported to the Congo. Something that is disgusting enough as he has been portrayed by the Ugandan authorities as an Allied Defence Force (ADF-NALU) which is a guerrilla that cause havoc in the DRC.

With that all in mind his been detained since 2014, today is his birthday, certainly he will not able to celebrate it or even enjoy it. He is innocent and rotting in prison because of the exchange that was between DRC Authorities and Ugandan counterparts. Certainly that deal was made with some perks.

In August 2016 there we’re reported that 300 Ugandan citizens we’re detained and in prison in the neighbour country, many of who is said to be connected with the guerrilla – ADF-NALU, but some of them are certainly framed for that as proven with Sam Mugumya, who has been parts of Activist 4 Change with the Walk to Work protest in 2011 and also been a pivotal political force inside the Forum for Democratic Change. Therefore the NRM Regime wants him away and silences him, the best way in a foreign prison where his voice doesn’t matter.

With this recent report isn’t positive considering his case: “In a government statement to parliament last evening, the State minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem revealed that the authorities had declined to have Mugumya released since the matter was under the military establishment in the DRC” (…) “Okello also says that Mugumya may not be extradited soon due to absence of enabling policies between the two governments despite several interventions” (Kyeyune, 2016). So the case has become military after the extradition and prisoner exchange in 2014, therefore the fate of Mugumya is in the hands of Congolese Authorities. The Ugandan ones are towing their fingers as the former Besigye aide is dwindling away and not has the ability to get freedom as he is a political activist and not a terrorist. That is big difference!

In 2015 he said this to the press:

Ivan: “How did you know they were CMI operatives? Were they clad in uniform?” Sam: “They had army uniform and they introduced themselves to me as such. On the first day, they were two. They asked if I had links with ADF then shortly after said I was coming to link up with the People’s Redemption Army.  I told them I was just running away from your brutal regime. On the second day, another set of three CMI operatives came. I remained in Beni for three weeks before I was called for a joint interrogation between Congolese authorities and CMI.  They debated if to bring us back to Uganda or hold us in Congo” (Okuda, 2015).

“Ivan: “The regime back home accuses you of involvement in subversion, terrorism to be precise and government spokesman Ofwono Opondo and UPDF spokesman Paddy Ankunda both stand by this claim. What is your take?” Sam: “It is not true I was involved in subversive activities. I have been involved in legitimate activism which is a fundamental right, to support or oppose a regime. But Mr Museveni and his henchmen like all tyrants mistake principled Opposition for subversion. There is a history to this. In 2011, Ingrid Turinawe, Francis Mwijukye and I were charged with terrorism and the case fell flat because it had no legal limbs and was built on falsehoods. Repeating these same allegations is essentially putting into perspective why we are here. Museveni has always made his position clear; that he is not comfortable with courts granting bail to capital offence suspects.  Of course, he is not interested in the rapists and murderers; he is simply clothing it as capital offences to net political activists. We are the real target” (Okuda, 2015).

When you hear his story that he flee from Uganda because of the possible prosecution and the indicated issues with the brutal regime, that means that the courts and indictment we’re predicated to take him down. The Congolese Authorities just used that and reprimanded him, while they still had been served with Ugandan intelligence to pick-up the activist and take him to prison. Something that is vicious and shows the collaborate effort to harass fellow citizens and also use the military together with security operatives to make sure the people like Sam Mugumya get behind bars, where he still is without question.

His is lingering in jail, but he is not forgotten, as much as the other activist both Ugandan and Congolese who is still behind bars. As the Authorities are keeping them silent behind bars instead of being free to challenge the ones in power. Peace.

Reference:

Kyeyune, Moses – ‘Mugumya Extradition Not Possible, Says Government’ (02.12.2016) link: http://kfm.co.ug/news/mugumya-extradition-not-possible-says-government.html

Okuda, Ivan – ‘I was arrested while fleeing to exile, says Mugumya’ (20.12.2015) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/I-was-arrested-while-fleeing-to-exile–says-Mugumya/689844-3002812-11msrhrz/index.html

EU Statement on the situation in Kasese District (16.12.2016)

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Censure et violences contre les journalistes : JED et RSF redoutent une sombre fin de mandat pour le Président Kabila (16.12.2016)

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Journaliste en danger (JED) et Reporters sans frontières (RSF) sont très préoccupées par l’offensive des autorités contre la libre circulation de l’information, à l’approche de la fin du mandat du Président Joseph Kabila, le 19 décembre 2016. Les deux organisations appellent les autorités congolaises à permettre aux médias de fonctionner librement et en toute sécurité.

A l’approche de la fin officielle du mandat du Président Joseph Kabila, le 19 décembre 2016, RSF et JED s’inquiètent des mesures de censure qui frappent les médias, et plus largement, l’accès à l’information des citoyens congolais. Suspension prévue et assumée d’internet, interdictions des émissions politiques au Kasaï Oriental, irruption de la police dans des locaux des médias, brouillage continu des antennes de RFI à Kinshasa… Les exactions des autorités nationales et locales contre la presse sont nombreuses.

Le 14 décembre, les compagnies de télécommunications ont reçu une lettre de l’Autorité de Régulation des Postes et des Télécommunications (ARPTC) – sous autorité de la présidence de la République -, leur intimant de bloquer l’accès aux réseaux sociaux à partir du 18 décembre à minuit, et de suspendre l’accès à Internet si le blocage ciblé n’était pas possible. Selon Jeune Afrique, les opérateurs ont été menacés de se voir retirer leur agrément s’ils n’obtempéraient pas.

Au Kasaï Oriental, le Gouverneur de province, en plus de renforcer le couvre-feu, a tout simplement interdit la diffusion de toute émission ou débat traitant de politique au prétexte de “prévenir des messages et les informations d’incitations à la haine, aux troubles à l’ordre public et aux violences”. Pour rappel, un journaliste de la RTNC, Marcel Lubala a été assassiné dans la province du Kasaï Oriental dans la nuit du 14 au 15 novembre 2016. Plusieurs sources faisaient état de l’implication de la police dans ce crime.

Pour JED, “les journalistes n’ont pas à obéir à ces mesures, car il est de leur devoir, au nom de la liberté d’information et d’expression, d’avoir un esprit critique, de s’intéresser et de questionner les choix et pratiques du gouvernement et des acteurs politiques afin d’engager avec responsabilité un débat public sur des questions qui concernent toute la population.”

Le 6 décembre 2016, à Matadi au Kongo Central, des individus en tenue de policiers ont fait irruption dans les locaux de Canal Congo Télévision (CCTV) puis Horeb Télévision (HTV), alors que les deux chaînes diffusaient des émissions de débats portant sur un projet de motion de défiance contre le Gouverneur de la province Jacques Mbadu. Ils ont interrompu la diffusion, malmené les journalistes et saccagé le matériel de la radio.

“En continuant de prendre des mesures liberticides contre les médias, ou de laisser impunies les agressions contre les journalistes, le président Kabila dévoile ses dispositions anti-démocratiques, ce qui laisse présager du pire pour le 19 décembre et les jours qui suivront, déclare Reporters sans frontières. L’ensemble des mesures récentes de censure et les attaques non sanctionnées contre les médias sont autant de messages envoyés sur le fait qu’aucune dissidence ou contestation ne sera tolérée.”

Le Commissaire de police de Kinshasa, Célestin Kanyama, récemment visé par des sanctions européennes, réclamées notamment par RSF, a menacé toute personne qui descendrait dans la rue à partir du 19 décembre, de violentes représailles, interdisant par là même toute couverture journalistique. Il a invité les parents à ne pas laisser sortir leurs enfants, ou sinon “ à bien regarder la photo de leurs enfants car ce serait la dernière fois qu’il les verrait”.

En septembre 2016, RSF et JED avaient demandé au vice-Premier ministre et ministre de l’Intérieur, Evariste Boshab (également sous le coup de sanctions américaines), l’ouverture d’une enquête après les exactions recensées contre au moins huit journalistes lors de la répression des manifestations des 19 et 20 septembre 2016.

Depuis novembre, les médias étrangers font l’objet de mesures visant à les réduire au silence. Le signal de RFI à Kinshasa continu d’être brouillé depuis le 4 novembre 2016.

La République démocratique du Congo occupe la 152è place sur 180 pays dans l’édition 2016 du Classement de la liberté de la presse établi par RSF.

Pour tout contact
Journaliste en Danger
21, av. Nyembo. Quartier Socimat.
Référence : Haute Cour Militaire
Kinshasa/Gombe. B.P. 633 Kinshasa 1
Téléphone: +243 81 99 96 353 ou +243 99 99 96 353
E-mail : jedkin@jed-afrique.org, jedkinshasa@gmail.com
Internet : www.jed-afrique.org

RDC: Suspension momenciance de Reseaux Sociaux (14.12.2016)

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RDC: Declaration Politique Relative aux Assises Convoquees par la Cenco (13.12.2016)

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Aftermath after the Kasese Clashes: Omusinga bwa Rwenzururu detained to 28th December; Besigye arrested on the outside of Jinja Court and dropped off at Kasangati!

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In Jinja today at the Jinja Magistrate Court, where the Omusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere, which as expected the “treason” charge on the king we’re adjourned and the case will be taken up to court again on the 28th December 2016. Still, there nothing of case produced, except for the king who was taken from Nalufenya dungeon and are now detained at Luzira Maximum Prison. For the same terrorism claim that happen earlier in the 2016 as early as in midst of March 2016.

There we’re other dignitaries around the court and trying to get into the court to follow the courtship of the Omusinga. One of them we’re Dr. Kizza Besigye who is himself charged with “treason” and his case also pending. Proves the escalating Police State, as the Opposition Politician we’re taken away from the outside of the Court, as the other Kasese Members of Parliament where there to follow their king.

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Besigye we’re taken by the Police Force on the outside and taken into an infamous black van riding in the direction towards Kampala through Bugerere. He was taken inside the van and many people we’re claiming that he would be taken to Nagalama Police Station in Mukono. Something that apparently didn’t happen; the Police Force through their hectic effort of silencing and monitoring the man, left him at his home in Kasangati, while guarding his home with more officers than of late. Before home he had been at Kakira, Nalufenya and Matugga. As they are trying to scare the man even more as they continue to have their illegal and defiant method of house-arrest at Kasangati.

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The other suspects as the detained Royal Guards that we’re detained in November 2016 after the Kasese Massacre of the Uganda People Defence Force and the Special Force Command who attacked and burned the Buhikira Royal Ground. As well as the soldiers together with Anglican priest buried unidentified bodies left behind after the clashes and violence from the government security operatives who ambushed the Palace. These men we’re buried without family or friends remembering their lives as the government trying to clean their hands of their blood, while the ones that still living are charged as criminals as the men with weapons and commanders of the army are walking free. The King and his men are detained, the Royal Guards we’re transferred today to the Jinja Police Headquarters for questioning.

Together with all of the Dr. John Baluku we’re himself planning to see the courtship of Omusinga Mumbere at Jinja Court. He was thinking of being a court witness at the Jinja Magistrate Court, something the authorities didn’t accept, so Dr. Baluku has been detained by the authorities.

What were the charges on the king?

“Prosecution states that Mumbere and co-accused with purposes of intimidating members of the public for a political ,social, religious or economic reason and without due regard or safety of others attacked Kidodo police booth and murdered Kasimba on top of attempting to take the lives of eight other police officers” (…) “The accused are further alleged to have robbed Kasimba of an AK -47 gun with 30 rounds of aminitions and immediately used pangas and knives to kill him” (…) “The charges were read to Mumbere in a fully packed courtroom but just like in last month when he was arraingned in court for murder, he was not allowed to answer to plead to them as murder ,terrorism and aggrevated are capital in nature and only triable and bailable by the High court” (87.7 Baba FM, 13.12.2016).

So Chief Magistrate in Jinja John Francis Kaggwa has remanded and granted no bail for the king and his royal guards, as the violent oppressive regime continues to silence its critic with force and with forged criminal cases in the courts, as this yet another example of. Where the innocent is the criminals and the guilty is walking the streets. The guilty the army men and commanders who are not questioned for their killings in March 2016, where even the army we’re caught on tape just blasting Royal Guards and Youth on the roads at villages in Kasese and Bundibugyo sub-counties. The Rwenzori troubles of recent years have escalated with the skirmishes of the army itself as far back as in 2014 when similar acts happen.

Today is just a proof of how far the silencing the citizens, the kingdom that recently we’re accepted and now the government are using all their tools to silence Kasese after the recent attacks and killings. The Government went in with their army and killed; now the Kingdom and their men are detained. Something isn’t right and the government know’s that. And you knew that there was something wrong with the court sessions when the government has to close the five roads leading the Jinja Magistrate Court. There must be something wrong when the government cannot accept public interference and involvement in criminal cases.

 

Also Important:

The ones who earlier in the year protesting outside the Democratic Republic of Congo embassy who we’re protesting for the freedom of civil rights activist and opposition figures like Sam Mugumya who are still detained in the DRC. The ones that had to be in court for demonstrations today we’re Harold Kaija of the FDC and Owor Moses Cyrus Kibang. The Court adjourned the case until 7th Feburary 2017, still there hasn’t been produced any witness for the trespassing or affidavit saving the case. Still it is postponed. Peace.

Finally home... after more Police Brutality!
Finally home… after more Police Brutality!

RDC: Message des Chefs des Confessions Religieuses en Rapport avec la Situation Politique de l’Heure en Republique Democratique du Congo (09.12.2016)

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RDC: Le Rassemblement annonce la fin des discussions le 15 décembre (11.12.2016)

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RDC: Campagne «Bye bye Kabila» lancée dans les universités à Kinshasa (09.12.2016)

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