23 November 2006

Alert

Journalists imprisoned for "violating judicial secrecy"


Incident details

Serges Nibizi, Domitile Kiramvu

journalist(s)

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(JED/IFEX) - On 22 November 2006, Serges Nibizi, an executive producer with the independent Bujumbura-based radio station Radio publique africaine (RPA), and Domitile Kiramvu, a journalist with the station, were arrested on orders of the Bujumbura Prosecutor's Office. The two were later transferred to the Mpimba central prison, where they are currently being held.

According to information received by JED, the two journalists, along with a third RPA journalist, Palice Ndimurukundo, were summoned by the Prosecutor's Office to appear before judges Liévin Macuni and Pierre Claver Ndikukira, where they were charged with "violating judicial secrecy". The charges stem from a 21 November RPA report on an alleged coup plot in which a number of prominent individuals, including former president Domitien Ndayizeye and former vice-president Alphonse-Marie Kadege, have been implicated. The trial of the accused is set to begin on 24 November.

The journalists maintain however, that no judicial secrecy has been breached, since the information in question had already been published in "Intumwe", a pro-government newspaper owned by Willy Nyamitwe, chief communications advisor to the president.

Following the hearing, Nibizi and Kiramvu were remanded in custody, while Ndimurukundo was freed.

Nibizi and Kiramvu faced similar allegations earlier this year. On 2 and 4 October, they were summoned for questioning and then charged with "violating state security secrets" in relation to a 29 August RPA broadcast alerting the public to an imminent attack by elements within the police on the presidential palace and the home of ruling party head Hussein Rajabu (see IFEX alert of 3 October 2006).

During this first hearing, the Prosecutor's Office had demanded that the journalists reveal their sources, although Burundi's press laws protect source confidentiality.



Source:

Journaliste en danger
B.P. 633 - Kinshasa 1
374, av. Col. Mondjiba
Complexe Utexafrica, Galerie St Pierre, 1er niveau, Local 18 Kinshasa/Ngaliema
République Démocratique du Congo
direction (@) jed-afcentre.org
Phone: +243 81 99 29 323
Fax: +44 20 7900 3413
 

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More on this case

Journalist summoned by prosecutor goes missing; IFJ calls for end of intimidation campaign against independent journalism 11 December 2006 Bonesha FM director summoned by prosecutor 5 December 2006 Third radio journalist jailed in growing crackdown 30 November 2006 Prosecutor questions journalists on sources in aborted coup case 30 November 2006 Two more journalists summoned in case of alleged coup plot 28 November 2006 Radio station director forced into hiding again by continued government harassment 29 September 2006 Radio station director comes out of hiding, but fears for his safety once again following partial closure of station 23 August 2006 CPJ condemns harassment of radio director 8 August 2006

Burundi

Intelligence agents arrest radio reporter for allegedly aiding rebels 30 November 2011 Summonses, threats and harassment part of everyday life for privately-owned media 17 November 2011 Government urged to strengthen support for national human rights commission 7 October 2011 Authorities urged to lift news blackout imposed after Gatumba massacre 27 September 2011 Government critics face repeated arrests, questioning 12 August 2011 See all alerts: Burundi


 
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