5 December 2006

Alert

Bonesha FM director summoned by prosecutor


Incident details

Corneille Nibaratu

journalist(s)

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(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is outraged by the wave of arrests of journalists in the capital city, Bujumbura. In the latest incident, on 1 December 2006, the director of the privately-owned radio station Bonesha FM, Corneille Nibaratu, was summoned by the public prosecutor, a prelude to his probable incarceration in Mpimba central prison.

"The climate has become unbearable in Bujumbura and it cannot continue. Journalists live in fear of this sinister spiral, by which they are summoned one by one by the same prosecutor then sent to jail. We call on the embassies of the donor nations in Burundi to bring about an end to this wave of arrests as soon as possible and to bring the government back to its senses. Our colleagues must be freed," said RSF.

On 30 November, it was Nibaratu's turn to receive a summons from Bujumbura city hall's prosecutor's office for the following day. Similar summonses have been received in recent days by Mathias Manirakiza, director of the privately-owned radio station Isanganiro, Serge Nibizi, editor-in-chief of the privately-owned radio station Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), and Domitile Kiramvu, a journalist with RPA. All three were charged with "broadcasting information disrupting order and public security" and transferred immediately to Mpimba central prison.



Source:

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

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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 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 Journalists imprisoned for "violating judicial secrecy" 23 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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