World Movement Participant Found Dead in the DRC

Democracy Alert

[June 3, 2010]

World Movement Participant Found Dead in the DRC

Africa
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According to the Associated Press and our communication with Voix des Sans Voix (VSV), Executive Director of VSV in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and World Movement participant Floribert Chebeya Bahizire was found dead in his car outside of Kinshasa on June 2.  The body of his driver, Mr. Bazan Edad, was found in a different location. The Deputy Executive Director of VSV, Mr. Dolly Ibefo Mbunga has still not been allowed to see the body of Mr. Chebeya Bahizire. 

Two days prior to his disappearance on Tuesday, June 1, Mr. Chebeya Bahizire was summoned by General John Numbi, the General Inspectorate of Police in Ligwala, Kinshasa. Mr. Chebeya Bahizire was in phone contact with his family until just after 9pm that night. Just before 8pm he sent a text message to relatives saying he had not yet met with Gen. Numbi, but was still waiting at the Inspectorate. His last message said he was leaving the Inspectorate and stopping briefly at the University on the way home. After that, he was unreachable on his phone. Early on Wednesday, June 2, VSV released a statement regarding Mr. Chebeya Bahizire’s disappearance. In the statement, VSV expressed concern that his disappearance might be related to a letter they received on May 28 concerning its efforts to improve prison conditions. 
 
Since the news of Mr. Chebeya Bahizire’s death, several organizations – including Amnesty International, the World Organization against Torture (OMCT), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Frontline Defenders, the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC), the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN), the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) – are asserting that the circumstances surrounding Mr. Chebeya Bahizire’s death are certainly suspicious, especially considering the increased harassment of human rights activists in Congo in the past year.  They are calling on the Congolese government to immediately launch a thorough, impartial, and independent investigation into Mr. Chebeya Bahizire’s death. 
 
The Observatory for the Protection of Defenders of Human Rights, a joint program of OMCT and FIDH, also calls upon the Congolese authorities to put an end to all forms of harassment against human rights defenders in DRC and to comply with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as regional and international instruments concerning human rights ratified by the DRC. Moreover, in a joint statement, REDHAC, WAHRDN, and EHAHRD-Net are calling on the United Nations and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights to direct the Congolese government to conduct an impartial investigation and to respect human rights in the country.
 
Concerned individuals are also encouraged to send letters to the Congolese government expressing their indignation regarding Mr. Chebeya Bahizire’s death and calling on the government to put an end to all forms of harassment against defenders of human rights in the DRC and comply with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Letters should be sent to the following individuals:
 
  • SE Joseph Kabila, President of the Republic, Office of the President of the Republic, the Palais de la Nation, Kinshasa / Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fax +243 88 02 120
  • Mr. Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Minister's Office, Building Department of Foreign Affairs, Kinshasa / Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Mr. Luzolo Bambi, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Department of Justice et Garde des Sceaux, BP 3137, Kinshasa Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fax: + 243 88 05 521
  • Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United Nations, Avenue de Bude 18, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Email: missionrdc@bluewin.ch, Fax: +41 22 740.16.82
  • Embassies of the DRC in concerned individuals’ respective countries
 
To read statements from the various organizations mentioned in this Alert, go to the following links:
 
 
 
To view a YouTube video clip about frequent disappearances in the DRC featuring Mr. Chebeya Bahizire’s colleagues, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCghW-bQErg  
 
To read the article from the Associated Press, go to: www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jS_FU1qr7Z2OGne6M1AP-j5yreUQD9G3OIG00