Burundi Arbitrarily Imprisons Editor on Treason Charge

“We call for his release and the withdrawal of the charges against him” - Reporters Without Borders

Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the online newspaper Net Press

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate release of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the online newspaper Net Press, Kavumbagu has been detained since July 17on the charge of treason.

RSF told Salem-news.com “Kavumbagu has been unjustly held for the past six weeks pending trial on a treason charge that is baseless. Pre-trial detention is supposed to be an exception. He should not be in detention when his trial starts. We urge the judges to reach an equitable decision”.

Kavumbagu published an article July 12 about the possibility of Burundi being the next target for a terrorist attack by the Somali Islamist group Al-Shabaab. Link to the article He was then arrested while on his way to work on 17 July.

After being questioned for two hours, he was placed in detention in Bujumbura’s Mpimba prison. He was questioned again several day later, and again reprimanded to prison.

Kavumbagu never received a summons to appear in the deputy prosecutor’s office for an investigation, he was also not given an opportunity to be accompanied by a lawyer during his first interrogation. Kavumbagu is being held on a charge of treason, if convicted he could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

“This is the fifth time he has been arrested in 14 years of working as a journalist. There is absolutely no justification for the charge in the offending article, which just raises what could be a real problem for Burundi.” RSF told Salem-News.com.

Kavumbagu’s lawyer, Gabriel Sinarinzi, told RSF: “What he is alleged to have done does not constitute an act of treason. According to article 570 of the criminal code, an act of treason can only be committed in war time and Burundi is not at war.” Sinarinzi added: “Our client’s arrest and placement in provisional detention are arbitrary and illegal measures that violate the rules of criminal procedure. Provisional detention is meant to be used above all to prevent any disturbance of public order. But there have been no security incidents since the article’s publication that could justify such a summary arrest.”

September 2008, Kavumbagu was jailed on a charge of defaming the president, he spent six months in prison before being acquitted March 2009.

Kavumbagu appeared in court yesterday, for a hearing on the legality of his imprisonment, the court said it would issue its ruling tomorrow.

“We call for his release and the withdrawal of the charges against him,” RSF demanded.

*Source: Reporters without Borders