Index on Censorship » Burundi

Burundi: Reporter sentenced to life imprisonment

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:25:44 +0000

A High Court in Burundi has sentenced a journalist to life in prison over terrorism charges. Hassan Ruvakuki, a reporter for local radio station Bonesha FM and French government-funded broadcaster Radio France Internationale was found guilty of ”participating in terrorist attacks”, along with 13 other defendants. In November 2011, Ruvakuki recorded a statement from former police officer Pierre Claver Kabirigi, claiming to be the leader of a new rebel group. Upon his return to the capital of Bujumbura he was arrested by security agents and questioned him over his alleged links to the rebel group. The journalist’s lawyer plans to appeal.

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Burundi: Prosecutor requests life imprisonment for journalist charged with terrorism

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:59:42 +0000

A prosecutor in Burundi has requested a life sentence for a journalist facing charges of terrorism. Radio journalist Hassan Ruvakuki was arrested on 28 November 2011 after interviewing an alleged member of a rebel group based in Tanzania. The journalist and 22 others are charged with “participating in acts of terrorism”. Many of the defendants, including Ravakuki, refused to enter pleas, as they believe the trial violates procedural rules and basic defence rights. The court adjourned until 20 June.

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Burundi: Freed journalist vows to expose prison conditions

Intern — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:25:33 +0000

A journalist who was imprisoned for 10 months for “publishing “information that discredits the state and economy” has vowed expose overcrowding in Burundi’s state prisons. Jean-Claude Kavumbagu is planning to draw on his experience of life behind bars in Mpimpa Prison to expose the issue of overcrowding. The editor of news site Net Press said: “My plan is to draw attention to this and get the authorities to put it right.” Kavumbagu was released from prison earlier this month after campaigns by human rights groups and pressure from Western governments.

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Burundi: Regulator suspends talk show

Intern — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:48:57 +0000

Burundi’s state-run media regulator, the National Communications Council, suspended a popular talk show on Monday (25 April) after a caller accused the President of wrongdoing. The show, Kabizi, was ordered off the air for an initial four-day period. The caller insinuated that the President had committed war crimes during Burundi’s civil war, the show’s host had immediately stopped the caller and asked him to refer his allegations to the Burundi Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

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Burundi: Court rules to keep journalist detained

Intern — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:01:28 +0000

A journalist charged with treason will remain in pre-trial detention, a court ruled on 6 September. Jean-Claude Kavumbagu was arrested on 17 July after he wrote an article about the possibility of Burundi being the target for a terrorist attack. The editor of online newspaper Net Press, has been detained four times in his 14 years of working as a journalist. If convicted he could be sentenced to life imprisonment. Judges have not yet set a date for a further hearing.

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Journaliste en Danger (JED)

Index on Censorship — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:56:55 +0000

Journaliste en Danger is an organisation dedicated to the defence and promotion of press freedom, initially in the DRC and since May 2003 also in Burundi, Cameroon, Coorganisation Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Rwanda and Thad.

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Four journalists freed by Burundi appeal court

Index on Censorship — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:56:01 +0000

Four journalists who were jailed for alleged violations to the national security of the Burundi have been acquitted by the appeals court of Bujumbura. The journalists are Domitile Kiramvu and Serge Nibizi of the RPA (African Public Radio), Mathias Manirakiza of Isanganiro Radio and Corneille Nibaruta of RSF Bonesha FM. The three radio stations had accused the government of denouncing a fake ‘coup’. The event occurred after the imprisonment of the former president, Domitien Ndayizeye and his vice-president, Alphonse Marie Kadege. Read more here

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