From irin@dha.unon.org Wed Nov 13 13:45:05 1996 Date: Sat, 2 Nov 1996 13:04:05 +0300 (GMT+0300) From: UN DHA IRIN - Great Lakes To: irinwire@dha.unon.org Subject: Zaire: AI EX171/96 ZAIRE Fear for safety 96.11.1 +------------------------------------------------------+ + Paper reprints authorised. Electronic redistributors + + must request permission from Amnesty International. + + Contact: rmitchel@amnesty.org.uk (UK) + + sharrison@igc.apc.org (USA) + + ggabriel@amnesty.cl.sub.de (Germany) + +------------------------------------------------------+ EXTERNAL AI Index: AFR 62/23/96 EXTRA 171/96 Fear for safety 1 November 1996 ZAIRE Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, human rights activist Harouna Mbongo, human rights activist Bashi Nabukili, human rights activist Members of the Tutsi ethnic group Three human rights activists in the Zairian capital, Kinshasa, are reported to have been arrested in recent days by the Zairian authorities because they were inquiring about human rights abuses against members of the Tutsi ethnic group. One of the activists, Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, is the President of a human rights group La voix des sans voix (VSV), Voice of the Voiceless. Amnesty International has not been able to establish their place of detention, and fears that they may be ill-treated. Amnesty International has also learned that an unspecified number of Tutsi families have been removed from their homes and are being held in Kinshasa by members of the Zairian security forces. It has been reported that the Zairian authorities intend to expel the families from Zaire on the grounds that they are not Zairian nationals. It is feared that these Tutsi and other Tutsi living in Zaire may be subjected to human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, "disappearance", torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. BACKGROUND INFORMATION There is growing hostility and violence against members of the Tutsi ethnic group, and to a lesser extent those of the Hutu ethnic group, since fighting began in eastern Zaire in September 1996 between Tutsi known as Banyamulenge and Zairian armed forces. The hostility on the part of the Zairian authorities and sectors of the civilian population is also extended to anyone suspected of sympathizing with the Tutsi. Hundreds of Tutsi have already been deported by the Zairian authorities to Rwanda and Burundi. Banyamulenge claim that they are fighting for their right to Zairian nationality which they have been denied by the Zairian authorities. Banyamulenge have already captured several towns in eastern Zaire's North and South-Kivu regions. The Zairian authorities have accused Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda of supporting the Banyamulenge armed group, a claim denied by the governments of those countries. It has been reported that on 31 October 1996, the Zairian parliament overwhelmingly voted to demand that Zaire severs diplomatic relations with Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. The parliament also demanded the removal of Tutsi from government jobs, including the security forces. Many Tutsi have already fled the country fearing for their lives. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in French or your own language: - expressing concern at the arrest of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, Harouna Mbongo and Bashi Nabukili, simply because they inquired about human rights abuses against Tutsi; - expressing concern at the removal of Tutsi from their homes in Kinshasa and the threat to expel them from Zaire; - pointing out that the human rights activists and members of the Tutsi families who have been arrested are prisoners of conscience and demanding their immediate and unconditional release; - seeking guarantees that the detainees will be protected from any form of torture or ill-treatment. APPEALS TO: Prime Minister: Monsieur Leon KENGO Wa Dondo [Salutation: Monsieur le Premier Ministre / Dear Prime Minister] Premier Ministre Hotel du Conseil Executif Avenue des 3Z Kinshasa - Gombe, ZAIRE FAX: +243 88 42062 Telegrams: Premier Ministre, Kinshasa, Zaire Minister of Justice: Monsieur Joseph Nsinga Udju [Salutation: Monsieur le Ministre] Ministre de la Justice et Garde des sceaux Ministere de la Justice BP 3137 Kinshasa- Gombe, ZAIRE Telegrams: Ministre Nsinga, Kinshasa, Zaire Faxes: +243 88 43778 PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: Embassy of Zaire, 26 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8HH. Fax: 0171 235 9048 AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING: Armed Forces Chief of Staff: Grand amiral ELUKI Monga Chef d'Etat-major general des Forces armees zairoises (FAZ) Ministere de la Defense nationale Kinshasa-Ngaliema Republique du Zaire Minster of Interior: Monsieur Gerard KAMANDA WA KAMANDA Ministre de l'Interieur Hotel du Conseil executif Kinshasa-Gombe Republique de Zaire PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 1 December 1996. +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + If you have any queries about this Urgent Action or about + + the UA scheme in general, please contact: + + Ray Mitchell + + Amnesty International UK Section + + 99 - 119 Rosebery Avenue + + London EC1R 4RE email: rmitchel@amnesty.org.uk + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ [Via the UN DHA Integrated Regional Information Network "Wire" mailing list. 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