Committee to Protect Journalists - Burundi tag:cpj.org,2008-09-16://1 2012-05-08T22:00:42Z Movable Type 4.34-en Burundian prosecutor requests life sentence for journalist tag:cpj.org,2012://1.19327 2012-05-08T21:47:11Z 2012-05-08T22:00:42Z New York, May 8, 2012--State prosecutors requested a life sentence today for Burundian radio reporter Hassan Ruvakiki who was imprisoned after airing a November interview with a purported rebel leader, according to news reports.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, May 8, 2012--State prosecutors requested a life sentence today for Burundian radio reporter Hassan Ruvakiki who was imprisoned after airing a November interview with a purported rebel leader, according to news reports.

]]> Burundi journalist detained by security agents tag:cpj.org,2011://1.18174 2011-11-30T22:40:19Z 2011-12-01T13:56:15Z New York, November 30, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by the ongoing detention of a radio journalist in Burundi since Monday.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, November 30, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by the ongoing detention of a radio journalist in Burundi since Monday.

]]> Burundi government harassing independent broadcasters tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17681 2011-08-03T21:37:31Z 2011-09-30T20:39:26Z Committee to Protect Journalists Burundi journalists march on World Press Freedom Day. (Jean Pierre Aimé HARERIMANA)

New York, August 3, 2011--The government of Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza is attempting to silence critical press coverage of his administration with incessant judicial harassment of two of the country's leading independent broadcasters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

]]> Online journalist finally released in Burundi tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17312 2011-05-17T22:43:47Z 2011-05-18T18:16:52Z New York, May 17, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of online editor Jean-Claude Kavumbagu of Net Press on Monday but still questions the original charges placed against him. The High Court dropped charges of treason on May 13 but sentenced Kavumbagu to eight months in prison and... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, May 17, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of online editor Jean-Claude Kavumbagu of Net Press on Monday but still questions the original charges placed against him. The High Court dropped charges of treason on May 13 but sentenced Kavumbagu to eight months in prison and a fine of 100,000 Burundian francs (US$80) for publishing "information that discredits the state and economy," according to defense lawyer Gabriel Sinarinzi. Authorities released Kavumbagu on Monday since he had already spent 10 months at Mpimba Prison in the capital, Bujumbura. 

]]> Burundi suspends RPA's popular talk show tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17217 2011-04-27T20:54:06Z 2011-04-27T21:09:41Z New York, April 27, 2011--Burundi's state-run media regulator suspended a popular radio talk show on Monday because of accusations made by a caller about the president, according to news reports and local journalists.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, April 27, 2011--Burundi's state-run media regulator suspended a popular radio talk show on Monday because of accusations made by a caller about the president, according to news reports and local journalists.

]]> Burundi seeks life sentence for Kavumbagu tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17137 2011-04-14T19:25:34Z 2011-04-14T19:56:17Z New York, April 14, 2011--A Burundi state prosecutor asked a panel of judges on Wednesday to hand journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, who has been imprisoned since July 2010 over a column critical of the country's security forces, the maximum life sentence on a charge of treason, according to local journalists.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, April 14, 2011--A Burundi state prosecutor asked a panel of judges on Wednesday to hand journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, who has been imprisoned since July 2010 over a column critical of the country's security forces, the maximum life sentence on a charge of treason, according to local journalists.

]]> Burundi must free Kavumbagu, halt flawed prosecution tag:cpj.org,2011://1.17113 2011-04-11T15:58:09Z 2011-04-11T16:27:13Z Dear Justice Minister Ancilla Ntakaburimvo: We urge you to intervene in the case of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the news website NetPress who has been improperly imprisoned since July 17, 2010, on a charge of treason. We call on you to urge the state prosecutor to drop the pending charge against Kavumbagu and secure his release. Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ meets jailed Burundian journalist, calls for his release tag:cpj.org,2010://1.16383 2010-12-09T18:35:53Z 2010-12-09T18:47:41Z Committee to Protect Journalists Burundi Tribune
Bujumbura, December 9, 2010--The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for the release of journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu after visiting him in prison in Burundi's capital, Bujumbura. CPJ made the call at a press conference marking the end of a four-day mission to Burundi.

CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney and East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes met with Kavumbagu, at left, editor of the French-language news site Net Press, at Mpimba Prison on Wednesday for more than an hour. 
]]> In Burundi, 2nd editor arrested in less than a month tag:cpj.org,2010://1.15078 2010-08-11T20:57:12Z 2010-08-11T21:08:05Z New York, August 11, 2010--Burundian police on Tuesday arrested Thierry Ndayishimiye, chief editor of the private weekly Arc-en-Ciel, on defamation charges related to a story about alleged government corruption. Ndayishimiye is the second Burundian editor to be jailed in less than a month.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, August 11, 2010--Burundian police on Tuesday arrested Thierry Ndayishimiye, chief editor of the private weekly Arc-en-Ciel, on defamation charges related to a story about alleged government corruption. Ndayishimiye is the second Burundian editor to be jailed in less than a month.

]]> Burundian online journalist faces life in prison for treason tag:cpj.org,2010://1.14957 2010-07-19T21:42:58Z 2010-07-19T21:51:50Z Committee to Protect Journalists New York, July 19, 2010—Burundian authorities’ arrest on Saturday of journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu on treason charges over commentary critical of the country’s security forces is alarming, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. He is being held in Mpimba prison in the capital, Bujumbura.]]> Jailed Burundian journalist acquitted; two others arrested tag:cpj.org,2009://1.11007 2009-03-18T20:26:24Z 2009-03-19T17:23:25Z New York, March 18, 2009--A Burundian online journalist jailed since last September was acquitted today, according to local journalists. In a separate case on Tuesday, however, authorities detained two journalists covering the activities of a former CPJ Press Freedom Award winner, according to the same sources. ... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, March 18, 2009--A Burundian online journalist jailed since last September was acquitted today, according to local journalists. In a separate case on Tuesday, however, authorities detained two journalists covering the activities of a former CPJ Press Freedom Award winner, according to the same sources. 

]]> Attacks on the Press in 2008: Africa Developments tag:cpj.org,2009://1.10704 2009-02-10T05:53:00Z 2009-04-21T14:21:29Z Committee to Protect Journalists http://cpj.org/ Attacks on the Press 2007: Africa Snapshots tag:cpj.org,2008://1.6721 2008-02-05T16:59:20Z 2009-04-07T17:36:46Z Committee to Protect Journalists Attacks & developments throughout the region]]> Attacks on the Press 2006: Countries That Have Jailed Journalists tag:216.139.245.96,2007://1.6830 2007-02-05T16:57:00Z 2009-04-27T13:35:47Z ALGERIA: 2 Djamel Eddine Fahassi, Alger Chaîne III IMPRISONED: May 6, 1995 Fahassi, a reporter for the state-run radio station Alger Chaîne III and a contributor to several Algerian newspapers, including the now-banned weekly of the Islamic Salvation Front, Al-Forqane, was abducted near his home in the al-Harrache suburb of... Committee to Protect Journalists ALGERIA: 2

Djamel Eddine Fahassi, Alger Chaîne III
IMPRISONED: May 6, 1995

Fahassi, a reporter for the state-run radio station Alger Chaîne III and a contributor to several Algerian newspapers, including the now-banned weekly of the Islamic Salvation Front, Al-Forqane, was abducted near his home in the al-Harrache suburb of the capital, Algiers, by four well-dressed men carrying walkie-talkies. According to eyewitnesses who later spoke with his wife, the men called out Fahassi's name and then pushed him into a waiting car. He has not been seen since, and Algerian authorities have denied any knowledge of his arrest.

]]> Attacks on the Press 2006: Burundi tag:216.139.245.96,2007://1.6788 2007-02-05T16:40:00Z 2007-02-05T17:00:00Z BURUNDI Under fire for alleged corruption and human rights abuses, the government of former rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza cracked down on a wide range of critical voices, including those in the press, during its first year in power. Authorities imprisoned a journalist for five months after he allegedly slandered the... Committee to Protect Journalists BURUNDI
Under fire for alleged corruption and human rights abuses, the government of former rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza cracked down on a wide range of critical voices, including those in the press, during its first year in power. Authorities imprisoned a journalist for five months after he allegedly slandered the state in a private barroom conversation, and they launched a vicious campaign of harassment, threats, and intimidation against three independent radio stations, including Radio Publique Africaine (RPA). Government threats against RPA Director Alexis Sinduhije, who won a CPJ International Press Freedom Award in 2004, drove him into hiding. Journalists said the government used the existence of an alleged coup plot as a pretext to silence dissent, including critical reports by the independent media.
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