RMC préoccupée par l’arrestation d’un journaliste rwandais au Burundi

Kigali: L’arrestation au Burundi du journaliste rwandais Etienne Besabesa préoccupe la Commission Rwandaise des Médias (RMC, Rwanda Media Commission), l’organe d’autorégulation des médias au Rwanda.

RMC demande aux autorités burundaises de libérer Etienne Besabesa qui travaille avec Radio Izuba,  Radio Flash et le journal en ligne Igihe.com. Il a été arrêté lundi 08 juin dans la province de Muyinga frontalière du Rwanda alors qu’il réalisait un reportage sur le commerce transfrontalier.

Dans un communiqué, RMC se dit «préoccupée par l’arrestation du journaliste rwandais BESABESA MIVUMBI Etienne, et demande aux organes de sécurité du Rwanda de coopérer urgemment avec ceux du Burundi sur la question de ce journaliste détenu».

La Commission Rwandaise des Médias demande aux autorités burundaises de garantir la sécurité de ce journaliste rwandais, de son matériel de travail, et leur demande de le libérer immédiatement.

RWANDA MEDIA COMMISSION (RMC) CONCERNED BY THE ARREST OF JOURNALIST BESABESA MIVUMBI ETIENNE IN BURUNDI 

After learning that a journalist who has been working for three media houses in Rwanda namely Radio Izuba, Radio Flash and Igihe.com, who goes by the names BESABESA MIVUMBI Etienne, was arrested by the security agencies of Burundi since Monday, June 08, 2015; Following confirmation by the management of Radio Izuba that the aforementioned journalist had gone to cover a story on the influx of Rwandans and Burundians in Gahara Sector, Kirehe district; Considering that the management of Radio Izuba confirms that several citizens of Burundi said that they witnessed the arrest of journalist BESABESA MIVUMBI Etienne in Commune GITERANYI, which borders Rwanda and later transferred to Muyinga; Based on the premise that Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) supports and defends the the December 10, 1948 Universal Human Rights Declaration especially in its Article 19, and the December 16, 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights especially its Article 99 as well as the June 27, 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, particularly its Article 9; Based on the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of June 04, 2003, as it has been amended to date, especially in its Article 34, Section 1 and based on Law n°02/2013 of 08/02/2013 regulating the Media in Rwanda, especially in its Articles 12 and 15 regarding the rights of journalists to collect and access information, and also based on the provisions of the Rwanda Journalists and Media Practitioners Code of Ethics; Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) is deeply concerned by the arrest of the Rwandan Journalist BESABESA MIVUMBI Etienne, and requests Rwandan security organs to urgently cooperate with their Burundian counterparts in following with the issue of the detained journalist. Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) urges Burundian authorities to ensure the security of the journalist BESABESA MIVUMBI Etienne and his work equipment and urges them to release him with immediate effect. P.O.BOX: 2136 Kigali, RWANDA TEL: (+250) 280078888 TOLL FREE: 3536 E-mail: info@rmc.org.rw www.rmc.org.rw Twitter: @RMC_Rwanda Rwanda Media Commission is the Media Self-Regulatory Body in Rwanda instructed by Law Regulating Media and established by all Rwandan journalists in their General Assembly of 27/8/2013. The Self-Regulatory Body is mandated to Protect journalists, regulate their conduct and the daily functioning of media and advocate for media freedom in Rwanda as stipulated by Articles 2, 3, 4, 15 and 21 of the Law Regulating Media in Rwanda. Done at Kigali on June 09, 2015 CLEOPHAS BARORE Ag. Chairman RWANDA MEDIA COMMISSION