The government has finally backed down and Jean-Claude is a free man. Nkurunziza tried to silence the truth with a jail cell but he failed. We will keep watching their every move to ensure no other journalist pays for doing their job.
The Burundian journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, an ardent critic of corruption and human rights abuse in his country, was arrested in September 2008 after questioning President Nkurunziza's expenditure at the Beijing Olympics.
Kavumbagu’s news agency says that he spent $90,000. Nkurunziza’s government claims it was about half that figure, and has jailed Jean-Claude on a charge of “defamation” simply for saying otherwise. The average income in Burundi is $700 a year.
Amnesty International has taken up the case, listing Jean-Claude as “a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.”
Jean-Claude Kavumbagu has been an active supporter of efforts to secure justice over the December 2000 "Titanic Express" massacre and many others like it. While the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity remain unpunished, a courageous independent journalist is languishing in jail.
We urge the international donor community, including the UK government and the European Union, to stand up for freedom and justice in Burundi, and press for Jean-Claude's unconditional release.
The momentum behind this call for justice is gaining speed while the Burundian government continues to keep an innocent man in a cell. Nkurunziza thinks he can bury the truth about his corruption by silencing journalists but he is dead wrong. We are forcing the international community to acknowledge this disgrace and we will not let up until Jean-Claude is free.
Reached 100 supporters
November 4, 2008
6 Comments
E
Elena Jimenez
17 years ago
Featured
So much for freedom of the press. This makes me sick.
R
Rachel Pratt
17 years ago
Featured
Keep locking up the brave ones and see where that gets the country. Free Jean-Claude!
D
David Delgado
17 years ago
Featured
LET HIM GO. He did his job as a journalist while the real criminals walk free.
J
James Webster
17 years ago
Featured
His only crime was doing real journalism in a place that clearly doesnt want it. Shame on the government.
M
Mark Frost
17 years ago
Featured
The world is watching. Corruption needs to stop and people shouldnt be punished for pointing out the obvious.
S
Sarah Palmer
17 years ago
Featured
Ridiculous to jail a man for telling the truth. Free him now.
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The government has finally backed down and Jean-Claude is a free man. Nkurunziza tried to silence the truth with a jail cell but he failed. We will keep watching their every move to ensure no other journalist pays for doing their job.
The Burundian journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, an ardent critic of corruption and human rights abuse in his country, was arrested in September 2008 after questioning President Nkurunziza's expenditure at the Beijing Olympics.
Kavumbagu’s news agency says that he spent $90,000. Nkurunziza’s government claims it was about half that figure, and has jailed Jean-Claude on a charge of “defamation” simply for saying otherwise. The average income in Burundi is $700 a year.
Amnesty International has taken up the case, listing Jean-Claude as “a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.”
Jean-Claude Kavumbagu has been an active supporter of efforts to secure justice over the December 2000 "Titanic Express" massacre and many others like it. While the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity remain unpunished, a courageous independent journalist is languishing in jail.
We urge the international donor community, including the UK government and the European Union, to stand up for freedom and justice in Burundi, and press for Jean-Claude's unconditional release.
The momentum behind this call for justice is gaining speed while the Burundian government continues to keep an innocent man in a cell. Nkurunziza thinks he can bury the truth about his corruption by silencing journalists but he is dead wrong. We are forcing the international community to acknowledge this disgrace and we will not let up until Jean-Claude is free.
Reached 100 supporters
November 4, 2008
6 Comments
E
Elena Jimenez
17 years ago
Featured
So much for freedom of the press. This makes me sick.
R
Rachel Pratt
17 years ago
Featured
Keep locking up the brave ones and see where that gets the country. Free Jean-Claude!
D
David Delgado
17 years ago
Featured
LET HIM GO. He did his job as a journalist while the real criminals walk free.
J
James Webster
17 years ago
Featured
His only crime was doing real journalism in a place that clearly doesnt want it. Shame on the government.
M
Mark Frost
17 years ago
Featured
The world is watching. Corruption needs to stop and people shouldnt be punished for pointing out the obvious.
S
Sarah Palmer
17 years ago
Featured
Ridiculous to jail a man for telling the truth. Free him now.
So much for freedom of the press. This makes me sick.