Human Rights Watch urges DR Congo to free seven activists

Kinshasa (AFP) - Human Rights Watch has urged officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo to free seven political activists held by intelligence services and police.

"Authorities should immediately release seven peaceful activists who have been wrongfully detained, some since March 15, 2015," the New York-based international watchdog said in a statement released Wednesday.

"Security forces in the eastern city of Goma beat and otherwise mistreated demonstrators protesting government repression, including with water torture," the organisation added.

The DRC's National Intelligence Agency (ANR) made a wave of arrests in the capital Kinshasa on March 15, seizing people who had just attended a US-sponsored workshop of the Filimbi project, which aims to help youngsters become involved in democratic citizenship.

Security agents rounded up French journalists, a US diplomat, the French owner of the venue and visiting opposition activists from Senegal and Burkina Faso as well as dozens of Congolese, taking them all to ANR headquarters.

The American and French detainees were freed the same night, while the Burkinabe and Senegalese activists were expelled three days later, once Communications Minister Lambert Mende had accused them of belonging to a "subversive movement inspired from abroad" and plotting "violent acts".

- Allegations of mistreatment -

Three people still detained in Kinshasa include Fred Bauma, leader of the opposition Goma-based movement Struggle for Change (LUCHA), while four LUCHA militants have been held in Goma since a rally on April 7 to protest at the arrests in the capital.

The constitution stipulates that security forces may not hold suspects without charge for more than 48 hours and should then let them go or turn them over to the appropriate judicial authorities, HRW noted.

"They should immediately release the seven activists or charge them with a credible offence and investigate allegations of mistreatment," said Ida Sawyer, HRW's senior Africa researcher.

ANR director-general Kalev Mutondo told HRW "on April 10 that the three detainees in Kinshasa were being held as part of a 'security investigation', not a 'judicial investigation', presumably to permit their detention without the protections given criminal suspects," the statement said.

While Katombo said he had sent the public prosecutor's office a request to keep holding the activists, the national prosecutor told HRW he knew of no such request.

The activists in Goma have been charged with illegal "distribution of pamphlets, inciting a revolt and the organisation of an unauthorised march," according to authorities.

On March 27, the National Assembly, dominated by supporters of President Joseph Kabila, set up a commission to probe the prolonged detentions, but it is yet to release any findings.

"Congolese authorities should quickly reverse the repressive trend that is diverting Congo from the path towards credible elections," Sawyer said.

The giant, mineral-rich nation in central Africa is recovering from two successive wars, during which Kabila came to power in 2001, and many armed groups keep eastern provinces unstable.

Presidential and parliamentary polls are due in November next year. Opposition forces have already accused Kabila of seeking by devious means to ensure he gets a third mandate, rather than quit in line with the constitution.

"The arrests are part of a worsening crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly in advance of Congo's 2016 national elections," HRW commented.