• Urgent Action

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Release Bienvenu Matumo, Marcel Heritier Kambale Kapitene, and Victor Tesongo (UA 36/16)

February 18, 2016

 
Bienvenu Matumo, Marcel Heritier Kambale Kapitene, members of Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA), and another activist Victor Tesongo were sentenced by the Peace Tribunal of Kinshasa/Gombe to a year in prison and fined 100,000 Congolese Franc each (approximately 100 USD). The Peace Tribunal made the decision on 20 May. Their lawyers will appeal this decision.

 
Bienvenu Matumo, Marcel Heritier Kambale Kapitene, members of Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA), and another activist Victor Tesongo were sentenced by the Peace Tribunal of Kinshasa/Gombe to a year in prison and fined 100,000 Congolese Franc each (approximately 100 USD). The Peace Tribunal made the decision on 20 May. Their lawyers will appeal this decision. The three youth activists had been charged with “spreading rumours” and “incitement to disobedience”. 
 
1) Please write immediately in French or your own language:
  • Calling upon the DRC authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Bienvenu Matumo, Marcel Heritier Kambale Kapitene, and Victor Tesongo; 
  • Urging the DRC authorities to ensure that the three are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment while in prison; 
  • Urging the DRC government to uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
2) For the full Urgent Action, including appeal addresses and further information, please click on the Word or PDF version below.
 
3) Please let us know if you took action so that we can track our impact!
  • EITHER send a short email to [email protected] with "UA 36/16" in the subject line, and include in the body of the email the number of letters and/or emails you sent, 
  • OR fill out this short online form to let us know how you took action.