Pro-Democracy Activists Arbitrarily Detained : UA 39.18)

Pro-democracy activists Rachel Pilipili, Francois Kahombo Hangi, Justin Mutabesha, Benjamin Kamuntu and Parfait Muhani have been in arbitrary detention since 21 January. They have alleged that they were beaten in the first five days of their detention by security officers. The five were arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Goma.

Pro-democracy activists Rachel Pilipili, Francois Kahombo Hangi, Justin Mutabesha, Benjamin Kamuntu and Parfait Muhani have been in arbitrary detention since 21 January. They have alleged that they were beaten in the first five days of their detention by security officers. The five were arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Goma. 1) TAKE ACTION Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:

• Urging the Congolese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ms Rachel Pilipili, Mr Francois Kahombo Hangi, Mr Justin Mutabesha, Mr Benjamin Kamuntu, and Mr Parfait Muhani detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly;
• Urging them to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations that the pro-democracy activists were beaten in detention and hold to account those found responsible, in line with international standards;
• Calling on them to ensure that the five are not subjected to further torture or other ill-treatment;
• Urging them to respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and end the harassment of human rights activists including through arbitrary arrests and arbitrary detention.

Contact these two officials by 2 April, 2018:

Minister of Justice Monsieur Alexis Thambwe Mwamba Ministère de la Justice 228 Avenue de Lemera BP 3137 Kinshasa-Gombe DRC Email: [email protected] Salutation: Honourable Minister

Ambassador François Nkuna Balumuene, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1100 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 725 Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel: 202.234.7690 I Fax: 202.234.2609 Email: [email protected] Salutation: Dear Ambassador

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