2011: Burundi: Jean-Claude Kavumbagu
Président de la République Pierre Nkurunziza
Présidence de la République
Boulevard de l’Uprona
Rohero I
BP 1870
Bujumbura
Burundi
8th January 2011
Monsieur le Président
Online editor jailed for treason
The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International (WiPC) protests the continuing detention of Jean-Claude Kavumbagu, editor of the online press agency Net Press, who was arrested on 17 July 2010. He is charged with treason on the basis of an article in which he suggested that the Burundian security forces would not be able to defend the country in the event of a terrorist attack. The WiPC believes that Kavumbagu is being held in violation of his right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Burundi is a state party. It is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
Yours sincerely
Annaguli Yildam,
Member of Norwegian PEN, WiPC
