Urgent Action for Prisoner of Conscience in DRC

A brief but important diversion from the usual genocide-related fair:

Amnesty International and Frontline Defenders issued urgent action alerts on behalf of a human rights defender standing trial on bogus charges in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). (I would take "Democratic" with a grain of salt.)

Golden Misabiko, president of the human rights organization Association Africaine de defense des Droits de l'Homme in Katanga province (ASADHO/Katanga), was arrested in July for "threatening state security," following a report tying the government to illegal uranium mining.

The country's abundant natural resources are a cash cow for anyone who can get their hands on them, and play a substantial role in fueling conflict and a litany of egregious abuses against civilians in the DRC. (The sector is also, for instance, a hotbed of human trafficking.) The ASADHO report also alleges that the government of the DRC intends to sell the uranium to North Korea --- a serious charge and cause for concern, by any stretch of the imagination.

The full text of the Amnesty appeal is copied below, complete email and snail mail addresses of relevant officials for those willing to take a few minutes to write an appeal. (Anyone else amused that the president and ministry officials have Yahoo accounts?) Spam away, I say.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Golden Misabiko, President, Association Africaine de defense des Droits de l'Homme

Human rights defender Golden Misabiko's trial will begin on 19 August. He is charged with "threatening state security," because his organization published a report alleging state complicity in illegal mining at a uranium mine.

Golden Misabiko was arrested on 24 July. He has been detained since then at the Prosecutor's Office under a 15-day extension of pre-trial detention requested by the Prosecutor for further investigations. On 3 August, the High Court rejected his lawyers' appeal to release him on bail. Golden Misabiko still has to sleep outdoors on a cardboard box to avoid the crowded and unsanitary conditions of the main holding cell.

Golden Misabiko is the President of the human rights organization Association Africaine de defense des Droits de l'Homme in Katanga province (ASADHO/Katanga). The Prosecutor's Office has steadfastly refused to drop the charges against him, announcing on 12 August that he would be sent for trial at the Lubumbashi Magistrates Court (Tribunal de Paix), on a charge of "threatening state security," under Article 199 of the Congolese Criminal Code. The prosecution claimed that by publishing the contested report, ASADHO-Katanga, through Golden Misabiko, was effectively seeking to stir up the population of Katanga against the provincial authorities. However, Amnesty International considers Golden Misabiko a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his peaceful activities in defence of human rights.

The government appears determined to intimidate human rights defenders into silence.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since Golden Misabiko was arrested, a coalition of national and local NGOs have organized support for him, with regular visits to him in custody, and several peaceful demonstrations demanding his release and an end to illicit operation of the Shinkolobwe uranium mine. Relations between NGOs from Katanga province and the Ministry of Human Rights deteriorated on 13 August when, during a meeting with a Ministry adviser, a collective of provincial NGOs protested against the lack of support from the Ministry for Golden Misabiko, and to protest against the blatant curtailment of their freedom of expression.

Article 16 of the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders states that human rights defenders have an important role to play in contributing to making the public more aware of questions relating to all human rights and fundamental freedoms, notably through research. The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights also secures the right to freedom of expression, particularly important for human rights defenders.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- Demanding that the authorities release Golden Misabiko immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience detained solely for his lawful human rights work;
- Urging them to guarantee Golden Misabiko's right to freedom of expression, including the right to conduct research, publish and disseminate, by himself or through ASADHO/Katanga, human rights information, a principle recognized by the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

APPEALS TO:
President
Son Excellence Joseph Kabila
President de la Republique
Palais de la Nation
Avenue de Lemera
Kinshasa-Gombe
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
E-mail:       presipp@yahoo.fr
Salutation: Dear President Kabila/Son Excellence Monsieur le President

Justice Minister
Luzolo Bambi Lessa
Ministere de la Justice
228 Avenue de Lemera
BP 3137
Kinshasa-Gombe
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
E-mail:       pourtous.justice@yahoo.fr
Salutation: Dear Minister / Monsieur le Ministre

Governor of Katanga
Moise Katumbi Chapwe
Please leave a message on the Governor's official website: www.katanga.cd/misc/contact.php
Salutation: Dear Governor / Monsieur le Gouverneur

COPIES TO:
Ambassador Faida Mitifu
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo
1726 M St, NW
Suite 601
Washington, DC 20036
Tel:         202 234 7690
Fax:        202 234 2609

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 11 September 2009.

----------------------------------
Tip of the Month:
Write as soon as you can. Try to write as close as possible
to the date a case is issued.

** POSTAGE RATES **
Within the United States:
$0.28 - Postcards $0.44 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)
To all other destination countries:
$0.98 - Postcards
$0.98 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)

Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement
that promotes and defends human rights.

This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including
contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
Thank you for your help with this appeal.

Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl
Washington DC 20003
Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.544.0200
Fax: 202.675.8566