#FreeFred #FreeYves – Youth Activists Illegally Arrested in the Congo
- by: Pragmora
- recipient: Democratic Republic of Congo
On March 15, youth activists Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala were illegally arrested in Kinshasa as they attended a workshop encouraging the peaceful engagement of youth in political and electoral processes.
The European Union, US, UK, and the United Nations, plus Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and more than 200 other rights groups in the Congo and around the world have called for an end to extrajudicial arrests in the Congo, and support the immediate and unconditional release of these two young men.
And yet, Fred and Yves remain in prison.
The release of Fred and Yves is about the basic human rights of two brave young people.
But it is also about peace and democracy. If the Congo is to arrive at long-term peace and democracy, then freedom of assembly and freedom of speech must be respected, and the extrajudicial arrests of opposition voices must end. Add your voice to the global campaign to #FreeFred and #FreeYves today! To learn more, visit the Pragmora website.
On April 28, 2015, the special Commission of the Congo's National Assembly found no evidence against these Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala and recommended that you release them. And yet, in spite of the absence of evidence, these young pro-democracy activists remain in Makala prison in Kinshasa.
We join the United Nations, the governments of the United Kingdom and European Union, and the many Congolese and international organization in expressing our deep concern about the growing pattern of arbitrary arrest and detention in the DR Congo. Under Congolese law, citizens have the right to freedom of expression, and freedom to assemble and demonstrate peacefully.
We are concerned that this silencing of diverse voices today will undermine the ability of the Congo to hold credible, free and fair federal and presidential elections next year.
Canada supports the individual human rights of Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambal. We also have a strong interest in a stable democracy in the DR Congo for the benefit of all Congolese citizens. A stable democracy is the foundation for peace, economic stability and foreign investment.
Cc:
His Excellency President Joseph Kabila
His Excellency Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo
The Honourable Aubin Minaku, President of the Parliamentary National Assembly
Ambassador Ginette Martin, Canada's Ambassador to the DR Congo
The Honourable Alexis Tambwe Mwanba, Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Mise à jour sur la '#FreeFred #FreeYves' Campagne mondiale. Cliquez ici pour voir ce que vous pouvez faire de plus pour contribuer à la libération de Fred et Yves et à soutenir la démocratie en République démocratique du Congo: www.pragmora.com/takeaction/drcongo/rdcongo
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