DRC: MP in prison for criticizing President Tshisekedi
The People's Palace, the Congolese parliament (Illustration).
RFI / Habibou Bangré
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the deputy Jean-Bosco Assamba, from the pro-Tshisekedi Union sacrée coalition, was arrested on Sunday June 27 and charged with contempt of the president on the basis of remarks made two months ago in Bunia, capital of Ituri.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa
,
Pascal Mulegwa
This is the first time that a politician has been concerned by military justice since the establishment of the state of siege in force in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.
He was transferred to Bunia central prison on Monday.
His relatives denounce political repression.
The deputy was first apprehended by the intelligence service because wanted for not having honored a summons dated June 12 to the police.
He was then taken to the military prosecutor's office where he was confronted with comments made in a video that went viral on social networks.
In it, the deputy treats President Félix Tshisekedi as a "
liar
", alluding to his many broken promises in Ituri. "
Everything revolved around this video,"
says his lawyer Me Jean-Marie Ezadri
. He would be prosecuted for contempt of the Head of State. We ask ourselves the question in relation to the periodicity of this video. Was the video made when the state of siege had already been declared? We say no, because it was during a civil society activity that dates from April 23, when the state of siege was declared from May 6. To retroact the law decree on the state of siege to arrest the honorable in relation to his political opinion has not been convincing to us
. "
"
Immediate and unconditional release ...
"
The procedure was short because in this period of state of siege, the provincial assemblies are neutralized.
Members temporarily lose their immunity.
Lamuka's spokesperson in Ituri Luc Malembe sees it as a repression: “
We want to silence the people who criticize Mr. Tshisekedi, his chaotic governance, the state of siege which is slow to produce effects.
And that is unacceptable, even his own party abandoned him and I demand his immediate and unconditional release.
"
The RDPR party opened disciplinary action against its cadre for two weeks.
This political formation ensures that it is “
neither closely nor remotely concerned
” or in solidarity with the words of the deputy.
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