Document - Democratic Republic of Congo: Pascal Kabungulu: still no justice for his murder

Web Action WA 20/06; AI Index AFR 62/016/2006

Start date: 24/07/06

Web Publisher Category: HRD

Pascal Kabungulu: still no justice for his murder

Last July, a group of armed men killed Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi at his home. He was one of the DRC’s leading human rights defenders, often coming into conflict with government authorities and armed groups. His killers have not been brought to justice.

Tell the DRC government you want justice for the murder.

Mimi ninaliya, uruma I am crying for you (Our hearts ache)

Kwa uchungu, uruma for all the suffering.

Kwa kuona, uruma To see

Ginsi wameuwa, uruma how they kill

Wa défenseurs des droits humains, uruma human rights defenders. (Our hearts ache)

Extract from a lament song for Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, written and performed by human rights group SOFAD All-Stars.
Listen to the song

A group of armed men killed Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi in the early hours of 31 July 2005. He was at his home in Bukavu in eastern the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Pascal was one of the DRC’s leading human rights defenders. As Executive Secretary of Héritiers de la Justice, his work brought him into conflict with government authorities and armed groups - both of which have committed war crimes and other serious human rights abuses.

After an investigation into Pascal’s murder, a number of soldiers were arrested and a military tribunal opened in late November 2005. It was suspended after two weeks, when evidence emerged that more senior political and military figures may have been involved in the killing.

The ruling of the military tribunal was that a higher military court had to hear the case, but no date has been announced for the new trial. Although an army colonel was indicted by the military tribunal on suspicion of involvement in the killing, he has not been suspended from duty and remains free.

After Pascal’s murder last year, his wife and six children were forced to flee the country. Still, the killers have not been brought to justice.

[Call to action]

Write to the President of the DRC to ask for justice for Pascal Kabungulu’s murder, and for protection of human rights defenders in the DRC.

[Sample letter]

Dear President Kabila,

One year after the killing of human rights defender Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, I am appealing to you to ensure that his alleged killers are promptly brought to justice in a trial which is fully independent, complies with internationally recognized standards of fair trial and which does not include recourse to the death penalty.

With Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi’s death, the DRC lost one of its most courageous and compassionate human rights campaigners. Ensuring that his killers are at last brought to justice is crucial in the fight against impunity in your country and for the protection of other Congolese human rights defenders who regularly face threats and physical attack.

I urge you to ensure that the DRC authorities implement the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, by taking all necessary measures to ensure that human rights activists are protected against “violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action”.

Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi’s concern was to help build a society in which human rights and justice are respected, protected and promoted. I urge you to do all in your power to ensure that this noble aim is fulfilled.

Yours faithfully,

[Target contact details]

Son Excellence Joseph KABILA,

Président de la République,

Palais de la Nation,

Kinshasa Ngaliema,

République Démocratique du Congo.

E-mail: presipp@yahoo.fr

Take another action!

Write a short message to Héritiers de la Justice expressing your sympathy to Pascal’s colleagues and family, and your solidarity with their work.

Roger Muchuba Buhereko

Héritiers de la Justice