Authorities in Burundi reportedly intimidated and attacked the independent news outlet and two journalists over critical reporting of the state\u2019s affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday (17 June) called on the Burundian authorities to desist from intimidating the independent news outlet Iwacu Press Group and swiftly investigate recent police attacks on two of the outlet\u2019s journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iwacu received a letter on June 6 from Burundi\u2019s media regulator, known by its French acronym CNC, accusing the outlet of professional failings in recent political reporting, including imbalance and failure to check sources\u2019 credibility, according to a report published by the outlet and a copy of the letter reviewed by CPJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warning came a day after two police officers attempted to detain Pascal Ntakirutimana, a journalist in charge of Iwacu\u2019s political reporting, in the economic capital, Bujumbura, according to news reports and a report by the outlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an opinion article published after the incident, Iwacu founder Antoine Kaburahe said that the incident did not follow \u201clegal avenues\u201d and likened it to a \u201cnocturnal kidnapping\u201d using \u201cgangster methods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On May 22, a senior police officer assaulted Iwacu reporter Jean-No\u00ebl Manirakiza at a restaurant in the country\u2019s political capital, Gitenga, according to news reports, including by Iwacu and a statement sent to CPJ by the outlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIwacu is a bastion of Burundian journalism, and these series of alarming incidents raise concern for the ongoing safety of its journalists,\u201d said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo, in Nairobi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAuthorities should credibly investigate the reports that police officers physically attacked journalists Pascal Ntakirutimana and Jean-No\u00ebl Manirakiza, and the media regulator should desist from intimidating the media outlet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CNC letter cited three reports as illustrations of Iwacu\u2019s alleged professional failings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A May 24 report, in which Ntakirutimana interviewed a political scientist who accused Burundi\u2019s ruling CNDD-FDD party of undermining democracy and running a de facto one-party state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[A]s always, the CNC has not provided any further information on how Iwacu\u2019s reports allegedly breach the law and regulations. Nor has it specified what action it intends to take against Iwacu,\u201d the outlet said in a statement emailed to CPJ. \u201cBut we regard this warning as a yellow card (in football), the second card would lead to suspension.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around 7 p.m. on June 5, Ntakirutimana got out of a taxi near his home when a white pickup truck approached, and two uniformed police officers got out and tried to grab the journalist and put him in the truck. Ntakirutimana got away but lost his phone in the scuffle, and the officers then drove away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On May 22, a police officer threatened Manirakiza, telling him, \u201cWe are following closely and we know everything you write\u201d and physically assaulted him, including by slapping him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The senior police officer ordered other officers who were with him to confiscate Manirakiza\u2019s bag, which contained a laptop, camera, recorder, press card, power bank, notebooks, and pens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bag was returned a day later, following the intervention of the CNC, according to a report by Iwacu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CNC and its chairperson Vestine Nahimana, security ministry spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye, and police spokesperson D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Nduwimana did not respond to CPJ\u2019s queries sent via messaging application and email, requesting comment on the attacks on the two journalists and the warning letter to Iwacu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Authorities in Burundi reportedly intimidated and attacked the independent news outlet and two journalists over critical reporting of the state\u2019s affairs. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday (17 June) called on the Burundian authorities to desist from intimidating the independent news outlet Iwacu Press Group and swiftly investigate recent police attacks on two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n