C64 Members Arrested Kindu: Coalition Issues Release Demand

• Four members of the Coalition Article 64 (C64) have been detained in Kindu, Maniema, since September 11.
• The C64 asserts the arrests occurred during a public awareness campaign for a planned September 15 demonstration and denounced them as arbitrary.
• Senator Salomon Idi Kalonda of Haut-Katanga publicly condemned the restrictions on freedoms and demanded the release of the detainees, identifying them as Ensemble pour la République members.
• Both C64 and Senator Kalonda state the arrests were linked to mobilization efforts for an opposition march.
• The C64 continues to demand unconditional release and calls for adherence to constitutional rights and laws.

The C64 members arrested Kindu release demand serves as a critical indicator of the state of democratic freedoms.

Four individuals affiliated with the Coalition Article 64 (C64) have been held in detention in Kindu, located in the Maniema province, since Friday, September 11. According to the coalition, these C64 members were arrested in Kindu while actively engaged in a public awareness campaign, which was part of the preparations for a planned demonstration scheduled for September 15.

The detention of these activists was publicly announced on Saturday during a press conference hosted by the leadership of the C64 platform. During this event, the coalition vehemently condemned what it described as "arbitrary arrests" and issued a firm demand for the immediate release of their colleagues. Furthermore, the C64 urged authorities to uphold public freedoms and ensure the safety of all participants intending to join the upcoming march.

The arrests quickly drew a strong reaction from Senator Salomon Idi Kalonda, who is a Senator for Haut-Katanga. In a message posted on his X account, Senator Kalonda sharply criticized the perceived restrictions on public liberties. He specifically called for the release of the detainees, whom he identified as members of the Ensemble pour la République party.

Senator Kalonda's account of the arrests aligns with the C64's narrative, stating that the four activists were taken into custody while mobilizing the local population for an opposition march. This demonstration, organized by the Coalition Article 64, was slated to take place on September 15. The C64 has consistently maintained that its members were unjustly arrested and continues to reiterate its demand for their unconditional release, emphasizing the need for authorities to respect the nation's laws and constitutional guarantees.

The Coalition Article 64's characterization of these detentions as "arbitrary arrests" underscores a significant concern regarding the rule of law and fundamental rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The coalition's repeated calls for authorities to adhere to the Republic's laws and to guarantee the exercise of constitutionally enshrined rights and freedoms highlight the perceived legal transgressions.

These Maniema political arrests involving C64 members, particularly in the context of mobilizing for a public demonstration, bring into sharp focus the constitutional protections for freedom of assembly and expression. The demand for release following these arrests is not merely a political plea but also a legal challenge to actions that C64 asserts are in direct violation of the country's foundational legal principles.

The detention of these Coalition Article 64 members in Kindu, and the subsequent demand for their release, carries significant implications for the political landscape and civil liberties within the DRC, particularly in Maniema province. Such incidents can create a chilling effect on political activism and the ability of opposition groups to freely organize and express dissent.

This situation underscores the ongoing challenges to freedom of assembly in Kindu and the broader DRC. For legal professionals, these events signal potential violations of constitutional rights, which could influence advice for clients involved in political or civil society activities, or those assessing political risk in the region. The C64 members arrested Kindu release demand serves as a critical indicator of the state of democratic freedoms.

Lawyers should monitor these arrests as they indicate potential violations of constitutional rights to assembly and expression in the DRC, which could impact advice for clients involved in political or civil society activities, or those assessing political risk in Maniema.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Okapi