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Article

6 Nov 2019

Author:
RIAO-RDC, Farm Land Grab

Harassment and arbitrary arrests of land defenders in the DRC

Community leaders and traditional chiefs in areas affected by the plantations of Canadian company PHC-Feronia in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to suffer... human rights violations committed by the company and its accomplices in the Congolese state services. On...25 and 26 October 2019, Mr. Mongulu Boyoha Alphonse and his son Bonyonge Gabuy were kidnapped at night in their community of Mwingi, Lokutu District, Tshopo Province by men in uniform from the provincial capital Kisangani, operating under the mandate of the Attorney General, following a complaint from PHC-Feronia for reasons that are not yet known... Mr. Mongulu Boyoha is a member of the non-governmental organisation RIAO-RDC and a land defender... Mr. Mongulu Boyoha was accused of stealing palm nuts from PHC-Feronia's plantations, a charge that is often used by the local police and PHC-Feronia... During his hearing...Mongulu Boyoha acknowledged that he is a member of RIAO-RDC... RIAO-RDC condemns...these violent threats against its members. This intimidation, attacks and harassment of members of an officially recognised human rights organisation follows a series of arrests of seven other RIAO-RDC members or community leaders...between 12-15 September 2019... RIAO-RDC and its international partners demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Mongulu Boyoha, his son and the seven other members of RIAO-RDC...