Burundi journalist released

2006-10-30 18:41

Bujumbura - A Burundi journalist sentenced to five months in prison for inciting unrest and defamation through comments made over drinks at a pub was released on Monday after completing his term.

Aloys Kabura, a reporter for the state-run Burundi News Agency (Agence Burundaise de Presse), said he pleased to be free, but slammed authorities for his initial arrest and conviction, which he suggested were political.

"I am very glad to be free... all the more so as I have just gone through a very unjust ordeal since being convicted after an illegal and irregular arrest," he said after being released from custody.

"I was arrested and imprisoned on trumped-up accusations that there were other reasons for," said Kabura, adding that he had apparently angered powerful people for expressing his opinions about Burundi's security forces.

Verdict drew heavy criticism

In September, a Bujumbura court convicted and sentenced Kabura to five months in prison, including time served since his arrest in late May, for "rebellion" and "defamatory statements" uttered in a pub.

The verdict drew immediate and heavy criticism from press freedom and human rights watchdogs that expressed deep concern about the state of democracy in Burundi, which is still recovering from a bloody 13-year civil war.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders called the verdict "outrageous and sickening" in some of the strongest comments made.

Kabura was detained after criticising police for an April incident in which they held about 20 journalists for hours and beat up others during a news conference at a politician's home.

Since coming to power last year as part of a peace process aimed at ending the conflict that has claimed about 300 000 lives, Burundi's power-sharing government has come under heavy criticism for graft and rights abuses.

- SAPA