[wanabidii] Africa: Exercise of the Right to Freedom of Expression in the Democratic Republic of Congo

You are subscribed to Africa for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Africa: Exercise of the Right to Freedom of Expression in the Democratic Republic of Congo 02/18/2016 06:39 PM EST Exercise of the Right to Freedom of Expression in the Democratic Republic of Congo Press Statement John Kirby Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs Washington, DC February 18, 2016 The United States is troubled by the harassment and detention of peaceful activists and opposition leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including those detained in connection with this week’s general strike. These detentions stifle the free expression of diverse political viewpoints, contributing to a closing of political space while undermining the credibility of the Government of the DRC during the electoral period. We have raised our concerns with DRC authorities, and we call on the government to respect the freedoms enshrined in its own Constitution, which was promulgated 10 years ago today. We also call on the DRC to honor its international human rights obligations and immediately release all those being detained or, short of that, accord them the protections and fair trial guarantees to which they are entitled. Criminalizing dissent and demonstration violates the DRC's Constitution and threatens the legacy President Kabila has endeavored to build. We further underscore the need for all political stakeholders to exercise their rights peacefully and encourage leaders to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric that incites violence. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:   External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520