Document - République démocratique du Congo. Détention au secret / Craintes de torture et d'autres formes de mauvais traitements. Défenseurs des droits humains : Floribert Chebeya Bahizire ; Dolly Inefo Mbunga ; Donat Tshikaya. Nouvelle personne menacée : Coco Tanda

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 62/007/2009

18 March 2009

Further Information on UA 78/09 (AFR 62/006/2009, 16 March 2009) Incommunicado detention/ Fear of torture and other ill-treatment

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC Dolly Inefo Mbunga (m), ]

OF CONGO (DRC) Floribert Chebeya Bahizire (m) ] human rights defenders

Donat Tshikaya (m) ]

New name: Coco Tanda (m) - journalist

Human rights defenders Floribert Chebeya, Dolly Ibefo Mbunga and Donat Tshikaya, of the human rights organizations Voix des Sans Voix(VSV) and the Réseau National des ONGs des droits de l’homme (RENADHOC) were released on the evening of 17 March, together with a journalist, Coco Tanda, who had been arrested with them.

The men were badly beaten at the time of their arrest on 15 March and threatened with a revolver, allegedly by agents of the Agence Nationale de Renseignements(ANR), National Intelligence Agency, before being transferred to police custody. The men are in the process of being seen by doctors.

Pressure from the national and international human rights community appears to have been decisive in securing their release.

No further action by the UA Network is required. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.