© AFP – ALEXIS HUGUET
Lucha activists protest in Butembo on December 27, 2018. (Illustrative image)
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), thirteen activists from the Fight for Change (La Lucha) movement – twelve boys and a girl – were sentenced on Friday, April 1, to twelve months in prison and 125 dollars in fine, by a military court in Beni, in the east of the country.
The thirteen Lucha activists were arrested on November 11 during a prohibited protest march against the extension of the state of siege in the province of North Kivu. Established in May 2021 in two provinces, this state of siege gave full powers to the military.
Deliberate for two and a half months
The verdict had been under advisement for two and a half months. Their comrades intend to continue to demand their release, as explained to RFI, Ghislain Muhiwa, a member of Lucha.
« We are very dismayed by the condemnation of our comrades who have just served nearly five months in prison, unjustly. For us it is an unjust condemnation. It is a condemnation which tries rather to demonstrate to what extent the state of siege is an instrument to restrict individual freedoms but also to continue to frighten all the voices of citizens who try to rise up to denounce the massacres. »
La Lucha will appeal
All we ask for is the outright release of our comrades and we signal here that we will appeal. Of course, the sentencing situation must have an impact on their morale, but we continue, all together, in communion, to be in solidarity. There are many comrades, at the national level, who are in solidarity with them and we will continue to demand the releases with all the means at our disposal so that they are released as soon as possible. »
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