Return-Path: Received: from host.oil.ca ([206.186.236.1]) by mailin05.sul.t-online.de with esmtp id 12J082-1DWwtMc; Thu, 10 Feb 2000 21:23:54 +0100 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by host.oil.ca (8.9.3/8.9.3) id OAA21293 for amnesty-l.list; Thu, 10 Feb 2000 14:31:51 -0500 X-Authentication-Warning: host.oil.ca: majordom set sender to owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca using -f Received: from amnesty.oil.ca (IDENT:root@amnesty.oil.ca [206.186.236.10]) by host.oil.ca (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA21287 for ; Thu, 10 Feb 2000 14:31:45 -0500 From: amnesty@amnesty.oil.ca Received: (from amnesty@localhost) by amnesty.oil.ca (8.9.3/8.8.7) id KAA17511 for amnesty-L@oil.ca; Thu, 10 Feb 2000 10:57:55 -0500 Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 10:57:55 -0500 Message-Id: <200002101557.KAA17511@amnesty.oil.ca> To: amnesty-L@oil.ca Subject: CONGO(DRC): 61 people face imminent execution Sender: owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca Precedence: bulk Reply-To: owner-amnesty-l@host.oil.ca * News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * News Service: 028/00 AI INDEX: AFR 62/06/00 10 February 2000 Democratic Republic of Congo 61 people face imminent execution Sixty one people on death row in Kinshasa may soon be executed, despite assurances given to an Amnesty International delegation in August 1999 by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that a moratorium on executions was in place. Amnesty International urges President Laurent-Désiré Kabila to grant a presidential pardon sparing the lives of the 61 prisoners on death row and to impose an immediate and binding moratorium on any further executions. Many of the 61 men, who are on death row at the Centre pénitentiaire et de réeducation de Kinshasa (CPRK), Kinshasa Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre, were reportedly convicted by a military court known as the Cour d’ordre militaire (COM), Military Order Court, of violent offences, including murder and armed robbery. At least one of them, Kasilibani Kabamba, was reportedly found guilty of treason. The court’s proceedings have consistently contravened both international standards for fair trial and United Nations standards protecting the rights of those facing the death penalty. Its statute prohibits appeal to a higher jurisdiction, leaving defendants with no opportunity to challenge convictions and sentences, except to appeal for presidential clemency. "Despite the government's pledge to halt executions, these 61 men now face an imminent appearance before the firing squad after being convicted by a military court in proceedings that contravene international standards of fair trial," Amnesty International said. According to sources in Kinshasa the 61 prisoners have been moved from Block (pavillon) Six to Block Two of the CPRK. Other death row prisoners are reported to have been moved to Block Two before they were executed. "The DRC government must stand by its declaration of June 1999 to the United Nations that it would abolish the death penalty and its declaration to Amnesty International in July and August 1999 that it would also abolish the military court," the organization stressed. "In a country ravaged by conflict, further state-sanctioned killing and other repressive measures can only exacerbate the already dire human rights situation." Background Although the COM was set up in 1997 to try soldiers accused of military offences, it has also tried civilians accused of political and economic offences, many of whom are political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. It has sentenced hundreds of people to death, of whom up to 200 have been executed. No executions are known to have taken place between July 1999 and 28 January 2000. However, nineteen other prisoners were executed in and around Kinshasa between 28 January and 2 February 2000. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a violation of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. ENDS.../ Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom **************************************************************** You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the list subscription message may be removed. **************************************************************** To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe, send a message to with "unsubscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact . handles only messages concerning list administration. Past and current Amnesty news services can be found at . Visit for information about Amnesty International and for other AI publications. Contact amnestyis@amnesty.org if you need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty International.