Rights groups call for release of prisoners

The Human Rights Watch Academic Freedom Committee, in an open letter to President Laurent-Desire Kabila, has expressed its "grave concern" over the arrest and continued detention of University of Lubumbashi sociolinguistics Professor Kambaj wa Kambaji. A statement received by IRIN on Monday called for the immediate release of Kambaji, whose arrest on 29 July "appears to be directly related to the government's seizure from his home of student essays criticising the use of ethnic hate-speech in political discourse in Katanga." The arrest represented a "step in the wrong direction" for any long-term resolution of the region's conflicts, Jonathan Fanton, co-chair of the Committee, was quoted as saying in the statement. Meanwhile, Amnesty International on Friday called for the release of "prisoner of conscience" Laurent Kantu Lumpungu, president of the Association des cadres penitentiares, who has been held without charge since 29 May. A statement received by IRIN said Amnesty delegates, during their recent visit to Kinshasa, had been informed that Lumpungu's case would be referred to the Military Order Court, which offers no recourse for appeal and was "gradually eroding standard civilian and military jurisdiction."