HRW demands release of key opposition politician

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday demanded the "prompt release" of Uganda's leading opposition politician, Kizza Besigye, a day after he was arrested and charged with treason and rape. The New York-based human rights watchdog challenged the Uganda government to prove that Besigye's arrest was "not politically motivated", adding that he "should be promptly granted bail and provided with a fair trial". Besigye, widely seen as President Yoweri Museveni's major challenger in presidential elections due in 2006, returned to Uganda three weeks ago from four years of self-imposed exile in South Africa. He had, since his homecoming, attracted large crowds to his political rallies. "If the government denies him bail, it will reinforce the perception that it has pressed capital charges against him to prevent him from campaigning for president," said Jemera Rone, the HRW researcher in charge of Uganda. Leaders from Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, along with hundreds of supporters gathered on Tuesday afternoon at a court house in the capital, Kampala, where he appeared for mention of his case. Riot police and military personnel were deployed in the city and battled with rioters, some of whom had started looting. HRW called on the Ugandan authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with the people protesting Besigye's arrest. It also called on his supporters and other political parties to prevent violence. An umbrella body of six opposition groups - the so-called G-6 - said Besigye's arrest was an "act of cowardice [and] fear of legitimate opposition, democratic free and fair elections" on the part of the government. Besigye, they said, had been taken into custody on "trumped up charges - aimed at intimidating credible opposition". Later on Tuesday, Besigye was committed to the high court for trial. The summary of evidence alleges that between 2001 and 2003, he plotted to overthrow the Ugandan government from various places in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. "Besigye during the month of November 1997 at Luzira in Kampala district had unlawful carnal knowledge of Joanita Kyakuwa without her consent," the rape charge read. The alleged rape victim got pregnant and Besigye helped her get an obortion, according to the charge. She later tested positive for the HIV virus, it added. Under Ugandan law, suspects charged with capital offences can be held for 360 days before they are entitled to bail. "These provisions are inconsistent with Uganda's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," HRW said. "The principle of innocent until proven guilty is of vital importance in this politically charged environment," said Rone. "The security services must respect the right of Ugandans to protest this arrest."