| Notes |
Zahidi Arthur Ngoma, Ingele Ifoto, Justin Kampempe and Jean-Marie Lukudji were arrested on 25 November 1997 because of their political activities. Ingele Ifoto, Justin Kampempe and Jean-Marie Lukudji are held without charge at the Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation, (Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre), former Makala central prison, in Kinshasa. Zahidi Arthur Ngoma is held in Buluwo prison in Shaba province, in the Southeast of the country.
On 24 November 1997, Zahidi Arthur Ngoma, Ingele Ifoto, Justin Kampempe and Jean-Marie Lukudji had founded a new political movement, known as the Forces du futur (Forces of the Future). The following day, the organisers held a press conference at the house of the president of Forces du Futur, Zahidi Arthur Ngoma. After the press conference, the Police d'Intervention Rapide (PIR), Rapid Intervention Police broke into Zahidi Ngoma's house and arrested the leaders of Forces du Futur, together with several journalists and bystanders. All those arrested were beaten, some of them on their stomach and genitals.
While most of those arrested were released subsequently, the four leaders of the Forces du Futur remained in custody in Kinshasa and were charged with atteinte à la s
reté de l'Etat (endangering state security). The trial has not yet started.
On 30 January 1998, Zahidi Ngoma was transferred to Buluwo maximum security prison in Likasi, Shaba province. On 14 April 1998, the government announced that Zahidi Ngoma and two other well-known political prisoners had escaped from prison. Two days later, the Ministry of Interior stated that Zahidi Ngoma had been recaptured. However, this was not confirmed by the end of April 1998.
Before his arrest, Arthur Zahidi Ngoma was an employee of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The director of UNESCO announced on 17 April 1998 the suspension of UNESCO cooperation with the DRC in protest at the detention of Arthur Zahidi Ngoma.
[ Retrieved on 27-02-07 ] |
