Bonjour à tous.
Je voulais juste vous faire le compte rendu de mon interrogatoire cet avant midi à l'auditorat militaire durant environ 1 heure.
Après m'avoir identifié (noms, mes activités, les sources de mon argent comme je construis une maison guest house), le magistrat militaire ma demandé si je connaissais 7 personnes qu'il a cité avec leurs adresses. Je répondais par non. En fait selon ce qu'il ma dit –ce magistrat- , ce sont des personne qui volent, tuent et pillent, etc, 5 d'entre eux seraient arrêtés. Le problème ce que ces gens là ont dit que moi Richard je les aide dans les opérations et que c'est moi qui les aident pour commettre leurs forfaits.
C'est ainsi que le commandement militare a conclu que je facilite les opérations de vol armé et l'insécurité dans la province de l'Ituri, que tout ce que je fait comme métier de journalisme et d'humanitaire c'est pour couvrir ces faits et au contraire tous mes biens et l'argent que je trouve proviennent des ces activités de trafic d'armes et de banditisme.
Je reviens de deux voyages à Goma et Rwanda pour le compte de l'ONGI ADRA, l'Etat Major de zone opérationnelle des Forces Armées Congolaises qui a déféré le dossier devant le tribunal a traité ces voyages des voyages pour aller vendre ou trafiquer les biens volés en Ituri notamment de l'or retrouvé sur ces criminels. Incroyable.
Les missions humanitaires que j'ai fait sur terrain aux environs de Bunia avec l'ONG ADRA dans son projet d'accompagnement des femmes sont taxées des missions pour aller planifier des choses avec mes criminels.
Il y aura confrontation le vendredi à 9H avec ces criminels là pour voir si on ne se connait pas selon l'auditorat militaire. Je leur ai dit que je suis prêt car ma conscience et tranquille. Je n'ai jamais rien fait. C'est pour cela que j'ai informé tout de suite les organisations des droits de l'homme pour suivre cette histoire montée et que la vérité triomphe. Mais alors la question est pourquoi ce mensonge en ma personnalité ? Qui est derrière ? Certainement des gens qui sont contre mon émergence et le travail que nous faisons avec les ONG, on me l'a déjà soufflé. Quelqu'un me disait une fois « Richard tu évolue vite, qui te donne de l'argent ? N'es tu pas dans le mysticisme ? ». Et moi dis toujours que je travail dur… On en saura plus dans les jours qui viennent. Pour le moment je ne peux pas parler à la presse.
Autres détails, il y a deux blancs qui sont venus visiter la radio (bouc émissaire selon eux. En fait je suis parmi les fondateurs de cette radio). Une jeune demoiselle canadienne et un jeune monsieur sujet anglais. Et ces ennemis ont déclaré que c'est la preuve des blancs qui me soutiennent dans les opérations de mafia. Que mes complices circulent avec eux ! Or ils travaillent pour une organisation internationale de justice. Ils sont des innocents.
Pour moi c'était là des informations que je ne connais pas. Du nouveau. Je ne comprends pas cette histoire. Et j'ai dit à mes avocats et l'auditorat que je voulais le plus tôt poursuivre ces accusateurs devant la justice pour avoir sali ma réputation. Ils ont dit que c'est aussi possible mais je dois attendre un peu.
NB. Pour connaitre bien ce que je fait il faut rechercher Richard Pituwa sur google. Vous en saurez plus.
Merci pour votre soutien et prière et à bientôt.
Richard Pituwa.
De : Barry Sesnan <bsesnan@yahoo.com>
À : richard pituwa <richpituw@yahoo.fr>; Sophie Toumazis <sophie@tpr-media.com>; Danny Winkler <danny_winkler@hotmail.com>; Tania Branigan <tania.branigan@guardian.co.uk>
Cc : Michael Bosse <mbosse@equalaccess.org>; Puanani Forbes <pforbes@equalaccess.org>
Envoyé le : Mer 25 Novembre 2009, 16 h 55 min 29 s
Objet : "Those who stay in prison are those who want to stay"
Sorry this won't attach conventionally but it is an example of the interesting work Richard does - very close to the edge. Interestingly this may be the same military auditorat. Richard can you confirm?
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Justice Magazine
2nd program
2 November 2009
A program of Canal Revelation, Bunia
A Interactive Radio for Justice production
Host: This is the second program, Justice Magazine, which is part of the Interactive Radio for Justice project. In this series, we will discuss issues related to human rights violations and the problems faced by the population to access justice. In this program, we will address the difficulties faced by people who travel across the Ituri District. Military elements extort money from them, people are forced to pay at each roadblock, and sometimes they even get their belongings stolen. In addition, every time these military elements are condemned by their jurisdiction, they escape the prison and thereby constitutes a danger for the community.
To discuss this, we have invited Major John Mpenza Ishai, Military Auditor of the Military Auditorat to the Military Garrison Court of Bunia.
This program is presented by Didyne Uweka. To start, let us hear this small play, by the band Bisso Na Bisso, on Canal Revelation.
* * *
- [Passenger] Ok, since I am travelling today, I have to take a vehicle. But because of traffic on Bombi road, I should take a bike to go faster.
Hello Mr. Taxi.
- [Taxi] Hello Mama.
- [Passenger] How much from here to Bombi?
- [Taxi] To Bombi? Give me only 10,000 francs.
- [Passenger] What?
- [Taxi] Come closer so that no-one hears the price.
- [Passenger] No, Mr. Taxi, 10,000 francs is a lot! I will give you 8,000 francs.
- [Taxi] Ok. No problem. You can get on the bike, I put fuel in this morning, we're ready to go.
- [Passenger] Ok.
- [Taxi] Madam, the road is good!
- [Passenger] Yes, but your work is to serve the client, not to control them! Hey mister, slow down, look at these thieves over there.
- [Taxi] Don't worry madam, these are not thieves, what you see over there is a military roadblock.
- [Passenger] A military roadblock?
- [Taxi] Yes, I have to give my money.
- [Military officer] Hey, mister, don't you see the barrier?
- [Taxi] Don't get angry. I was talking to the client.
- [Passenger] "don't get angry"? Are you crazy to speak like that? Give him your money. Hey, again, again this barrier over there! What is this doing here?
- [Taxi] Stay calm, we will get there. This is a barrier to help the military.
- [Passenger] What! The military again?
- [Taxi] If it were you, madam, you would do the same. The military are here in the bush, with no-one to feed them. They are not paid well.
- [Passenger] What are you saying? To help them survive? This is none of your business. If you spend all your money in those trips, who will help your family survive?
- [Taxi] Oh madam you are right. Oh another barrier over there! And I have nothing to pay these people!
* * *
Interactive Radio for Justice, for a just and peaceful society.
* * *
- [Military officer] Hey you, here it is zero tolerance policy. It is a military roadblock. You have to pay and then pass. All bikes, motorcycle, mamas with veggies have to pay and pass. Hurry, this is not a place for civilians to rest. Hurry!
- [Civilian 1] Sir, please understand me, I have nothing. I have been pushing this bike since this morning and until now I have not gotten anything. I have exhausted all my money.
- [Military] Are you kidding? You have nothing? [hitting sound]
- [Civilian 1 shouting] Sir, why are you hitting me like this? What did I do to deserve this?
* * *
- [Civilian 2] I have been invited to the plantation, but there is a speed limit, but if I don't get there fast I risk losing it. I really have to go with the jeep, because the road to Musanza is really bad. [Driving away]
Shoot, what is in front of me? [Honking sound] I have to stop to check this out.
- [Military] You are honking at a roadblock? You have a lot of courage!
- [Civilian 2] Please, I am in a hurry. I am expected in Musanza to take care of some business. It is urgent.
- [Military] Of it is urgent for you! What is urgent for us is money.
- [Civilian 2] I have no money to give. If you want to see my documents, here they are.
- [Military] Commander! This man is kidding us and is giving us his papers instead of money.
- [Commander] What does he think we'll do with these papers? Tear them, quick! Tear, and hit him!
- [Military] Yes, I am tearing them, commander. This man is really kidding us. What do you think? That we will eat with these papers?
- [Civilian 2] Please no, do not tear my documents. This will cause you problems.
- [Military] Create us problems?! Create us problems? To the military? What kind of civilian are you, who doesn't listen to the military!? Do you want to die!
- [Civilian 2] You are tearing my documents to scare me, but you are breaching the constitution. The Governor himself had all official roadblocks removed.
- [Commander] Stop hitting him.
- [Military] Yes, sir! He is escaping! Commander, he is escaping. Oh, he escaped!
- [Civilian 2 out of breath] Oh, I almost died today because of these military elements. I have the number of the Auditor, I have to call him now. [Dialling]
- [Auditor] Sir, if you have to denounce something, I am expecting you at my office tomorrow at 8am. These soldiers, these crooks who cannot do their job, will appear before the court.
- [Civilian 2] Yes, sir, I will be there tomorrow.
* * *
Justice Magazine, a production of Interactive Radio for Justice.
* * *
Host: We walked around with our microphone in various intersections in Bunia, which travellers often use to go to the District:
- 1st interviewee: The leg Bunia-Fataki, via Katoto, Lita, Barganza and Drodro is completely insecure because uniformed men are always there, ready to loot civilians. Businessmen cannot even travel anymore. These uniformed men are everywhere, with heavy weapons.
- 2nd interviewee: They say they have nothing else to do and need 100 francs to survive or else we don't cross. According to me, the population has to be free to travel, because we already suffered a lot.
- 3rd interviewee: Instead of providing security, they harass us. The money they demand could instead be used to fix the roads. But instead of that, the road is getting worse. We have to control this money.
- 4th interviewee: For us, bicycle carriers, each Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the FARDC requires us to pay 50 Congolese francs. There are three roadblocks.
- 5th interviewee: It is really becoming messy. It is not a real tax and this is not good. It must end.
- 6th interviewee: However, before that it was worse. Now it is better, our military are behaving a little better. Before they used to ask us to pay 100 francs, now it is only 50. We are congratulating them. Road security is really guaranteed.
- 7th interviewee: For me, it is normal, it is their job. I happily pay the 50 francs. They provide security on the roads.
Host: You have just heard the population talk about their preoccupations. Now, as promised, we give the floor to the Military Auditor, who is in this studio:
- My name is Major-Magistrat John Mpenza Ishai, Military Auditor of the Military Garrison Court for Ituri.
Journalist: Some people claim that military elements set up unofficial roadblocks in order to extort money from the population. What do you have to say about that?
- Huh, thank you. As you said, as you stressed, these roadblocks are unofficial, which means they have not officially been set up by the military. These barriers are often set up in complicity with the commanders, but it is also often set up on their own volition. This is simple harassment.
Journalist: Does the State mandate the military to set up roadblocks in specific circumstances?
- This answer to that is not crystal clear. I would say yes, in situations where the internal security of the nation is under threat, or when we are in a state of emergency. Then they can set up roadblocks, but official roadblocks, not unofficial ones.
Journalist: What are the mechanisms that you can put in place for these military elements to stop harassing the population at official roadblocks that have been authorised by your jurisdiction?
- On that point I would invite the population to denounce this kind of act. The population must cooperate with the military jurisdiction.
Journalist: Have you already arrested military elements who set up unofficial roadblocks?
- Yes, we have had to arrest such elements. For instance, at Shari and Walu, we had to arrest military elements who set up roadblocks everywhere and were harassing the population. They also levied taxes, and I mean unofficial "taxes" of course. We brought them to justice and the Tribunal adjudicated the case.
Journalist: On another note, sir, some people say that there are many cases of escape from your police detention unit and in the prison. Can you confirm that?
- Yes, of course, there are many cases of escapes of military elements or of convicted criminals. What I would do, the way I see it is that in Bunia we do not have a proper prison. There is no prison, so those who stay imprisoned are those who want to stay. RegisCo, the organisation who supports the judicial system, promised to build a prison, but to date nothing has been done and we have no prison.
Journalist: Do these escapes have any connection to the increased criminality in the city of Bunia these days?
- Well, what we can say is let's time heal things. When we manage to apprehend one of the perpetrators, we will determine whether it was a military element or a police officer or whether it is someone else. So we have to give it time.
Journalist: One last word?
- I'd ask the population to be vigilant, that is all.
* * *
Interactive Radio for Justice
For a just and peaceful society
* * *
Host: We have reached the end of this second program, Justice Magazine, which is part of the Interactive Radio for Justice project. We thank the Military Auditor for having responded to the various preoccupations of the population.
To contact us, you can call 09 94 00 4015, or you can write at RCR, Canal Revelation Radio, 54 Blvd of Liberation, Bunia city, or by email at canalrevelation2001@yahoo.fr. You can also follow us on the Internet at www.irfj.org. This program was presented to you by Didyne Uweka and produced by Richard Pituwa and Justin Joel. This is a production of the Interactive Radio for Justice project. Peace and justice to all.
Justice Magazine
A program of Canal Revelation, Bunia
A Interactive Radio for Justice production
[Translated and transcribed by Sandrine Gaillot]
From: richard pituwa <richpituw@yahoo.fr>
To: Barry Sesnan <bsesnan@yahoo.com>; Sophie Toumazis <sophie@tpr-media.com>; Danny Winkler <danny_winkler@hotmail.com>; Tania Branigan <tania.branigan@guardian.co.uk>
Sent: Wed, 25 November, 2009 7:42:09
Subject: Le Directeur de Canal Révélation poursuivi pour Association des Malfaiteurs.
Bonjour tous,
J'espère que vous vous souvenez toujours de moi.
La Justice Militaire/Auditorat Militaire vient depuis hier soir d'émettre UN MANDAT DE COMPARUTION contre moi: Richard Pituwa poursuivi pour ASSOCIATION DES MALFAITEURS. C'est une infration grave qui quand c'est prouvé c'est la peine de mort.
Cela fait suite à des criminalité qui grandit dans la ville, trop de vol à mains armées, assassinat nocturne,... avec complicité militaire. Un humanitaire a été tué il y a quelques semaines, un pretre tué au couvent il y a quelques jours etc.
Mais moi je me reproche de rien. Je n'ai jamais comparu dans ma vie, je n'ai pas des problèmes. Au contraire je lutte pour les droits humains à travers radio. Je viens d'alerter tout le monde. Des partenaires partout. Ceci juste pour vous informer aussi.
J'espère que ca se passera bien. Si j'été pas si connu ils devrait dejà me coffrer.
Barry je te jure que c'est un montage terrible. On verra la suite pour connaitre la verité, mais ca me salit, toute la presse en parle dans notre pays.
Richard Pituwa
Fondateur Radio Canal Révélation
Bunia, Ituri/DRC
A bientot.
