Illegal detention of Mr. Armel LUHIRIRI, a Human rights activist, in Bukavu/DRC.

Mr. Armel Luhiriri, in charge of legal assistance for victims of human rights abuses and researcher at Héritiers de la Justice was arrested and detained in Saio military camp on thursday 06/10/2005 from 11 a.m. to 19 p.m.  because bringing legal assistance to two women victims of torture and rape from two soldiers from the loyal Congolese forces “FARDC” .

As far as the first case is concerned, Mrs.E.K. was tortured by Major Weteshi at Hombo, in the province of South Kivu. And no assistance was brought to her. As for the second case,  Mrs. M.A. was raped by Major Kitete Tambwe on 17/07/2004

Aware of the legal assistance Heritiers de la Jusitce brought to these victims, Major Kitete invited Armel Luhiriri to his office to talk about the issues. From there he was arrested and detained in Saio Military camp under inhumane conditions. “I was thrown in a dark and dirty room”, Armel declared. He was release around 07.30 pm without meeting the major who invited him.

Héritiers de la Justice asks the military hierarchy to investigate and prosecute those who organised that illegal detention that violate human rights ,to his agent.

Moreover ,Heritiers de la Justice demands that perpetrators of these human rights abuses against the two women be prosecuted and justice be rendered.