Journalists protesting colleague's incaceration - Burundi anti-riot police Tuesday 'violently' dispersed journalists demanding the release of their jailed colleague, Hassan Ruvakuki, the local correspondent of Radio France International (RFI, Swahili section).
In prison for more than one year now, Ruvakuki is accused of participating in a 'terrorist enterprise' after travelling to Tanzania to cover the creation of a rebel movement.
Ruvakuki denied the charges, insisting that he was doing his job as a journalist.
Arrested in November 2011, Ruvakuki was sentenced in June 2012 to life imprisonment.
When he appealed against the judgment on 8 January, 2013, the life imprisonment was reduced to three years.
PANA reported that in the stampede that followed the confrontation, some journalists were injured while others fell unconscious after inhaling tear gas.
Pana 20/02/2013