Revenue Watch Demands Release of Transparency Advocate Arrested by Congolese Security Agents
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK—The Revenue Watch Institute joined the international Publish What You Pay coalition today in calling for authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to immediately release Golden Misabiko, a campaigner for transparency and human rights. Misabiko was arrested on July 24 by the Agence nationale de renseignement (ANR), the national intelligence office, and charged with "undermining State security" and "making defamatory statements."
Misabiko is Chair of the African Association for the Protection of Human Rights (ASADHO) and a leader in the local Publish What You Pay coalition. His arrest is the latest act of government harassment against him following ASADHO's July report alleging corrupt mining practices and demanding public release of the new contract between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and AREVA, a French nuclear power multinational.
"Respect for citizen leaders is a hallmark of good governance," said Karin Lissakers, Director of Revenue Watch. "Congolese officials need to end their suppression of dissenting voices if they hope to move the country further from a legacy of civil war and closer to the stability that will enable mining and other industries to thrive."
The DRC relies on mining for a significant portion of its economy, but poor reporting of government revenues from mining and other extractive sectors continues. It is one of nearly 30 resource-rich countries which have agreed to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international mechanism to establish openness in the management of oil, gas and mineral wealth.
"Governments must treat advocates like Mr. Misabiko as partners in the EITI process," Lissakers said. "Without a legitimate collaboration between government and civil society groups, no country can claim to be upholding the principles of the EITI; the minimum standards are not being met."
CONTACTS:
Jed Miller, +1 917 257-0670, jmiller@revenuewatch.org (US)
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