Burundi’s ambassador to Rwanda says there is nothing to worry about regarding the Rwandan journalist arrested in his country on Monday. On Friday, Amb. Alexis Ntukamazina, told Sunday Times that Etienne Besabesa, a journalist working for Radio Izuba, Radio Flash and Igihe.com, was arrested after he allegedly entered the country illegally through an unofficial border crossing on Monday. Etienne Besabesa was arrested on Monday by Burundian authorities. (internet photo) Amb. Ntukamazina said: “There is nothing to worry about. This is a normal procedure in all countries. Nothing is alarming. The organs in charge will thoroughly verify the suspicions about him.” He confirmed that the journalist is being held in Muyinga district in northern Burundi, but said that he “cannot speak about the charges until” the journalist is arraigned in a court of law. In the next few days, Amb.Ntukamazina said, the journalist will be brought before court. The diplomat explained that there is no reason as to why the Rwandan embassy officials in Bujumbura cannot have access to Besabesa. “What is clear is that he was suspected of involvement in unlawful things and I think that the state security organs holding him now will investigate whether he is guilty or not,” he said. Besabesa’s brother on Tuesday met the envoy and the latter reassured him that there was no need to worry as the state security organs holding his brother are known and due process will be followed. “I told him that he would be worried only if his brother’s whereabouts were not known.” He said the reporter “is fine” and in good health. Meanwhile, on Friday, Amb. Amandin Rugira, the Rwandan envoy to Bujumbura, told this paper that his office had contacted the Burundian Ministry of Justice about obtaining permission to visit the journalist. Amb. Rugira said: “It was a facilitation request so that one of our diplomats can go to Muyinga on Monday to follow up on the case of the journalist. All they need is a request letter. We are preparing it.” Radio Izuba chief Aimable Rwigamba told Sunday Times that Besabesa had been assigned to the Rwandan border area to monitor and file reports on the refugee influx but “did not have an assignment to cross the border.” Rwigamba, however, admitted that any journalist would willingly want to stroll across the border and chase a story seeing as it is very easy to cross. Rwigamba said: “Yesterday we talked to the prosecutors in Burundi and they informed us that he is well and that his case has been prepared so that he can appear in court soon.” The Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), a media self-regulatory body, has called on Burundian authorities to release Besabesa. Over 31,000 Burundian refugees have fled to Rwanda over the last two months in the wake of political unrest sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office, which opposition and civil society groups say is unconstitutional and a violation of a 2005 peace deal that ended years of civil war.
