Congo: Independent Inquiry Is Urged in Death of Human Rights Advocate

Civil rights activists said that Congo’s official investigation into the death of a human-rights campaigner looked like a cover-up. In an open letter released Monday on the sidelines of a Southern African summit meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, lead by President Joseph Kabila of Congo, more than 70 civil rights groups called for an independent inquiry into the killing of the campaigner, Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, above. The body of Mr. Bahizire, who lead Voix des Sans Voix, was found in his car June 2 in a suburb on the outskirts of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa. His organization said he appeared to have been strangled. Several police officers were arrested in connection with the death. Congolese officials in Windhoek were unavailable for comment.



(2010-08-17/New York Times )