[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296110__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"296110","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/296110","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296110__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_rT06N1hzNwWZvlauEGw5ZNFVKBrR23ibx56HC8Lyx4M.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_svkrpusmrjSaaV8heRnsa8-TbrEsMLumxMQD8vstdR8.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296110__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__296110__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EA team of United Nations human rights experts are calling on authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to lift a ban on public political meetings in the capital, Kinshasa.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201cunjustified\u201d ban is a sign that \u201cdemocratic space is rapidly dissipating in the DRC, with human rights organizations and opposition parties bearing the brunt of the repression,\u201d the experts said in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20823\u0026amp;LangID=E\u0022\u003Estatement\u003C\/a\u003E today.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003ESince early 2015, Congolese authorities have systematically repressed the growing coalition calling for a peaceful transition of power. The Kinshasa ban was announced just after security forces \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/10\/13\/eu-impose-targeted-sanctions-against-senior-officials-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003Eresponded to protests\u003C\/a\u003E in Kinshasa with lethal force, killing at least 56 people during the week of September 19, the day presidential elections were meant to be announced. Since then, at least four planned protests have been canceled after authorities said they were prohibited. Similar bans have been announced in Kalemie and Lubumbashi as well, cities home to several leading opposition figures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe experts said peaceful protest can only be restricted in \u201cvery specific and narrowly defined circumstances\u201d \u2013 conditions that have not been met in Congo. \u201cGiven that the country is in a hotly disputed election period people should be given more space, not less, to express their democratic freedoms.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe experts expressed concern over the recently concluded \u201cnational dialogue\u201d agreement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe protest ban and the restrictive tone of the National Dialogue agreement are both disturbing signs that democratic space is rapidly dissipating in the DRC with human rights organizations and opposition parties bearing the brunt of the repression.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe experts\u2019 statement comes two days before the opposition coalition known as the \u201cRassemblement\u201d is due to hold a public meeting in Kinshasa. \u201cIn view of forthcoming demonstrations, in particular those planned for 5 November we urge the Congolese authorities to revoke its decision to ban demonstrations,\u201d the experts said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003ETheir call echoes statements made by a number of Congolese human rights organizations, including the African Association for the Defense of Human Rights (\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.sautiyacongo.org\/rdc-la-mesure-du-gouvernement-provincial-de-la-ville-de-kinshasa-est-liberticide-asadho\/\u0022\u003EASADHO\u003C\/a\u003E), the Voice of the Voiceless (VSV), and a \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.sautiyacongo.org\/rdc-pour-illegalite-le-gouverneur-kimbuta-invite-a-annuler-son-interdiction-de-manifestations-publiques-a-kinshasa\/\u0022\u003Ecoalition\u003C\/a\u003E of civil society organizations and political parties that have all denounced the ban on political meetings as an illegal measure in violation of the country\u2019s own laws and constitution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]