THE TWO FRENCH & BRITISH ARRESTED JOURNALISTS IN BURUNDI HAVE BEEN RELEASED

USPA NEWS - “We learned with concern the arrest in Burundi of French journalist Jean-Philippe Rémy, and the British photographer Philip Moore. I call on the Burundi authorities to conduct their immediate release.“ Said the French Diplomacy, as the diplomatic initiatives were ongoing.

RSF DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF JOURNALISTS ARRESTED IN BURUNDI-------------------------------------- Seventeen people were arrested Thursday night in Bujumbura, including Jean-Philippe Rémy, correspondent of the French daily Le Monde Africa, and British freelance photojournalist Philip Moore. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) unreservedly condemns this attack on freedom of information and demands the immediate release of the two journalists. RSF calls on the Burundian government to comply with resolution 2222.--------------------------------------------------------------- According to RFI, in Burundi, the police announced the arrest of the two foreign journalists. French journalist Jean-Philippe Rémy, correspondent of the daily “ Le Monde“ and British photographer Phil Moore, working for the same newspaper and Agence France-Presse. Fifteen other people were arrested during the police operation. This Friday, January 29, 2016, French diplomacy demands the release of our colleagues. The head of French diplomacy joined requests already made by employers of our colleagues, AFP and Le Monde, whose director Jerome Fenoglio reacted on RFI.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burundi is still sinking further in the suppression of information. While the country is plagued by a growing chaos and the UN fears genocide, the arrest of two journalists is another blow to freedom of the press. Jean-Philippe Rémy, correspondent of Le Monde in Africa, and Philip Moore, British reporter freelance, are detained in an unknown place. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on President Nkurunziza and the Burundian authorities to end the detention as soon as possible and to comply with their obligations are secured by international law.---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Given the strong tensions in Burundi, and the fears expressed by the UN there is a genocide perpetrated, journalism can play a vital role pacification said Christophe Deloire, RSF Secretary-General. The verification of the information is a bulwark against the hateful rumors, necessary to know the country's reality. The presence of the foreign press is all the more crucial that Burundian journalists are largely gone into exile and those who remained were prevented from working. journalists in conflict zones, adopted on 27 May by the UN Security Council. "----------------------------------------------------------------------- Most independent media, especially radio stations, have been forced to close in recent months and many journalists, threats or attacks targets, had to flee or live in hiding. Burundi still occupied the 145th place in the 2015 ranking of press freedom established by RSF. With the arbitrary closure of media and persecution of journalists since the start of the 2015 crisis, it is unlikely that the country maintain that position in the 2016 ranking.

JEAN PHILIPPE REMY IS CONNOISSEUR OF AFRICA AND PHILIP MOORE WAS BASED IN GERMANY------------- Jean-Philippe Rémy is a seasoned journalist and connoisseur of Africa. He heads the regional office of the newspaper Le Monde in Johannesburg, South Africa. He arrived in Burundi on January 19th. It has already come several times on assignment in the country, including from the beginning of tensions. Phil Moore, meanwhile, is a freelance photojournalist, according to its website. Aged 36, he is based in Berlin, Germany. He worked for several French and international media, including Agence France-Presse and Le Monde. "We learned with concern the arrest" of journalists in Bujumbura Thursday night, writes the French foreign minister on Friday in a brief statement. "I call on the Burundi authorities to conduct their immediate release. Diplomatic initiatives are ongoing, "says Laurent Fabius.