{The Rwandan embassy in Burundi has said it was looking into the case of a Rwandan journalist who was on Monday arrested in the neighbouring country.}<\/p>\n
Amb. Amandin Rugira, the Rwandan envoy to Bujumbura, said they were interested in knowing circumstances surrounding the arrest.<\/p>\n
Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) ), a media self-regulatory body, yesterday called on Burundian authorities to release Etienne Besabesa who, it said, was arrested in Burundi\u2019s border district of Giteranyi and later reportedly transferred Muyinga district.<\/p>\n
Besabesa works for Radio Izuba, Radio Flash and Igihe.com, and by the time of his arrest, he was covering a story about the continued influx of Burundians into Rwanda.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also read (about the arrest) it in the papers. We are now trying to get information about the reasons behind.<\/p>\n
We heard that he didn\u2019t have any travel document but we are trying to get official information,\u201d Rugira told The New Times yesterday.<\/p>\n
In a statement, RMC called for the journalist\u2019s \u201cimmediate release\u201d and urged Burundian authorities to ensure his personal safety and that of his professional equipment.<\/p>\n
RMC says it is \u201cvery worried\u201d about Besabesa\u2019s safety and called on Rwandan security agencies to collaborate with their Burundian counterparts to ensure the safety and release of the journalist.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
In all, more than 100,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n
Statistics show that at least 40 Burundians have lost their lives in the going unrest, marked by violent street protests and a failed coup.<\/p>\n
{{The New Times}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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