Congolese police use tear gas on protesters demanding release of former election official

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo used tear gas on Tuesday to disperse demonstrators demanding the release of the former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) who is serving a three-year prison term.

Pastor Daniel Ngoy Mulunda was sentenced last year for "undermining state security" -- charges that were rejected by his lawyers as framed.

Members of the Alliance des Forces pour le Bien-etre des Congolais (AFBC) political party that organized the demonstrations, claimed in a statement that 55 demonstrators were wounded and 10 arrested by the Congolese National Police.

"The provisional assessment at our level indicates 14 seriously injured, 41 lightly injured, 10 people arrested, including 3 journalists," it said.

It added that members of parliament were among those injured and accused police of "disproportionate use of force and violence" to suppress a peaceful protest.

"They hurt me because we demand the release of Pastor Mulunda. They beat me, but we are determined despite this cheek injury," lawmaker Mathieu Kasunka told reporters.

Another member of parliament, Augustin Kahozi, also said he was hit by police elements.

But, Col. Norbert Ilunga Katwamba, acting provincial commander of the Congolese National Police in Lubumbashi, capital of the Haut-Katanga province where the rally occurred, said the assessment was inflated.

He said one lawmaker was injured and a police officer, who was a former minister's bodyguard, was arrested because he was in civilian clothes with a weapon.

Lubumbashi authorities had reportedly initially authorized a peaceful march but later canceled the permission, citing security reasons.

Mulunda, a relative of former President Joseph Kabila, served as president of the electoral commission from early 2010 under Kabila.

The prosecution also accused him of inciting tribal hatred and spreading false rumors.