Rwandan journalism student charged with faking own kidnapping

A journalism student in Rwanda is facing police charges after faking his own kidnapping, according to a newspaper report. Idriss Gasana Byiringiro claimed he was bundled into a vehicle by four security agents for an overnight interrogation, and sent himself threatening text messages to underpin the ruse, Rwanda's New Times said. The paper said he had admitted fabricating the story for a research project on the freedom of the press. "This was my plan – as a journalism student I wanted to investigate if this profession is feasible in Rwanda or if it's true that the government harasses journalists as indicated in international reports," he was quoted as saying. "I thought I would not be prosecuted, if I told them (the police) the truth." Byiringiro was arrested on Tuesday. He was described as a third year journalism student at the National University of Rwanda who was also working for the Chronicles, a weekly English-language newspaper based in the country. His logic, as reported, was opaque to many and the Chronicles was unable to explain what he may have hoped to achieve. Christopher Kayumba, the paper's managing editor, said: "I'm not very sure. The only version I know is the first one we presented to the police. The second version is what I've read in the press today. I haven't talked to Idriss yet so I can't know whether it's true or not." In another twist, press freedom watchdogs suggested that Byiringiro may have been pressured to back down on his kidnapping claim. Tom Rhodes, east Africa representative for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, said: "We are still looking into this matter. CPJ and other press freedom groups fear that this reporter may have been coerced into the statement he made yesterday." According to the New Times, Byiringiro had complained that he was forced into a Toyota Land Cruiser by four security operatives in the capital, Kigali, and driven 30km south to the town of Nyamata. He said he was held for the night, interrogated and released the following morning. Police then reportedly discovered that, on the night of the alleged kidnap, Byiringiro used his phone to call friends even though he had said his phone and laptop were confiscated at the time. The New Times reported: "As part of his 'research' Byiringiro disclosed that the alleged threats he received as text messages on his phone were sent by him. He bought SIM cards and used them to send the messages to his number, which he then forwarded to his boss, Christopher Kayumba, as proof that he was being intimidated." He held a press conference on Thursday to explain himself, the paper continued. "He explained that the whole idea was to write an investigative story for his newspaper as well as include the findings to support his academic research proposal," it said.