drc: concern About Safety Of Journalists in Eastern DRC

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To: IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), [email protected]

CPJ Deeply Concerned About Safety Of Journalists in Eastern DRC

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA Phone: (212) 465-1004 Fax:
(212) 465-9568 Web: www.cpj.org E-Mail: [email protected]

June 6, 2003

Dr. Adolphe Onusumba, President
Azarias Ruberwa, Secretary General
Congolese Rally For Democracy (RCD-Goma)

Via e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Your Excellencies,

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the safety
of journalists working in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an area
currently under the control of your Congolese Rally For Democracy (RCD-Goma)
movement. Recently, one journalist was attacked and another was detained in
reprisal for their work.

On Friday, May 2, in Kindu, Maniema Province, RCD soldiers detained and brutally
assaulted Dieudonné Muzaliwa Bulambo, a journalist for Congolese National
Radio-Television (RTNC), whose outlets in eastern DRC are controlled by the RCD.
Congolese sources said the attack came after Bulambo conducted an on-air
interview with Gen. Moutanga Diallo, head of the United Nations Mission in the
DRC. During the broadcast, Bulambo raised the issue of the presence of Rwandan
troops in Maniema. Rwanda's support of the RCD has been a contentious issue in
the ongoing efforts to negotiate peace in the country.

Bulambo was later admitted to a Kindu hospital for treatment. The Kinshasa-based
press freedom group Journaliste En Danger (JED) reported that RTNC officials
subsequently fired Bulambo.

On Wednesday, May 28, RCD agents in Bukavu, South Kivu Province, arrested Joseph
Nkinzo, director of the local Anglican community radio station Sauti ya Rehema
(Voice of Mercy). The station had earlier broadcast commentary on the RCD's
decision to withdraw from negotiations to establish a national transitional,
multiparty government. (The RCD has since rejoined the talks).
Journalists in Kinshasa told CPJ that Jean-Pierre Lola Kisanga, an RCD
spokesperson, claimed that the station had violated RCD media guidelines by
broadcasting political content even though it was only allowed to air programs
about religion and development.

Nkinzo was released from custody the next day. RCD authorities in Bukavu said
Sauti ya Rehema would be allowed to continue broadcasting only on the conditions
that it air news bulletins from the RCD-controlled RTNC station, and that it
cease all political programming and broadcast only religious content. According
to JED, who spoke with Nkinzo after his release, though the station continues to
broadcast, its management has gone into hiding after refusing to accept the
RCD's demands.

The attacks on these journalists follow the RCD's December 2002 closure of Radio
Maendeleo, a Bukavu-based community radio station run by local nongovernmental
organizations. After the station aired a call-in show in which callers
criticized the RCD's new tax regime, RCD authorities claimed the station had
violated the terms of its license by broadcasting political content. Radio
Maendeleo remains closed.

The U.N. Integrated Regional Information Service news agency quoted Kisanga, the
RCD spokesperson, as saying, "If Joesph Nkinzo does not change his ways, he will
suffer the same fate as Radio Maendeleo."

As an organization of journalists dedicated to defending the rights of our
colleagues worldwide, we strongly condemn the attack on Dieudonné Bulambo, the
detention of Joseph Nkinzo, and the closure of Radio Maendeleo. These acts are
clearly aimed at stifling critical reporting on issues of
legitimate public concern.

In April, the RCD signed peace accords and accepted the transitional national
constitution, which obligates all parties to respect press freedom. In light of
this responsibility, we call on you to allow Radio Maendeleo to reopen
immediately, to cease harassing journalists in reprisal for their work, and to
allow the press to report freely on political matters of public concern.

We thank you for your attention in this matter. We await your reply.

Sincerely,
...OLE_Obj...>>
Ann Cooper
Executive Director

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