DRC: Journalist interrogated
Simplice Kalunga wa Kalunga, producer and host of the "Nouvelle Donne" ("New Order") show, broadcast on the privately-owned, Kinshasa-based Channel Media Broadcasting (CMB) television station, was summoned for questioning by a Gombe court judge on 19 August 2004. Kalunga was interrogated at length about a 9 August programme during which he had discussed with his guest, well-known Kinshasa lawyer and clergyman Pastor Théodore Ngoy, the various deficiencies of the Justice Ministry's "Nationality Bill", which is currently before Parliament.
IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________
ALERT - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
23 August 2004
Journalist interrogated
SOURCE: Journaliste en danger (JED), Kinshasa
(JED/IFEX) - Simplice Kalunga wa Kalunga, producer and host of the "Nouvelle
Donne" ("New Order") show, broadcast on the privately-owned, Kinshasa-based
Channel Media Broadcasting (CMB) television station, was summoned for
questioning by a Gombe court judge on 19 August 2004.
Kalunga was interrogated at length about a 9 August programme during which
he had discussed with his guest, well-known Kinshasa lawyer and clergyman
Pastor Théodore Ngoy, the various deficiencies of the Justice Ministry's
"Nationality Bill", which is currently before Parliament.
The proposed law was introduced in Parliament by Justice Minister Kisimba
Ngoy, who apparently claimed to have done so against his better judgement.
When asked about the justice minister's attitude, Théodore Ngoy offered
examples of politicians in other countries who had not hesitated to resign
from office when they felt they had been forced to act against their will.
Kalunga told JED that before his interrogation he had received several
anonymous telephone calls telling him he would be arrested. He also said
that he received a phone call from the justice minister in which the
minister angrily accused him of "colluding" with the pastor to "tarnish" his
name.
Meanwhile, Théodore Ngoy was arrested on a Kinshasa street on 14 August and
taken to Kinshasa's central penitentiary, where he remains to date. The
judge in charge of his case told JED that the pastor was being prosecuted
for "offending the transitional authority and insulting the court". Théodore
Ngoy and Kalunga have both denied the charges. The videotape recording of
the episode in question was seized by the Gombe High Court.
For further information, contact D. M'Baya Tshimanga, president, Journaliste
en danger (JED), B.P. 633 Kinshasa 1, Democratic Republic of Congo, tel.
+243 99 29 323/345, fax: +243 88 01 625, e-mail: [email protected],
[email protected], Internet: http://www.jed-afcentre.org
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of JED.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit JED.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts email: [email protected] general e-mail: [email protected]
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________