DRC: Deputy editor released

RAPID ACTION NETWORK
12 August 2004

Update #2 to RAN 29/04

Democratic Republic of Congo: Journalist Lucien Claude Ngongo released The
Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release from
prison of Lucien Claude Ngongo, deputy editor of the weekly newspaper Fair
Play. However, PEN is disturbed that Ngongo continues to face charges for
"criminal defamation".

According to reports received by International PEN, Ngongo was released
provisionally on 28 July 2004 after paying a bail fee. On 2 August 2004,
Ngongo reportedly attended a discovery hearing before a Kinshasa-Ngaliema
criminal court judge, on charges brought by William Damseaux (a Belgian
businessman who has lived for a long period in the Democratic Republic of
Congo) and was due to appear again in court during the same week.

Ngongo, had been imprisoned since 19 May 2004 pending trial for "criminal
defamation". The journalist faces charges resulting from a Fair Play article
penned by reporter Grégoire Agboya that questioned why Damseaux had not had
to pay the costs arising from a legal action.

Albert Kassa Khamy Mouya, deputy editor of the weekly newspaper Fair Play,
who was arrested on 27 May and has also been being held with Ngongo in
Kinshasa Prison pending trial for "criminal defamation", remains in
detention.

International PEN calls for the release of Albert Kassa Khamy Mouya and the
dropping of all criminal defamation charges against Lucien Claude Ngongo and
Albert Kassa Khamy Mouya. PEN also urges the authorities in the Democratic
Republic of Congo to purge the concept of criminal defamation from the
country's legislation so that cases of libel or slander might be more
appropriately dealt with in the civil courts.

Please send appeals:

- Calling for the immediate release of Albert Kassa Khamy Mouya and for the
dropping of all criminal charges against Mouya and Lucien Claude Ngongo.
- Urging the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to remove the
crime of defamation from the statute books.

Appeals to:

H. E. Major-General Joseph Kabila
President of the Republic and Head of State
Palais de la Nation
Kinshasa/Gombé
Democratic of the Republic of the Congo
Fax: c/o DRC Embassy in USA +1 202 234 2609

Ngele Masudi
Minister of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Ministère de la Justice
BP 3137 Kinshasa/Gombé
Democratic of the Republic of the Congo
Fax: +243 12 20 843

For further details contact Sara Birch at the Writers in Prison Committee
London Office: 9-10 Charterhouse Buildings, London EC1M 7AT UK Tel: + 44
(0) 20 72 53 32 26 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 72 53 57 11 e-mail: [email protected]

**The information contained in this autolist item is the sole responsibility
of WiPC**