DRC: Journalist severely beaten
Journalist Mbuyi Tshibwabwa, who is also known as "Mbote ya Kabambi" ("The Big Hello"), has been in hospital since 22 August 2004 after being severely beaten at a military court in Goma, North Kivu province's main city, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Tshibwabwa is a military journalist and host of the local television show "Armée et peuple" ("The Army and the People").
IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
3 September 2004
Journalist severely beaten
SOURCE: Journaliste en danger (JED), Kinshasa
(JED/IFEX) - Journalist Mbuyi Tshibwabwa, who is also known as "Mbote ya
Kabambi" ("The Big Hello"), has been in hospital since 22 August 2004 after
being severely beaten at a military court in Goma, North Kivu province's
main city, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Tshibwabwa is a military
journalist and host of the local television show "Armée et peuple" ("The
Army and the People"). The attack was ordered by the 8th Military District
commander, General Obedi Rwibasira. "Armée et peuple" is broadcast nightly
on the Congolese public broadcaster's (Radiotélévision Nationale Congolaise,
RTNC) Goma station.
According to 8th Military District official sources, whom JED was able to
contact on the afternoon of 1 September, Tshibwabwa has been accused of
"military indiscipline" and "refusal to follow orders". The journalist was
assigned by his superiors to accompany the District commander on a
"sensitisation" mission to North Kivu's interior. Tshibwabwa refused the
assignment because he had not been reimbursed for expenses from previous
missions.
Following his refusal, the journalist was arrested on 16 August and remanded
in custody at the Goma military court where he was savagely beaten. He was
released on 18 August. On 22 August he was admitted to a Goma military
hospital.
In a telephone conversation with JED from his hospital bed, Tshibwabwa said
his health has improved slightly, but he continues to experience severe
chest pains and must undergo a chest x-ray. As for the motive for his
arrest, the journalist said that the trouble began when he devoted one of
his open phone-in shows to security issues in Goma. Callers to the show
reportedly accused the 8th District commander of being the source of the
city's "climate of insecurity".
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.
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