**Updates IFEX alert of 16 March 2000** (JED/IFEX) – In a 16 March 2000 letter adressed to “human rights organisations”, the staff of Radio Télévision Kin-Malebo (RTKM) protested the “irregular procedure” which drove Minister of Justice Mwenze Kongolo to requisition the private station on the State’s behalf. In their letter, the staff evoke “the unjustified […]
**Updates IFEX alert of 16 March 2000**
(JED/IFEX) – In a 16 March 2000 letter adressed to “human rights organisations”, the staff of Radio Télévision Kin-Malebo (RTKM) protested the “irregular procedure” which drove Minister of Justice Mwenze Kongolo to requisition the private station on the State’s behalf. In their letter, the staff evoke “the unjustified wish to expropriate the RTKM private station (…) clearly expressed by the minister of justice in his requisition order (…)”.
On Thursday 16 March, the director-general of the Bureau of Illegaly Acquired Goods (Office des biens mal acquis, OBMA), Séraphin Kitungwa Butally, named Jean-Pierre Kibambi Shintwa acting director-general of RTKM. Kibambi Shintwa, who was inofrmation director until then, rejected the offer and instead resigned from RTKM.
Having received a letter from RTKM staff dated 15 March, Human Rights Minister She Léonard Okitundu stated that he was unaware of the reasons which led his colleague Kongolo to requisition the station. He promised to do everything in his power to ensure the “triumph of justice” in this case.
On Friday 17 March, in the evening, JED learned that police officers who had been stationed at RTKM’s administrative offices in Kinshasa/Gombe had left their positions. Other police officers continued to guard the Kinshasa/Ngaliema broadcasting station.
