(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is once again protesting the continued detention of journalist Joseph Mbakulu Pambu Diana, who has now spent one year in prison without trial. **Updates IFEX alerts of 15 September, 30 July, 27 and 22 April, 26 and 25 March 1999** Pambu Diana, director of programming for the private station Radio-TV Matadi (RTM), […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is once again protesting the continued detention of
journalist Joseph Mbakulu Pambu Diana, who has now spent one year in prison
without trial.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 15 September, 30 July, 27 and 22 April, 26 and 25
March 1999**
Pambu Diana, director of programming for the private station Radio-TV Matadi
(RTM), as well as president of the local chapter of the Congolese Press
Union, was first arrested by agents of the National Information Agency (ANR)
in Matadi on 24 October 1998. His arrest was prompted by a chain of events
that began in August 1998, when the town of Matadi was taken over by rebels
of the Congolese Rally for Democracy. The rebels seized local state radio
and TV stations and forced journalists to work for them.
RTM and other reporters were “required” to cover several of the rebels’
rallies, including one held at Matadi stadium during which the rebel leaders
outlined the ideology of their armed struggle to the local population.
At the end of August, the pro-government Congolese Armed Forces (FAC),
regained
control of Matadi and ordered their intelligence agents to raid RTM’s studio
and seize any film that documented the station’s collaboration with the
rebels. Then in September, two of President Laurent-Désiré Kabila’s
ministers visited the newly-liberated Matadi, and accused those who had
collaborated with the rebels of treason. RTM was specifically singled out.
One week later, the head of RTM illegally sacked Pambu Diana, saying that he
had refused “to temporarily close down the RTM station and for his
collaboration with the rebels.”
On the day of Pambu Diana’s arrest in October 1998, he was flown to
Kinshasa, where he was placed in solitary confinement at ANR headquarters.
On 27 November the Court of Military Order (COM) charged him with conspiracy
against the state. He was subsequently transferred to the Kinshasa
Penitentiary and Re-education Center (formerly known as Makala Central
Prison). Since then Pambu Diana has appeared twice before the Court of
Military Order: once on 5 December 1998, and once on 16 February 1999.
However, he has never been formally tried or sentenced.
The conditions in which Pambu Diana is being held are said to be horrendous.
There is no medical care or even food available. Prisoners are completely
reliant on family members who bring food from outside. Pambu Diana’s wife
and five children live in Matadi, and can only afford to make the 350 km
trip to Kinshasa twice a month. This leaves Pambu Diana dependent on the
erratic assistance of colleagues and relatives.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
internationally
recognized right of journalists to seek, receive, and impart information and
ideas of all kinds
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, and Article 9 of the African Charter of Human
and People’s Rights, to all of which the Democratic Republic of Congo is a
signatory
release of Pambu Diana
Democratic Republic of Congo, and to commit his government to creating an
environment in which
journalists are able to work freely, without fear of reprisal
Appeals To
His Excellency Laurent-Désiré Kabila
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Ngaliema, Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo
Fax: +234 88 02120 / +1 202 234 2609
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
