(JED/IFEX) – The following is an 11 August 2002 JED press release: Kinshasa, 11 August 2002 JED asks courts and tribunals to follow recommendations outlined in justice minister’s letter In a 9 August 2002 letter to all Appeals Court and Court of Military Order (Cour d’ordre militaire, COM) prosecutors concerning the systematic arrest of journalists, […]
(JED/IFEX) – The following is an 11 August 2002 JED press release:
Kinshasa, 11 August 2002
JED asks courts and tribunals to follow recommendations outlined in justice minister’s letter
In a 9 August 2002 letter to all Appeals Court and Court of Military Order (Cour d’ordre militaire, COM) prosecutors concerning the systematic arrest of journalists, Minister of Justice Ngele Masudi recalls, “…in Congolese law, preventive detention is a measure that can only be taken in accordance with Article 27 and subsequent articles of the Penal Code.” The minister’s letter was copied to Journaliste en danger (JED) and Médias pour la Paix. The minister adds, “in no instance can a person’s status as a journalist be the sole determining factor in justifying the systematic recourse to preventive detention or arrest of the said individuals, who play a fundamental role in the consolidation of democracy in our country.” At the end of his letter, Ngele Masudi asks Appeals Court and COM general prosecutors to see to it that “all abuses are punished.”
JED welcomes the justice minister’s position and urges the courts and tribunals that sentence journalists to detention at the CPRK (Kinshasa Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre, former Makala Central Prison) to follow the minister’s directive. In plain language, JED asks the courts and tribunals to release all imprisoned journalists and put an end to systematic jail sentences, especially as concerns journalists.
The Matete Appeals Court, Kinshasa/Gombe High Court and COM Prosecutors’ Offices currently detain journalists Raymond Kabala and Delly Bonsange of “Alerte Plus”, Achille Ekele N’Golyma of “Pot-Pourri” and Eugène Ngimbi Mabedo of “L’Intermédiaire”. In Achille Ekele’s case, even though Mr. Joseph Olenghankoy, president of FONUS (Forces novatrices pour l’Union et la Solidarité), withdrew his complaint against the journalist in a letter dated 3 August 2002 but only circulated on 6 August 2002, JED is surprised that the Kinshasa/Gombe High Court Prosecutor’s Office continues to detain the journalist. In such circumstances, how is it possible to view this as anything other than harassment and the systematic use of imprisonment as a means to enjoin silence?
D. M’Baya Tshimanga
President
