(JED/IFEX) – Modeste Shabani, director of Sauti ya mkaaji (Voice of the Farmer) community radio station, which broadcasts from the city of Kasongo, in Maniema province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was arrested and detained on 10, 11, 13 and 14 May 2004 by officers from the Congolese National Police’s (Police nationale congolaise) local branch […]
(JED/IFEX) – Modeste Shabani, director of Sauti ya mkaaji (Voice of the Farmer) community radio station, which broadcasts from the city of Kasongo, in Maniema province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was arrested and detained on 10, 11, 13 and 14 May 2004 by officers from the Congolese National Police’s (Police nationale congolaise) local branch and intelligence services agents. The journalist was detained after a warrant officer identified only as Modogo filed a complaint against the radio station.
Shabani has been accused of airing several news items on 2 and 3 May in which Modogo was said to have harassed residents of Samba, a village located 45 kilometres from Kasongo. In April, the warrant officer allegedly robbed local citizens of livestock, a bicycle and money, and mistreated them in other ways.
According to JED’s infomation, Modogo has been making death threats against Sauti ya mkaaji journalists since 11 May. He also reportedly threatened to damage the station’s studios.
