(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the jailing of the Congo Press Union president. According to RSF’s information, Stéphane Kitutu O’Léontwa, president of the professional organisation Union de la presse du Congo (Congolese Press Union, UPC) and former president-general delegate of Radiotélévision congolaise (Congolese Radio-television, RTNC), was detained for questioning by police officers on 8 May […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the jailing of the Congo Press Union
president.
According to RSF’s information, Stéphane Kitutu O’Léontwa, president of the
professional organisation Union de la presse du Congo (Congolese Press
Union, UPC) and former president-general delegate of Radiotélévision
congolaise (Congolese Radio-television, RTNC), was detained for questioning
by police officers on 8 May 1999, and placed in solitary confinement at the
judicial police building in Kinshasa – Gombé. Kitutu O’Leontwa is allegedly
being held instead of a journalist from the newspaper “Pot Pourri”, whom the
security services are searching for in conjunction with three recent
articles which were considered slanderous by authorities. The first article
was a satirical examination of the government. The second article, entitled
“Les Baluba réclame la dote de Tshala Mawana” (The Baluba ask for Tshala
Mawana dowry), examined the private life of President Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
The third article, entitled “34 ans de gâchis” (34 wasted years), included a
caricature representing President Kabila as the heir to former president
Mobutu.
The satirical newspaper has been using the UPC headquarters’ address as its
official address without the organisation’s authorisation. RSF is condemning
this practice, which can be explained by the government’s numerous legal
proceedings and extrajudicial attacks against the independent press. Kitutu
O’Léontwa had personally and publicly condemned independent newspapers’
practice of using the UPC headquarters’ address.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
of the justice system, without commenting on the government’s and the
president’s slander accusations against the newspaper “Pot Pourri”
their
responsibilities
Appeals To
His Excellency Laurent-Désiré Kabila
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Presidential palace, Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo
Fax: +243 88 02120 / +1 202 234 2609and/or c/o the diplomatic representative of your country:
(in the USA)
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Fax: +1 202 345 2609Mission of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United Nations
Fax: +1 212 319 8232(in France)
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Fax: +33 1 42 89 80 09(in Canada)
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Fax: +1 613 747 9152
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
