(JED/IFEX) – The following is a 17 February 2003 JED press release: Kinshasa, 17 February 2003 Journalist from “La Tempête des Tropiques” newspaper and his wife arrested in Kinshasa On Friday 14 February 2003, at around 6:00 a.m., National Intelligence Agency (Agence nationale des renseignements, ANR) agents arrested Bamporiki Chamira, a journalist with the Kinshasa-based […]
(JED/IFEX) – The following is a 17 February 2003 JED press release:
Kinshasa, 17 February 2003
Journalist from “La Tempête des Tropiques” newspaper and his wife arrested in Kinshasa
On Friday 14 February 2003, at around 6:00 a.m., National Intelligence Agency (Agence nationale des renseignements, ANR) agents arrested Bamporiki Chamira, a journalist with the Kinshasa-based daily La Tempête des Tropiques, and his wife at their Kinshasa/Ngaliema home. They are being held at the ANR prison on Avenue ex-3Z in Kinshasa/Gombe.
According to ANR officials that Journaliste en danger (JED) met with on Monday, the arrest of the journalist and his wife is linked to “subversive activities” in which the couple and their eldest daughter are allegedly involved. Chamira’s daughter, who is currently on the run, reportedly orchestrated her husband’s escape from prison. Her husband, Commander Doris Mbenge, had been jailed since October 2002.
The ANR officials also claim that during their search of Chamira’s home, which they carried out on the afternoon of 14 February, “damning documents” were found. The officials did not wish to elaborate further on the nature of the documents they found.
Without commenting on the substance of the case, JED asks:
– that the principle of the presumption of innocence be scrupulously respected;
– that the customary procedures governing preventive detention and the holding of suspects in police custody be respected;
– that the journalist and his wife be brought before a judge and given the opportunity to defend themselves, with lawyers of their choosing, in a fair and open trial.
Tshivis T. Tshivuadi
Secretary-General
D. M’Baya Tshimanga
President
