(JED/IFEX) – On Friday 23 March 2001, Trudon Kiomba Shesha, a journalist with the weekly “Congo Wetu”, published in Mbujimayi (capital of the province of eastern Kasaï, central region of the country), was attacked by a group of Congolese National Police (Police nationale congolaise, PNC) agents in the middle of the day, in a place […]
(JED/IFEX) – On Friday 23 March 2001, Trudon Kiomba Shesha, a journalist with the weekly “Congo Wetu”, published in Mbujimayi (capital of the province of eastern Kasaï, central region of the country), was attacked by a group of Congolese National Police (Police nationale congolaise, PNC) agents in the middle of the day, in a place called Rond-point de l’Etoile.
According to information obtained by JED, when Kiomba left the newspaper offices to go home, he was intercepted by the police officers, who claimed to be doing a routine identity check. Once they saw his service card, and discovered that he worked for the editorial team of the “Congo Wetu”, they pounced on him. The officers said that they were searching for the organisers behind the newspaper, which they believed to be “critical of the governor of Eastern Kasaï province.”
Based on the information he received, “Congo Wetu” publisher Mbuyi Tshibuabua told JED that Kiomba was beaten up by the officers. He added that Kiomba was still receiving medical treatment in Mbujimayi hospital.
In issue 286 (22 March), “Congo Wetu” condemned the “xenophobic statements made by the governor of Eastern Kasaï, Paul Kabongo Misasa, as well as his greediness when it comes to selling public land.”
