(JED/IFEX) – Nelson Ntamba, a journalist with Radio Communitaire Muanda (RCM), broadcast from Muanda, a city situated in the south province of Bas-Congo, in south-western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was severely beaten on 2 February 2007. He was assaulted by Michel Mbuyi, a commander with the territory administration office where the General Staff of […]
(JED/IFEX) – Nelson Ntamba, a journalist with Radio Communitaire Muanda (RCM), broadcast from Muanda, a city situated in the south province of Bas-Congo, in south-western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was severely beaten on 2 February 2007. He was assaulted by Michel Mbuyi, a commander with the territory administration office where the General Staff of the Congolese National Army set up after fighting began between government forces and followers of the political religious movement, Bundu dia kongo (BDK).
Ntamba, in a telephone call with JED on 7 February, explained that he had gone to the Muanda territory administration office to collect information about the burial of military officers who were killed in the fighting that had occurred on the previous day, 1 February, in several cities in the province, including Matadi, Boma and Muanda. The fighting resulted in the death of approximately 100 people, according to official sources, which included a dozen soldiers and police officers.
When he arrived, the journalist witnessed soldiers beating two young men whom they accused of killing their commander. Wanting to find out more about the violence, Ntamba went in to see the city’s deputy territory administrator, Vincent Dikila. Suddenly, the journalist was violently seized by Commander Mbuyi and accused of being a spy. Other soldiers rushed in and beat the journalist for several minutes. Ntamba received severe head injuries, from which he has not yet recovered.
JED supports the action taken by RCM, which decided to file a complaint against Commander Michel Ntumba. The organisation asks that the Muanda military auditor seek justice for the journalist by disciplining his attackers.
