(JED/IFEX) – Guy Kasongo Kilembwe, editor-in-chief of the Kinshasa-based satirical newspaper “Pot-Pourri”, was transferred to Kinshasa’s Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre (Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa, CPRK, former Makala central prison) on 31 August 2003, at around 6:00 a.m. (local time). The journalist was arrested on 29 August and spent two days in police […]
(JED/IFEX) – Guy Kasongo Kilembwe, editor-in-chief of the Kinshasa-based satirical newspaper “Pot-Pourri”, was transferred to Kinshasa’s Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre (Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa, CPRK, former Makala central prison) on 31 August 2003, at around 6:00 a.m. (local time). The journalist was arrested on 29 August and spent two days in police custody at the Kinshasa/Gombe Public Prosecutor’s Office’s jail prior to his transfer.
According to Kasongo’s wife, the journalist had a confrontation with the plaintiff, Pius Mwabilu, general manager of L’Avenir Group Radio-Television and publisher of the daily “L’Avenir”, on 30 August, in Judge Kodia Ntoto’s chambers. Judge Ntoto is the examining magistrate in the case.
In addition, Mwabilu called JED Secretary-General Tshivis Tshivuadi on 31 August, during the evening, and uttered death threats against him. He accused JED of taking sides in the case and promised to do everything possible “to prevent [JED] from continuing to humiliate [him].”
In its 1 September edition (issue 1895), “L’Avenir” newspaper also launched a bitter attack against JED, accusing the organisation of being biased and supporting opposition newspapers.
JED has consulted with its lawyers following the threats against the group’s secretary-general. The organisation will hold Mwabilu responsible for any regrettable incident that might befall JED or one of its members.
