(JED/IFEX) – The following is a JED press release: Congolese Press Day Kinshasa, 22 July 2002 The DRC celebrates press freedom with one journalist in prison Since 1971, the Democratic Republic of Congo has celebrated National Press Day on 22 July. This occasion gives the government, media organisations and journalists the opportunity to take a […]
(JED/IFEX) – The following is a JED press release:
Congolese Press Day
Kinshasa, 22 July 2002
The DRC celebrates press freedom with one journalist in prison
Since 1971, the Democratic Republic of Congo has celebrated National Press Day on 22 July. This occasion gives the government, media organisations and journalists the opportunity to take a moment to reflect on the freedom to inform and be informed, one of the fundamental human rights recognised in Articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 9 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Journaliste en Danger (JED) wishes to underline the absence of Raymond Kabala, publication director of the newspaper “Alerte Plus”, from the various events marking this day. He is incarcerated at Kinshasa’s Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre (CPRK, Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa, former Makala Central Prison). With this journalist in prison, the national community, led by the government, will be praising the benefits of press freedom at Kinshasa’s Grand Hotel!
The publication director of “Alerte Plus”, a Kinshasa-based daily, was arrested on Friday 19 July 2002, at around 8:45 a.m. (local time), at Place Victoire in Kinshasa/Kalamu. The journalist was detained by armed individuals in civilian clothes who were travelling in a jeep. On Saturday 20 July, in the afternoon, he was taken to Pavilion 11 of the CPRK.
The journalist has been charged with distribution of false news. On 11 July 2002, “Alerte Plus” published a story in which it was reported that “[Security and Public Order Minister] Mwenze Kongolo was reportedly poisoned”. The information was untrue and the newspaper published a correction in its Friday 12 July 2002 edition.
JED notes that Raymond Kabala is the 40th journalist to be incarcerated for exercising his professional duties since President Joseph Kabila came to power in January 2001.
On this National Press Day, JED asks the government to release Raymond Kabala immediately and unconditionally. To follow up on the remarks of the United Nations special rapporteur for freedom of expression, JED believes that imposing a prison sentence for a crime such as “the distribution of false news” constitutes an attack on freedom of expression and is essentially designed to silence media outlets and journalists.
