(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: Paris, 7 September 2000 Journalist killed in territories controlled by rebels According to information obtained by Reporters sans frontières, Crispin Kandolo, a freelance cameraman, was killed on 5 September 2000 during an ambush in the Kahuzi Biega park, located in Bukavu (eastern region of the Democratic […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release:
Paris, 7 September 2000
Journalist killed in territories controlled by rebels
According to information obtained by Reporters sans frontières, Crispin Kandolo, a freelance cameraman, was killed on 5 September 2000 during an ambush in the Kahuzi Biega park, located in Bukavu (eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo). Some ten others died in this attack.
Since 24 July 2000, a team of technicians, officials and soldiers has been working, at the request of UNESCO, to demarcate the Kahuzi Biega park, in order to put an end to conflicts between the population bordering on the park and the park authorities. The journalist was covering the activities of this team when the events took place. According to the governor of South-Kivu, Norbert Basingizi Katintima, around 5 a.m. on 5 September, the men were surrounded and attacked by “Interahamwe” militiamen. The body of the journalist and those of many others were burned by the assailants.
Journalists who work in territories controlled by the Congolese Rally for Democracy (Rassemblement congolais pour la démocratie, RCD) are exposed to great danger. In addition to attacks from different militias, they must face reprisals from rebel authorities. In this way, Nicaise Bel Oka, publication director for the weekly Les Coulisses was arrested in Goma on 21 February 2000 and then beaten, before being released a few days later (see IFEX alerts of 11 July and 1 June 2000).
Reporters sans frontières calls on the RCD authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that journalists present in the territories that they control can work freely and securely.
