Articles by Journaliste en danger (JED)
JED correspondent arrested at Lubumbashi international airport
(JED/IFEX) – On 20 April 2004, at around 11:00 a.m. (local time), National Intelligence Agency (Agence nationale des renseignements, ANR) officers arrested journalist Faustin Bella Mako at Lubumbashi/Luano international airport. Bella Mako is JED’s correspondent in Katanga province and editor of the Lubumbashi-based weekly “Congo News”. The journalist was arrested as he prepared to board […]
Soldiers raid private radio station in Tshikapa
(JED/IFEX) – On 1 April 2004, at around 7:30 p.m. (Kinshasa time), seven Military Intelligence (Détection militaire des activités anti-patrie, DEMIAP) soldiers and three National Intelligence Agency (Agence nationale des renseignements, ANR) officers raided the offices of Radio Kilimandjaro, a private station in Tshikapa, the second largest city in West Kasai province, central Democratic Republic […]
Publisher-editor of “Les Coulisses” newspaper appears before Beni court
(JED/IFEX) – On 30 March 2004, Nicaise Kibel-Bel-Oka, publisher-editor of “Les Coulisses” newspaper, appeared before a court in Beni, North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He faces charges for having allegedly defamed and defrauded a Mr. Kiangu, a high-profile businessman in that area of the country. The hearing lasted three hours and […]
State Prosecutor’s Office demands BBC correspondent reveal his sources
(JED/IFEX) – On 30 March 2004, Arnaud Zajtman, the BBC’s Kinshasa correspondent, was summoned to appear before the State Prosecutor’s Office in Kinshasa/Gombe. The journalist went to the office, where a judge questioned him for close to 20 minutes about the “events of 8 March at the Palace of the People”, which the BBC had […]
Publication director of satirical newspaper “Pili-Pili” released on bail
(JED/IFEX) – On 27 March 2004, in the early afternoon, Jean-Denis Lompoto, publication director of the Kinshasa-based satirical bi-weekly “Pili-Pili” (“Pepper”), was granted a provisional release after paying US$100 in bail. Upon his release, the journalist thanked all those who supported him, “particularly Congolese and foreign press freedom organisations and media outlets.”
Attacks against journalists and media outlets increase significantly
(JED/IFEX) – On 29 March 2004, at 11:00 a.m. (local time), the head of the National Intelligence Agency’s (Agence nationale des renseignements, ANR) Mutshima office issued a broadcast ban against Radio Mutshima, a local radio station. Radio Mutshima director Patient Kolela told JED that the ANR has accused the station of operating illegally. Mutshima is […]
Court cancels arrest warrant against publisher-editor of “Les Coulisses” newspaper
(JED/IFEX) – On 24 March 2004, a court in Beni, North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, cancelled the arrest warrant issued on 16 March against Nicaise Kibel-Bel-Oka, publisher-editor of “Les Coulisses” newspaper. Following the decision, the journalist came out of hiding. In a telephone discussion with JED on 25 March, Kibel-Bel-Oka explained that […]
Publication director of satirical newspaper “Pili-Pili” jailed for “defamation” in Kinshasa
(JED/IFEX) – On 19 March 2004, at about 4:00 p.m. (local time), Jean-Denis Lompoto, publication director of the Kinshasa-based satirical bi-weekly “Pili-Pili (“Pepper”), was arrested by seven police inspectors from the Kinshasa/Kalamu High Court Prosecutor’s Office. Lompoto was detained as he was leaving a press conference at Saint Joseph Church, in Kinshasa/Kalamu’s Matonge neighbourhood. The […]