Congo Média Channel Télévision was evicted from its headquarters on 24 October by police officers who illegally occupied its premises.
(JED/IFEX) – 25 October 2011 – Journaliste en danger (JED) is disappointed by the news of the eviction of Congo Média Channel Télévision (CMC TV), a station close to the opposition, from its headquarters. The station belongs to Kudura Kasongo, a former spokesman for President Joseph Kabila who has since moved to the opposition to support the candidacy of Vital Kamerhe in the presidential election campaign. Kamerhe is also a former member of the presidential party who switched to the opposition following his forced resignation from the position of National Assembly speaker.
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According to information obtained by JED, CMC TV was evicted from its headquarters on 24 October by police officers of the national police force, who illegally occupied its premises.
Refusing to allow the journalists to enter or exit the building, the police officers threw the station’s belongings on the street on the pretext that they received a request from the landlord to evict all of the building’s tenants.
Contacted by JED, Pascaline Kudura, general director of CMC TV, stated that in fact they were the only tenants to be evicted, despite having a proper lease in good standing. She attributes the move to Kudura Kasongo’s critical comments that have upset the authorities and views the station’s eviction as a naked attempt to silence opposition voices.
Please note that this is an abridged translation
