Radio Lisanga Television was attacked by a group of armed men who set fire to the premises in what JED believes was a premeditated attack.
(JED/IFEX) – Journaliste en danger (JED) is shocked by the recent attack on Radio Lisanga Television (RLTV), a television station with ties to the opposition that broadcasts from Kinshasa. On the night of 6 September 2011, at approximately 2 a.m. (local time), a group of armed men set fire to its premises. According to JED, there is no doubt that the attack was premeditated by people who are openly hostile to the station. Consequently, JED calls on the government to immediately launch an investigation into the matter and to clarify its position regarding it.
According to information gathered by JED, RLTV was attacked by a group of armed people who climbed over the walls surrounding the station and threw tear gas into the offices. They subsequently doused the headquarters with gasoline and lit them on fire, before driving away in a jeep that was parked in front of the station.
According to eyewitness testimony collected by JED, the management team and journalists of the station had received several anonymous threats warning them of an arson attack, following their broadcasting of images of the empty stadium during the second congress of the ruling People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), which was held in August 2011.
(Please note that this is an abridged translation.)
