(WAN/IFEX) – WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) are expressing their serious concern at the disappearance of a newspaper publisher and an editor, and the harassment of a journalist. According to reports, Richard Nsamba and Matthieu Elonge Ossako, publisher and editor respectively of “Le Messager Africain”, disappeared on 3 May 2000. The disappearances followed […]
(WAN/IFEX) – WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) are expressing their serious concern at the disappearance of a newspaper publisher and an editor, and the harassment of a journalist.
According to reports, Richard Nsamba and Matthieu Elonge Ossako, publisher and editor respectively of “Le Messager Africain”, disappeared on 3 May 2000. The disappearances followed the issuing of a warrant for their arrest by a Kinshasa court on 27 April. WAN and the WEF are concerned that the disappearances and the arrest warrant might be connected with their magazine’s reports on the credibility of Eastern Kasai governor Jean-Charles Okoto. They are also concerned that “Le Messager Africain” journalist M.A. Kiambi has been repeatedly threatened with arrest for no apparent reason.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– reminding him that if the disappearance of Nsamba and Ossako and the threats made against Kiambi are related to their journalistic activities, it is a clear breach of their right to freedom of expression
– recalling that this right is guaranteed by numerous international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which his country is a party
– further noting that the United Nations Commission on Human Rights considers that
“detention, as punishment for the peaceful expression of an opinion, is one of the most reprehensible ways to enjoin silence and, as a consequence, a grave violation of human rights”
– calling on him to ensure that Nsamba and Ossako are found swiftly and returned to their families, and that the threats against Kiambi are halted immediately
– urging him to do everything in his power to ensure that all journalists in his country are able to practise their profession without harassment of any kind
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:His Excellency Laurent-Désiré Kabila
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Ngaliema, Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo
C/o Embassy in USA
Fax: +234 88 02120 / +1 202 234 2609Please copy appeals to WAN.
