(JED/IFEX) – On 20 June 2004, Modeste Shabani, director of Sauti ya mkaaji (Voice of the Farmer) community radio station, which broadcasts from the city of Kasongo, in Maniema province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was savagely beaten by armed men. The attackers were led by a certain Colonel Bokeone from the Kasongo garrison, who […]
(JED/IFEX) – On 20 June 2004, Modeste Shabani, director of Sauti ya mkaaji (Voice of the Farmer) community radio station, which broadcasts from the city of Kasongo, in Maniema province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was savagely beaten by armed men. The attackers were led by a certain Colonel Bokeone from the Kasongo garrison, who was previously an officer with the former rebel group RCD/Goma.
According to information obtained by JED, the men burst into the radio station’s premises and threatened all of the staff members who were present. They then took hold of Shabani and beat him viciously. The journalist is reportedly now in intensive care at Kasongo general hospital.
A journalist contacted by JED in Kindu, Maniema province’s main city, said Shabani’s attackers reportedly accused him of “getting too involved in questions of human rights regularly violated by men in uniform in this province.”
BACKGROUND:
Shabani was arrested and detained on 10, 11, 13 and 14 May by officers from the Congolese National Police’s (Police nationale congolaise) local branch and intelligence services agents after a warrant officer identified only as Modogo filed a complaint against the radio station.
Shabani has been accused of airing several news items on 2 and 3 May in which Modogo was said to have harassed residents of Samba, a village located 45 kilometres from Kasongo.
Since 11 May, Modogo has been making death threats against Sauti ya mkaaji radio journalists and promising to ransack the station’s studios.
