Journalist in Danger welcomes a recent decision by Katanga's broadcast regulator to allow Manono Community Radio to restart its activities. Mr. Justin Mussa Fundi, head of the Tanganyika district’s Communications Department, had illegally shut down the station for 20 days.
Journalist in Danger (JED) welcomes a recent decision by Katanga’s broadcast regulator (CSAC/Katanga) to allow Manono Community Radio to restart its activities. Mr. Justin Mussa Fundi, head of the Tanganyika district’s Communications Department, had illegally shut down the station for 20 days.
“Manono Community Radio was closed without following the appropriate procedure,” reads CSAC’s statement regarding the radio station’s suspension.
This decision was made after JED wrote a letter on 13 January 2014 to the president of CSAC, calling on him to order the re-opening of the radio station based in Manono, a district approximately 600 km away from Lubumbashi, capital of the Katanga Province (Southeast DRC). The station was shut down in flagrant violation of DRC’S laws guaranteeing press freedom.
According to information obtained by JED, Manono Community Radio began to broadcast again on Tuesday 28 January 2014, immediately after having officially received CSAC/Katanga’s decision.
Manono Community Radio had been prevented from broadcasting on 8 January 2014, by Mr. Justin Mussa Fundi, who accused this media outlet of calling upon teachers to participate in a general strike.
