RSF protests actions against journalists

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 6 May 1998 letter to President Kabila RSF spoke out against the imprisonment of 4 journalists and a ban on a radio station. According to RSF, on 11 April 1998, Michel Luya, editor-in-chief of independent daily “Le Palmares”, was arrested in Kinshasa. He was released two days later. No charges were […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 6 May 1998 letter to President Kabila RSF spoke out
against the imprisonment of 4 journalists and a ban on a radio station.
According to RSF, on 11 April 1998, Michel Luya, editor-in-chief of
independent daily “Le Palmares”, was arrested in Kinshasa. He was released
two days later. No charges were laid and he was not even interrogated.
Luya’s newspaper had published a letter several days earlier from opposition
leader Etienne Tshisekedi, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to
democracy without violence. (for more information on this case see IFEX
alert of 16 April 1998).

On 12 April 1998, Peter Bohm, a correspondent for the Berlin daily “Die
Tages Zeitung” and for several Swiss newspapers, was arrested while taking
photos in the eastern part of the country, near the Rwandan and Ugandan
borders. The journalist has been detained in Kinshasa since then. On 27
April, a member of the German consulate was able to meet with Bohm, who is
being held in satisfactory conditions. Bohm is accused of “espionage”,
although he is unaware of the exact reason for his arrest. (not previously
reported by IFEX).

On 18 April 1998, the Vice-Minister of the Interior announced on state radio
the suspension of “all activities” of Radio Amani for “not respecting the
schedule of conditions.” The radio station, run by the archdiocese of
Kisangani, broadcasts the BBC African news. On the same day, 2 policemen
were stationed at the entrance of the building which houses the radio
station. The head of Radio Amani, Father Jose des Chartes Menga, had not yet
been told of the closure, which in principle could only be pronounced by the
High Court, according to a debate (not previously reported by IFEX).

Also on 18 April 1998, Andre Ipakala, editor of the private daily “La
Reference Plus”, was arrested by military security agents. An article
published in the paper on 15 April affirmed that the members of President
Kabila’s entourage maintained “private jails” in their homes. The article
repeated the accusations, which were in a letter addressed to the Justice
Minister by Omer Kande, a human rights activist. Ipakala was freed on 20
April after having been interrogated about his sources. (for more
information on this case see IFEX alert of 22 April 1998).

Elsewhere, Bosange Yema, editor of the newspaper “L’Alarme”, remains in
prison. The journalist has been detained at national police headquarters in
Kinshasa since 7 January 1998. His arrest was in connection with the
publication of a press release in “L’Alarme” demanding the release of
Joseph Olenghankoy, president of the opposition party, Forces novatrices
pour l’union et la solidarite (FONUS), who was arrested on 20 January 1998.
According to the Congolese (state) press agency, the journalist was
sentenced on an unspecified date for an “attack on state security”, by the
State Security Court, which in these circumstances sat inside the prison.
According to the same source, the verdict must be delivered within the next
8 days (from 6 May 1998): Yema risks one year imprisonment. The journalist
is diabetic and is not receiving the necessary medication for his illness.
His state is critical (for more information on this case see IFEX alert of
12 February 1998).

Recommended Action

Mr. Laurent-Desire Kabila

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo

in care of the embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo

(in France)

Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Fax: +33 1 42 89 80 09
(in Canada)

Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo

18 Range Road

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada K1N 8J3

Fax: +1 613 747 9152