(JED/IFEX) – The Kinshasa-based Radio Television Message of Life (RTMV) started broadcasting again on 17 May 2006 at 3:00 p.m. (local time) following three days of interruption after armed Congolese special services police cut its signal. Contacted by JED, director of the channel, Thoms Mwanza, declared: “We had to purchase another circuit breaker to replace […]
(JED/IFEX) – The Kinshasa-based Radio Television Message of Life (RTMV) started broadcasting again on 17 May 2006 at 3:00 p.m. (local time) following three days of interruption after armed Congolese special services police cut its signal.
Contacted by JED, director of the channel, Thoms Mwanza, declared: “We had to purchase another circuit breaker to replace the one torn off by the police. We started broadcasting again right away because there had been no official prohibition of our channel.”
In a press release on 15 May, JED called for the immediate re-establishment of the private television station’s signal. The station is owned by televangelist Kuthino Fernando. At the same time, JED denounced the repressive trend of attacks on private media in DRC that is depriving thousands of people of information that they need.
The RTMV ceased broadcasting on 14 May at 6:00 p.m. after armed Congolese special services police cut its signal. The police attacked the church headquarters and ordered the electricity to be cut in the district where the broadcaster’s offices are located, to stop RTMV from live broadcasting the arrest of the head of the church, Fernando Kuthino.
