(JED/IFEX) – John Kinkendu and Monolphe Boso, a cameraman and journalist, respectively, from AITV/RFO (International Television Agency), were arrested and detained on 16 August 2002, at approximately 3:00 p.m. (local time). They were released that same day at approximately 6:30 p.m. After viewing a film shot by the journalists, the Congolese National Police commander from […]
(JED/IFEX) – John Kinkendu and Monolphe Boso, a cameraman and journalist, respectively, from AITV/RFO (International Television Agency), were arrested and detained on 16 August 2002, at approximately 3:00 p.m. (local time). They were released that same day at approximately 6:30 p.m. After viewing a film shot by the journalists, the Congolese National Police commander from the Kinshasa/Gombe Central Police Station determined that none of the images were compromising and that the journalists’ working papers were in order.
Both journalists were apprehended as they were covering a story about handicapped persons who live behind the former Sozacom building in Kinshasa/Gombe. Ibrahim Ramazani, the protocol officer who apprehended them, stated that the journalists were missing the required accreditation necessary to carry out their work. The journalists only had in their possession an official document describing the type of work that they were expecting to carry out.
Further to the release of Achille Ekele N’Golyma, publication director of the satirical newspaper “Pot-Pourri”, on 15 August, two journalists remain imprisoned in Kinshasa. Delly Bonsange and Raymond Kabala have been jailed since 19 and 22 July respectively (see IFEX alerts of 16, 13 and 9 August, 31, 26, 23 and 22 July 2002). They appeared before hearings of the Kinshasa/N’Djili Tribunal on 16 and 17 August. The hearings took place at Kinshasa’s Penitentiary and Re-education Centre (CPRK, former Makala Central Prison). Minister of Security and Public Order Mwenze Kongolo is suing the journalists for having directed “harmful accusations” against him.
