(JED/IFEX) – Richard Nsamba Olangi, publisher of the newspaper “Le Messager Africain”, and Jean-Pierre Mukuna Ekanga, editor of the newspaper “La Tribune de la Nation”, were once again arrested, on 15 and 17 August 2000, respectively, when they went to the Court of Military Order (Cour d’ordre militaire, COM) as witnesses for the defence, summoned […]
(JED/IFEX) – Richard Nsamba Olangi, publisher of the newspaper “Le Messager Africain”, and Jean-Pierre Mukuna Ekanga, editor of the newspaper “La Tribune de la Nation”, were once again arrested, on 15 and 17 August 2000, respectively, when they went to the Court of Military Order (Cour d’ordre militaire, COM) as witnesses for the defence, summoned by Aimé Kakese’s co-defendant, Nicolas Katako Okende, former magistrate and husband of the transport and communications minister for the current government, Odette Babandoa.
Katako is being tried for “treason in war-time”, for harboring the newpapers “Le Carrousel”, “Le Messager Africain” and “La Tribune de la Nation” in his Kinshasa/ Gombe offices, which the prosecution considers to be “manifestly hostile to the established power in Kinshasa”, and for “having gathered for political meetings with people belonging to unrecognised political parties”, in conformity with controversial statutory order No. 194. According to the prosecution, represented by military prosecutor Tsinu Pukuta, these charges are punishable by the death penalty according to Article 183, paragraph 3, of the Congolese Penal Code Book II. In his defence, Katako claimed to have only offered the use of his offices to the newspaper “Le Messager Africain”, which, according to him, is not hostile to the Kinshasa regime.
Nsamba, who was first arrested on 12 June and released on bail on 7 July, was interrogated about his relationship with Katako and the journalists Kakese and Mukuna, among other matters. Nsamba attested to the court that he never gave permission for Kakese and Mukuna to work in the premises lent to him by Katako.
The court also heard Mukuna on the subject of a series of articles in which he spoke of “Nazi and bandit journalism”. According to the prosecution, Mukuna “should have remained loyal to the leaders of the country and its institutions, in a time of war”. The journalist replied: “I do owe loyalty, but I also have a duty to my readers to present the truth.” He added that “Nazi and bandit journalism” alluded to the pro-government daily “L’Avenir”.
The hearings continue before the COM, which summoned representatives from two other pro-governmental newspapers, the dailies “L’Avenir” and “L’Observateur”, to appear in the hearings. Representatives from these two papers were summoned as witnesses for the prosecution by Katako, who accuses them of having been behind the campaign to demonise him and his wife, a minister in office.
