(JED/IFEX) – Four days after a fire of unknown origin broke out at the Canal Congo Television (CCTV) and Canal Kin Television (CKTV) outlets, these stations can broadcast again. Since 22 September 2006, viewers in Kinshasa and some provinces of the DR Congo can again receive programmes broadcast by CCTV and CKTV. These two channels, […]
(JED/IFEX) – Four days after a fire of unknown origin broke out at the Canal Congo Television (CCTV) and Canal Kin Television (CKTV) outlets, these stations can broadcast again.
Since 22 September 2006, viewers in Kinshasa and some provinces of the DR Congo can again receive programmes broadcast by CCTV and CKTV. These two channels, as well as Radio Liberté (RALIK) are privately-owned by Jean Pierre Bemba, who is a candidate in the second round of the presidential election. These channels and RALIK were set ablaze on 18 September in the late afternoon in a fire whose origin so far remains unknown.
Voices have been raised, including that of Journalist in Distress (JED), calling for a thorough investigation to be carried out on the case. According to the DR Congo government, a joint investigation carried out by experts from the government and the United Nations Mission in DR Congo (MONUC) is reportedly under way to determine the exact origin of this sinister event, while the campaign for the second round of the presidential election, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), will run from 13 to 27 October 2006.
The editor-in-chief of CCTV and RALIK, Mr. Stéphane Kitutu, suffered serious burns because of the fire and is still in the emergency department at the Kinshasa General Hospital. Former Minister Kasongo Numbi, who is close to President Joseph Kabila and was roughed up during the fire, left the hospital where he was admitted on the night of 18 September 2006.
In a press release published by the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (Mouvement de Libération du Congo, MLC), Jean Pierre Bemba’s political party, Acting Secretary General Mr. Thomas Luhaka indicated that, according to the first news they received, everything confirms that the fire was arson.
