Text:
http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19981221_feat1.html
Source App: [Journalist and television editor arrested - Netscape]
Journalist and television editor arrested
December 21, 1998
Toronto - The following document was released by the Reporters sans fronti=E8res
(RSF), Paris: RSF is protesting the arrest of a journalist and = a television
editor of Congolese National Radiotelevision (Radiotelevision nationale
congolaise, RTNC).
According to RSF's information, Yvette Idi Lupantsha and Risasi Risonga, journalist and television editor with RTNC, respectively, were arrested on 19 December 1998 at 4:30 p.m. (local time). The journalist was taken to National Congolese Police (police nationale congolaise, ex-CIRCO) Special Services headquarters in Kinshasa and locked in a cell with Risonga, This arrest comes just two days after unknown individuals claiming to be from the National Information Agency (Agence nationale de renseignements, ANR) had tried to detain the journalist for questioning. Idi Lupantsha is accused of having forwarded video cassettes of a press conference by President Kabila to the United States embassy.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the President: - urging him to ensure the immediate
unconditional release of Idi Lupantsha and Risonga - reminding him that the
documents forwarded by Idi Lupantsha are not of a secret nature since the press
conference was broadcast on national television stations - also reminding him
that international texts, notably the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, which the Democratic Republic of Congo has ratified, indicate
that all persons have the right to spread information - explaining that
incarceration cannot be justified by the charges against the two RTNC employees
APPEALS TO:
Mr. Laurent-Desire Kabila President of the Republic Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Fax your letters of protest care of the DRC diplomatic representative in your country.
(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 K1N 8J3 Canada Fax: +1 613 747 9152
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Jean-Fran=E7ois Julliard or Frederic Lesain at RSF, rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: afrique@rsf.fr, Internet:=
The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of RSF. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.
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