MEDIA REGULATORY BODY BARS POLITICIANS FROM THE AIR,

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001730 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO CG ELECTIONS SUBJECT: MEDIA REGULATORY BODY BARS POLITICIANS FROM THE AIR, SUSPENDS VARIOUS MEDIA REF: KINSHASA 1701 Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution. ¶1. (U) Summary: Over the past week, the High Media Authority (HAM) sanctioned or warned several politicians for proclaiming the victory of either presidential candidate, and for other provocative speech. Three newspapers were suspended for election-related infractions. A number of television and radio stations are also suspended, pending submission of their required program schedules. End summary. Politicians Fingered -------------- ¶2. (U) The HAM November 3 imposed a seven-day ban on public statements by Olivier Kamitatu, the coordinator of the pro-Kabila Alliance for the Presidential Majority (AMP),and Joseph Olenghankoy, the campaign director of Jean-Pierre Bemba's Union for the Nation. On November 2, Olenghankoy publicly proclaimed the victory of Jean-Pierre Bemba, just days after the October 29 presidential election. Kamitatu made similar claims on a pro-Kabila TV station, based on a broad extrapolation of partial vote tallies announced by the Independent Electoral Commission November 5. On November 8, the HAM banned PPRD MP Francis Kalombo for seven days for suggesting that members of the Bemba camp were leaving the country. ¶3. (U) The HAM announced November 8 a warning against Finance Minister Marco Banguli and against Franck Djongo, a pro-Bemba member of parliament. They are accused of using offensive language, respectively, on pro-Kabila Digital Congo television and on Bemba's CCTV. Publications Suspended -------------- ¶4. (U) The pro-Kabila weekly "Le Soft 2 International" received a one-month suspension for publishing November 6 unofficial election results and headlining on several pages that Kabila had won, contrary to electoral law. "L'Avenir", a pro-Kabila daily, received a two-day suspension for publishing the same day an article alleging that Bemba's wife and children had gone to Western Europe in anticipation of a Bemba defeat and violence. ¶5. (U) Before that suspension went into effect, "L'Avenir" published an article November 7 which was judged defamatory with respect to Jean-Pierre Bemba, earning it a three-day suspension beginning November 11. The weekly and pro-Bemba "Africa News" was suspended November 8 for one month for a November 7 article claiming the existence of a plot against Bemba. Electronic Media Suspended for Procedural Flaws -------------- -- ¶6. (U) Several television and radio stations were suspended starting November 9, until they submit their required weekly programming schedule to the HAM. They are RTP TV, Moliere TV, Mirador TV, Mirador FM radio, radio Elikya, RTP, Reveil FM, radio ECC, Canal Futur and Radio Parole de l'Eternel. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: The HAM continues to take seriously its task of reining in partisan media. Notwithstanding the HAM's efforts, however, the camps of the two presidential candidates will continue to turn to their media outlets to promote their frequently distorted interpretation of the results. End comment MEECE