NATIONAL TELEVISION JOURNALISTS ARRESTED FOR UNION ACTIVISM

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000943 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KPAO CG SUBJECT: NATIONAL TELEVISION JOURNALISTS ARRESTED FOR UNION ACTIVISM Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Three journalists of the public broadcaster Radio Nationale Television Congolaise (RTNC) were arrested because of their trade union activities on 26 and 27 July 2007. A local human rights organization condemned the arrests and warned of a pattern of questionable detainments across the country. The arrest of the trade unionists underscores, again, the need to support efforts aimed at promoting a responsible and independent press, especially in regard to state-controlled media. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On the basis of testimony collected from RTNC staff, local media watchdog Journaliste En Danger (JED) reported that RTNC journalists Vincent Hata, Michel Shango and Eugene Risasi Tambwe were arrested for attempting to convene a general assembly that would include all RTNC employees in order to demand payment of ten months' bonus arrears. Makolo Tshilumbayi, a non-journalist who was in the RTNC compound to visit RTNC general manager Emmanuel Kipolongo, was mistaken for a trade unionist and arrested at the same time. Kipolongo is said to have accused the journalists of preparing a meeting with a view to destroying the national TV's installations. He reportedly ordered the presidential guards who protect RTNC premises to apprehend the journalists. The union activists' meeting came as a last resort following RTNC management's persistent refusal to negotiate the bonus arrears with union delegates. ¶3. (U) After being held and ill-treated in a presidential guard camp, Hata, Shango, Tambwe and Tshilumbayi were transferred on July 28 to a detention centre of the police Directorate for General Intelligence and Special Services (DRGS). According to a DRGS officer, the three journalists and Tshilumbayi were charged with "insulting the president, trying to destabilize RTNC and shame the government by launching a strike." Tambwe and Tshilumbayi were released on July 31. JED, however, noted an increase in questionable arrests across the DRC and the violation of the constitutionally-granted right to engage in trade union activities. The rights group called for the appearance of the remaining imprisoned journalists in a legitimate court. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: For many years and under different regimes, RTNC has been used by successive governments as an instrument for propaganda. The Kabila government has continued this longstanding tradition of strict central government control over state-owned media, including editorial content. While there have been occasional signs of improvement, these practices continue, strongly limiting journalistic objectivity on the part of RTNC reporters and staff, and providing only a very limited right to dissent. It is hoped that in the coming months the DRC National Assembly will adopt proposed press legislation establishing, among other priorities, a regulatory system that provides for the independence and neutrality of the national media. End comment. MEECE