CONGOLESE NATIONAL TV NETWORK SUSPENDS JOURNALISTS FOR

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001075 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM KPAO CG SUBJECT: CONGOLESE NATIONAL TV NETWORK SUSPENDS JOURNALISTS FOR ALLEGED SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES Sensitive but Unclassified. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On December 2, executives of the government-owned "Radio Television Nationale Congolaise" (RTNC) suspended twelve journalists for broadcasting footage of a protest march that purportedly highlighted seditious content. This decision is not a departure from RTNC's long history of lack of tolerance for diversity of opinion. End summary. ¶2. (U) On December 2, 2008, executives of the government-owned Radio Television Nationale Congolaise (RTNC) suspended twelve journalists for broadcasting information on a protest march against the conflict in eastern Congo that had been held in Brussels, Belgium, a few days before. The footage clearly showed a protester's sign demanding that DRC President Joseph Kabila step down. As a consequence, RTNC accused the journalists of being members of a mysterious group using the television network to pursue subversive goals. RTNC top executive Kipolongo Mukambilwa refused to comment on the suspension on the grounds that it is an administrative decision that does not concern the media. Suspended RTNC personnel include field journalists and TV editors. ¶3. (U) In reaction to RTNC's decision, human rights NGO Journalistes En Danger (JED) called on parliament to pass a law that would support the creation of unbiased public media open to all viewpoints. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Independent Congolese media have become freer and more diverse in the past fifteen years, but the government-owned national television network has persistently maintained its allegiance to the executive branch of Government. As a result, RTNC has been used as a propaganda mouthpiece by successive administrations willing to push their agendas in an environment devoid of dissent. Moreover, this tight grip on national media has kept RTNC journalists in subservience and fostered self-censorship with a resultant lack of balanced and objective reporting. End comment. GARVELINK