DRC PRESS MINISTER BANS

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000767 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO CG UNESCO SUBJECT: DRC PRESS MINISTER BANS SOME KINSHASA TV STATIONS Sensitive but Unclassified ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On September 10, 2008 Press Minister Emile Bongeli signed a decree shutting down five Kinshasa TV stations for allegedly running afoul of national media laws. A local human rights group depicts the ban as unsubstantiated and an attack on freedom of speech targeting opposition media. The ministerial order and a subsequent attack on another opposition TV station underscore the vulnerability of the DRC's independent media. Similar incidents in the past, however, were resolved quickly with stations returning to the air shortly after they were shut down. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The press minister's decree banned Africa TV, Couleurs TV, Radio Lisanga TV, Business Radio Television-Africa, and Canal 5. The reason given was their failure to submit certain administrative documents required by GODRC press laws. Africa TV and Couleurs TV are owned respectively by former DRC vice-presidents and current opposition figures Azaria Ruberwa and Zahidi Ngoma. Radio Lisanga TV belongs to opposition politician Roger Lumbala, a member of the Senate. ¶3. (U) According to the human rights organization Journalistes En Danger (JED),the banned TV stations have complied with all the paperwork required by the law. On September 15, JED Secretary-General Tshivis Tshivuadi stated the ministerial decree provided no legitimate rationale for shutting down these media outlets. He went on to say the ban was issued for political reasons, to gag irreverent opposition voices, and described the press minister's decision as a threat to press freedom. ¶4. (U) In a separate development, Global Television, a pro-opposition station, was attacked in the middle of the night September 12 after broadcasting an interview with Mwanda Nsemi, a member of parliament and leader of the tribal-political group Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK),a movement that is under close scrutiny because of alleged violent acts in the province of Bas-Congo. Nsemi blamed the government for an upsurge in fighting in the Kivu region. Following phone calls to the TV station from angry pro-government politicians, armed men in police garb and civilian clothes raided the TV station. A studio director was kidnapped, A/V tapes and equipment seized, and the station effectively shut down. A JED press release blames the attack on members of the intelligence services. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The Congolese media is weak, divided, and vulnerable to attacks and interference by those in political power. Though some members of government and others close to government circles are seen at times as encouraging attacks on the press, there does not appear to be any pattern to these abuses and media attacks. It is worth noting that the government banned some 30 broadcasters a year ago in October for similar reasons. These media organizations were eventually allowed to resume broadcasting two months later. End comment. GARVELINK