Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KINSHASA425
2009-04-30 10:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
MINISTER THREATENS TO CLOSE FRENCH RADIO SERVICE; SIMILAR
how-toVZCZCXRO7031 RR RUEHJO DE RUEHKI #0425 1201053 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301053Z APR 09ZDF FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9543 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1249 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000425
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO PREL PHUM CG
SUBJECT: MINISTER THREATENS TO CLOSE FRENCH RADIO SERVICE; SIMILAR
THREATS IN PAST, HOWEVER, HAVE NOT BEEN ACTED ON
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY
UNCLAS KINSHASA 000425
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO PREL PHUM CG
SUBJECT: MINISTER THREATENS TO CLOSE FRENCH RADIO SERVICE; SIMILAR
THREATS IN PAST, HOWEVER, HAVE NOT BEEN ACTED ON
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Summary: Communications and Media Affairs Minister
Norbert Mende Omalanga threatened last week to close Radio France
International (RFI) for allegedly attempting to destabilize the
Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (GDRC).
According to a French embassy source, a number of similar threats
have been made over the past two years as GDRC authorities have been
increasingly critical of RFI's coverage of the government's policies
and actions. The minister, who is known for making ill-advised
statements, does not appear to have spoken in this case on
instructions from above. GDRC threats against RFI are essentially
hollow as Kinshasa listeners can easily pick up the service's FM
broadcasts from across the river in Brazzaville, Republic of the
Congo. Freedom of the press in the DRC is fragile and we will
continue to monitor all threats against the independent media. End
summary.
2. (SBU) During an April 22 meeting of the Alliance for the
Presidential Majority (AMP),a coalition of political parties that
supports President Joseph Kabila, Mende warned that the government
might shut down the French Government's international radio service,
Radio France International (RFI). The statement was made in the
context of government accusations that RFI reporting on the DRC is
biased. According to Kelefa Kamano, the information officer of the
French Embassy, government officials have made similar threats over
the past 30 months without actually following through on them.
There is an ongoing discussion between RFI and the GDRC, Kelefa
said, the outcome of which is unpredictable.
3. (U) Note: On July 3, 2006, RFI correspondent Ghislaine Dupont
was expelled from the DRC. The GDRC accused Dupont of working in
the Congo without proper accreditation. Observers have pointed out
that in fact Dupont had filed stories alleging official
discrimination against Congolese Tutsis. Prior to her expulsion,
Dupont worked in the DRC in 1996-97 covering the final days of the
Mobuto regime and filing reports on Laurent Kabila's final assault
on Kinshasa. End note.
4. (U) Note: RFI has transmission towers in Kinshasa and in
Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, which is directly
across the Congo River from Kinshasa. Listeners can also access the
radio station's online news and other programs. In effect, Mende's
threats are hollow as the GDRC does not have the ability to prevent
Kinshasa listeners from tuning in to RFI's broadcasts on frequencies
originating in Brazzaville. End note.
5. (SBU) Comment: Mende is well known for intemperate statements.
Late last year he said publicly that Indians were not welcome in the
DRC as part of MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping operation,
thereby contributing to an extended crisis that has been resolved
with India's decision just last week, after apologies from the DRC,
not to withdraw from MONUC. We do not believe Mende was acting in
this instance on orders from above, but the long-standing dispute
between the DRC and RFI could escalate further, even if the GDRC is
unable to prevent Kinshasa's citizens from listening to RFI's
broadcasts from Brazzaville. Also, it is unlikely that the GDRC
will directly attack French interests, as it is well known that the
French Government has been considering for some time moving all Air
France operations to Brazzaville, which would severely hamper GDRC
officials' ability to travel to and from Europe. Although Mende and
other high-ranking GDRC authorities have previously closed down
newspapers, these actions were short-lived and the newspapers were
re-opened, usually just days after they were closed. Nonetheless,
freedom of the press in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot
be taken for granted. We will continue to monitor this and all
threats to press freedom in the DRC. End comment.
GARVELINK
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO PREL PHUM CG
SUBJECT: MINISTER THREATENS TO CLOSE FRENCH RADIO SERVICE; SIMILAR
THREATS IN PAST, HOWEVER, HAVE NOT BEEN ACTED ON
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Summary: Communications and Media Affairs Minister
Norbert Mende Omalanga threatened last week to close Radio France
International (RFI) for allegedly attempting to destabilize the
Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (GDRC).
According to a French embassy source, a number of similar threats
have been made over the past two years as GDRC authorities have been
increasingly critical of RFI's coverage of the government's policies
and actions. The minister, who is known for making ill-advised
statements, does not appear to have spoken in this case on
instructions from above. GDRC threats against RFI are essentially
hollow as Kinshasa listeners can easily pick up the service's FM
broadcasts from across the river in Brazzaville, Republic of the
Congo. Freedom of the press in the DRC is fragile and we will
continue to monitor all threats against the independent media. End
summary.
2. (SBU) During an April 22 meeting of the Alliance for the
Presidential Majority (AMP),a coalition of political parties that
supports President Joseph Kabila, Mende warned that the government
might shut down the French Government's international radio service,
Radio France International (RFI). The statement was made in the
context of government accusations that RFI reporting on the DRC is
biased. According to Kelefa Kamano, the information officer of the
French Embassy, government officials have made similar threats over
the past 30 months without actually following through on them.
There is an ongoing discussion between RFI and the GDRC, Kelefa
said, the outcome of which is unpredictable.
3. (U) Note: On July 3, 2006, RFI correspondent Ghislaine Dupont
was expelled from the DRC. The GDRC accused Dupont of working in
the Congo without proper accreditation. Observers have pointed out
that in fact Dupont had filed stories alleging official
discrimination against Congolese Tutsis. Prior to her expulsion,
Dupont worked in the DRC in 1996-97 covering the final days of the
Mobuto regime and filing reports on Laurent Kabila's final assault
on Kinshasa. End note.
4. (U) Note: RFI has transmission towers in Kinshasa and in
Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, which is directly
across the Congo River from Kinshasa. Listeners can also access the
radio station's online news and other programs. In effect, Mende's
threats are hollow as the GDRC does not have the ability to prevent
Kinshasa listeners from tuning in to RFI's broadcasts on frequencies
originating in Brazzaville. End note.
5. (SBU) Comment: Mende is well known for intemperate statements.
Late last year he said publicly that Indians were not welcome in the
DRC as part of MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping operation,
thereby contributing to an extended crisis that has been resolved
with India's decision just last week, after apologies from the DRC,
not to withdraw from MONUC. We do not believe Mende was acting in
this instance on orders from above, but the long-standing dispute
between the DRC and RFI could escalate further, even if the GDRC is
unable to prevent Kinshasa's citizens from listening to RFI's
broadcasts from Brazzaville. Also, it is unlikely that the GDRC
will directly attack French interests, as it is well known that the
French Government has been considering for some time moving all Air
France operations to Brazzaville, which would severely hamper GDRC
officials' ability to travel to and from Europe. Although Mende and
other high-ranking GDRC authorities have previously closed down
newspapers, these actions were short-lived and the newspapers were
re-opened, usually just days after they were closed. Nonetheless,
freedom of the press in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot
be taken for granted. We will continue to monitor this and all
threats to press freedom in the DRC. End comment.
GARVELINK