Private broadcaster suspended for seven days

Mbuji-Mayi - The local section of the media regulatory agency (Haute Autorité des Médias, HAM) in Mbuji-Mayi, a city in south-central DRC, on May 20 suspended for seven days all broadcasts by the privately-owned network, Radiotélévision Débout Kasaï (RTDK) after accusing the radio station of broadcasting two "defamatory" programs on 15 and 16 May and of uttering threats against Ngoyi Kasanji, governor of East Kasai province.

When questioned by a representative of the media watchdog body, Journalists en Danger (JED), Faustin Mutombo Hanshi Hatupu, HAM's provincial representative, admitted to not having heard the alleged threats himself, but justified the suspension on the basis of RTDK's refusal to deliver audio and video tapes of the incriminating programmes to him.

According to other sources, during the programme Espace ABC, broadcast on 15 May 2006, Auguy Ilunga, RTDK's owner, complained of being insulted by journalists from Radiotélévision Océan Pacifique (RTOP), which belongs to Governor Kasanji. In addition, during another call-in programme, Vibration Matinale, on 16 May, a television viewer commenting on the shortage of clean drinking water in that part of the country criticised Kasanji for not fulfilling promises made during the last election campaign to provide the city with water and electricity.

Armed guards are currently occupying RTDK's headquarters and JED has called upon the authorities immediately withdraw them and calls on Parliament to accelerate the process of establishing the new media regulatory agency (Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel et de la communication, CSAC).

Source: IFEX