05 08 11 Congo-Kinshasa: Nord-Kivu Provincial Minister Suspends Radio Host
"It does not fall to you to take this kind of
measure and your action constitutes outright abuse of authority," the letter to
provincial minister Naason Kubuya Ndoole said. "The power to suspend a
journalist lies with the media regulatory authority. Currently, this is the High
Media Authority (HAM), which is due to be replaced by the High Council for
Broadcasting and Communication.
"There is no concrete basis for your
decision, which is shocking because of its draconian and utterly unacceptable
nature. We are therefore urging the CEO of Mishapi Voice TV to ignore your
instructions and we ask you to rescind your decision at
once."
In a 30 July letter to Mishapi Voice TV's
CEO, Ndoole accused Nyamugenda of "defamatory and insulting comments about the
local authorities." In particular, the minister claimed that, during broadcasts
on the evening of 29 July, Nyamugenda uttered "insults" about a provincial
minister "whose conduct is irreproachable." But at no time did Ndoole give the
details of the offending comments or name the minister he believed to have been
defamed.
It would seem that the minister's media
adviser, Edgard Mahungu, intends to bring defamation charges against Nyamugenda
under article 74 of the criminal code, which would expose him to the risk of a
prison sentence and a heavy fine.
In the same letter, the minister asked
Mishapi Voice TV's CEO to "initiate disciplinary action against this programme
host as soon as you receive this letter" and added that Nyamugenda "is not
permitted to work for any other broadcaster in this province until further
notice."
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