25 09 12 AllAfrica.com: Congo-Kinshasa: The IFJ Joins Usypac to Call for a Presidential Pardon for Three Journalists

"We call on authorities in DRC to release
our three colleagues arrested after being accused of collaboration with the
armed guerillas movements. Their place is not definitely in prisons. Their
release would be a great act of press freedom promotion," said Gabriel
Baglo, IFJ Africa Director.

According to USYPAC, the three journalists for
whom presidential pardon are requested are Palata a journalist with Congolese
Channel CCTV sentenced for 20 years in prison and accused of being involved in
the case of General Faustin Munene who was sentenced in absentia to life
imprisonment by a military court for forming a rebellion in Bas-Congo province.

There are also Fortunat Kasongo and Pierre
Sosthène Kambidi accused of collaboration with armed rebels' movements.

USYPAC made this call during a two days regional
workshop sponsored by IFJ LOTCO project held in Kinshasa on September 19-20
with the objective to discuss the future of media in Central Africa.

"The presidential pardon would be a great
sign from the authorities in respecting human rights and promoting press
freedom, at the eve of the 14th French speaking countries Summit in Kinshasa
from 12 to 14 October," said Stanis Nkundiye, USYPAC President.

Participants of the Kinshasa workshop also call
on DRC, Gabon and Cameroon, all French speaking countries to put into practice
the Florence Agreement and to decriminalize press offenses as it is the case in
Congo and Chad.

"Such a decision will help promote
populations' access to information and help media play a key role in building
and consolidating participatory democracy," added Nkundiye.

 

———————————————————————————————————————–