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Alert

Journalist released, another to remain imprisoned for another three months

(RSF/JED/IFEX) - JED and RSF welcome the release of Delly Bonsange, publisher of the newspaper "Alerte Plus". However, the two organisations note that the newspaper's publication director, Raymond Kabala, is still detained at Kinshasa's Penitentiary and Re-education Centre (Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa, CPRK). He is only scheduled to be released in February 2003.




According to JED and RSF, the press freedom situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo did not improve in 2002. 49 journalists have been arrested by the security forces since Joseph Kabila's accession to power in January 2001. The Congolese head of state is still included on RSF's list of 39 international press freedom predators.

According to information collected by both organisations, Bonsange was released on 3 December after having spent over four months in detention. On 21 November, the Kinshasa/N'Djili High Court commuted the journalist's six-month prison sentence to a fine. The court also reduced Kabala's sentence from one year to seven months' imprisonment. In early September, the two men were sentenced for making "harmful accusations" and "writing falsehoods".

Kabala and Bonsange were arrested on 19 and 22 July, respectively, for publishing an article in which it was reported that Minister of Security and Public Order Mwenze Kongolo had allegedly been poisoned. "Alerte Plus" had published a correction admitting the information was false the very next day.

Bonsange had been hospitalised since late September as his health condition had worsened. While in prison, the journalist, who is a diabetic, was unable to follow his usual diet for his condition. He was taken to Kinshasa's Mama Yemo Hospital and placed under police surveillance.