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Alert

JED demands investigation into anonymous death threats against three journalists

(JED/IFEX) - On 8 September 2009 at approximately 1:00 p.m. (local time), two Radio Okapi journalists, Delphine Namuto and Kadi Adzouba, received anonymous death threats on their mobile phones. The two radio presenters received the following message in Swahili: "You have got into the bad habit of meddling in what does not concern you as though you were untouchable; now some of you will die so that you will shut up. We have just had authorisation to start with Kadi, then Kamuntu then Namuto: a bullet in the head."

Radio Maendeleo journalist Jolly Kamuntu did not personally receive the SMS message. All evidence indicates that the three women were targeted as a result of their professional activities. According to information obtained by JED, the two Radio Okapi journalists cover various issues including sexual violence against women. Kamuntu hosts a judicial review co-produced by the Dutch NGO Benevolencia, which also works in the field of sexual violence against women in eastern DR Congo.

In a letter sent on 11 September to Prosecutor General Flory Kabange Numbi, JED urged him to open an investigation into the threats and demand information from the mobile telephone company Vodacom in order to find those responsible for the messages.