Democratic Republic of Congo
Information minister bans news organizationsPosted Nov 2 2007
Information Minister Tousssaint Tshilombo Send annouced on October 20 a ban on approximately 22 private television channels and 16 radio stations for alleged regulatory noncompliance.
“This measure aims to clean up the airwaves in Democratic Republic of Congo and leave theme to the real professionals,” Send was quoted saying by radiookapi.net.
Faustin Fwafa, Send's chief of staff, told the Commitee to Protect Journalists the stations were operating without official documentation of authorization and were in default of required fees or taxes.
Local journalists told CPJ the ruling came without notice or hearing, is an attempt to intimidate stations near the opposition and comes when the government is preparing to distribute approximately 2 million U.S. dollars in state subsidy funds to impoversihed public and private meida houses.
Fwafa said the audit thus far has only affected commercial broadcasters in Kinshasa but will spread into provinces. Dozens of community radio and television stations, who can not pay the regulatry fees, are threatened by audit according to the Congo Federation of Community Radio Stations.