Cablegate: Media Authority Issues Further Rulings; Bemba Media Resume

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RR RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #1518 2721135
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291135Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4877
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001518

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KPAO CG
SUBJECT: Media Authority Issues Further Rulings; Bemba Media Resume
Broadcasting

REF: A) KINSHASA 1505, B) KINSHASA 1472, C) KINSHASA 1470,

D)KINSHASA 1434, E) KINSHASA 1401, F) KINSHASA 1388,

Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution.

1. (U) Summary: Bemba-owned TV stations, which had nearly been
destroyed by fire, have resumed broadcasting. A pro-Bemba radio
station, whose signal was shut down in late August, is also back on
the air. The High Media Authority (HAM) suspended or reprimanded two
Kinshasa TV stations September 26 for proscribed rhetoric, following
a series of other sanctions. To show its support for the HAM, the
Embassy today signed a small grant to help it reconstitute its
library which was destroyed in July. End Summary

Bemba Media, Phoenix-like
-------------------------

2. (U) On September 21, Bemba-owned Canal Kin TV and Canal Congo TV
recovered from a dramatic fire. Scarcely three days after the
conflagration which destroyed their studios (ref C), the two TV
stations are back on the air. Pro-Bemba Radio Liberte Kinshasa
(RALIK radio) is also back, after a 37-day "blackout" which began
August 20 as guards of President Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba
began a three-day firefight. Bemba media were back on the air in
time to cover the Vice President's rally at the FIKIN fair grounds
on September 23 (ref A), and well in time for the formal
second-round campaign period, which commences October 13.
The HAM, too
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3. (U) Itself a victim of violence on July 27, the High Media
Authority nonetheless continues its work of sanctioning media
provocateurs. The moderator of Moliere TV political talk show
"Salient Issues" was reprimanded and the show suspended September 26
by the High Media Authority (HAM) for a 15-day period. The TV
station itself was suspended for 48 hours. The offense was
defamatory, hate-filled statements made by Francis Kalombo, a
newly-elected member of the National Assembly from the pro-Kabila
PPRD. Mr. Kalombo is himself now under a 15-day ban from the media.
Like most broadcast media, Moliere TV signed a pledge to respect
rules of journalistic ethics one month ago (ref C). The pro-Bemba
Radio Television Lisanga, which also signed the pledge, was
reprimanded for allowing public incitation to violence.
4. (U) On September 24, the HAM imposed a 15-day media embargo on
several politicians for engaging in ethnic-based rhetoric (i.e.,
extolling "Congolite"). They were losing presidential candidate
Roger Lumbala, UDPS party officials Jean-Baptiste Bomanza (party
spokesman) and Firmin Kama, and Christian Badibangi. The HAM
imposed a 30-day media embargo for the same offense on another
losing presidential candidate, Joseph Olenghankoy, and suspended his
radio station Radio Sankuru Liberte for 45 days. Olenghankoy's
FONUS party rejected the HAM ban. The head of a prominent Congolese
human rights organization, Floribert Chebeya (Voice for the
Voiceless), reportedly criticized the HAM for imposing a Damocles
Sword over all media and politicians.

5. (SBU) Comment: With Bemba media back on the air so quickly, the
already strained political atmosphere is now free, at least, of
recriminations that the MLC presidential candidate was disadvantaged
in the media campaign (ref B). Its return, however, will likely
further polarize the public rhetoric as the October 29 election
approaches.

6. (SBU) Comment cont'd: The HAM indeed has its work cut out for
it as it bravely soldiers forth to try to keep the media campaign on
an even keel. On September 28 the Ambassador presided over the
signing of a small public affairs grant, which will help the HAM
reconstitute its archives destroyed when HAM headquarters were
looted on July 27. End Comment.

MEECE

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