Cablegate: Political Figure Ngoy Runs Afoul of Media Authority

P 111122Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4922
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
CIA WASHDC
DIA WASHDC
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001557

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM ELECTIONS CG
SUBJECT: POLITICAL FIGURE NGOY RUNS AFOUL OF MEDIA AUTHORITY

REF: KINSHASA 01270

1. (U) Pastor Theodore Ngoy, a minor opposition figure
arrested in 2005 for offending the president, has made
headlines again by violating the Code of Good Conduct for
Political Parties and the Media. During an October 3
political broadcast on Canal Congo Television (CCTV), which
is owned by Vice President and presidential candidate
Jean-Pierre Bemba, Ngoy reportedly made statements "inciting
hate and xenophobia." Specifically, he invoked President
Kabila's "non-Congolese" ethnicity. Ngoy also campaigned for
Bemba on the broadcast before the official opening of the
presidential campaign which begins October 13 at midnight.
The High Authority for Media (HAM) on October 8 issued an
embargo on any media coverage for Ngoy for seven days. Any
print or broadcast outlet that fails to abide by the embargo
will face sanctions themselves.

2. (U) Reportedly a candidate for provincial office after
his stymied presidential bid, Ngoy has also signed on as one
of Bemba's campaign managers and a spokesmen for Bemba's
alliance, the Union of the Nation.

3. (U) Kabila's campaign advisor, Theodore Mugalu, a former
DRC ambassador to Tanzania, received a similar sanction from
the HAM for his "injurious and defamatory comments,"
presumably about Vice President Bemba, on Radio Lisanga
television the same day.

DOUGHERTY

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