US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA423

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000423 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KPAO, KDEM, CG 
SUBJECT: MEDIA AUTHORITY TO MUZZLE RELIGIOUS STATIONS? 
 
REF: A. KINSHASA 295 
     B. KINSHASA 234 
 
1. SUMMARY:  The Congo's media authority reportedly decided 
in late February that religious-based radio or television 
stations should not be permitted to broadcast political 
news.  If true, this would cut off a significant source of 
information for many Congolese.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. According to local press accounts, the High Media 
Authority (HAM, roughly equivalent to the FCC) decided in 
late February that religious or "thematic" radio and TV 
stations cannot broadcast commercial ads nor can they 
broadcast political programs.  The HAM gave three specific 
religious radio stations 15 days to submit their program 
schedules, ostensibly to review whether or not these 
stations are broadcasting prohibited material. HAM members 
also reportedly called for "more responsibility" among 
journalists and urged political leaders to refrain from 
using the media to heighten tribal, ethnic or regional 
conflicts. 
 
3. For the moment at least, religious stations are 
continuing to broadcast news and political programs, 
possibly because the HAM has not yet issued a formal 
document from its plenary session.  According to the 
President of the Association of Congolese Community Radios 
(ARCO), the only religious stations that are currently 
limiting their broadcasts are stations in and around Goma in 
North Kivu province that appear anxious not to irritate the 
local authorities. 
 
4. The president of a prominent media-related NGO and the 
president of the National Union of the Congolese Press both 
claim the 1996 press law gives media stations the right to 
use half of their broadcast time to air non-thematic 
programs or programs of local interest.  The President of 
the NGO stated that the HAM's position contravenes the press 
law. 
 
5. COMMENT: The press law actually states that the 
government can grant subsidies in the form of indirect 
assistance to private media organizations that ask for them 
on the condition that these organizations devote at least 
half of their programming to cultural, educational and 
social broadcasts.  Even if the HAM's position does not 
violate the letter of the press law, it is not conducive to 
the development of a free and responsible press. 
 
6. COMMENT CONTINUED:  As radio is the sole medium that the 
overwhelming majority of Congolese have access to, 
restrictions on political reporting in the electronic media 
would greatly inhibit the free flow of information - and 
just at the time when a free political debate is needed more 
than ever.  With a new constitution soon to go to a 
referendum, and with the nation's first-ever free elections 
to follow, restricting news would be a major step backwards. 
END COMMENT. 
 
MEECE