The “Association des Radios Communautaires du Congo » ARCO (Congo’s Association of Communities Radios) has decided to observe on 17 June, a Radio Less Day all over the Country in Protest against the Arrest and Sentencing to a three-months’ imprisonment of Pierre-Sosthene Kambidi in Tshikapa. In fact charged with Defamation, the Tshikapa-based Community Radio “CONCORDE FM” Journalist and Journalist in Distress (JED)’s Correspondent suffered an unfair trial by a local Court. JED backs up this ARCO’S action and urges that the journalist can be merely released, because he was simply doing his Job.

In a 30 March Mail, retaking in the subject matter:”Mr Djugu Kangundu’s Dol.”, Mr. Tshimanga Mukeba, the Republic general attorney calls on Mr. Donat M’Baya Tshimanga, journalist in distress(JED)’s Chairperson, to show up at the attorney’s office on Monday 03 April. “I do warn you that this time if you don’t show up, I will find myself in the obligation of forcing you to do so, by all the righteous means”. Warned by the Attorney general in the same mail in these terms, “this invitation proves to be the second”. Dated 24 March, the first invitation had been handed in to JED, on 27 March at 12 O’clock, whereas the appointment was dated for the same day at 11h 00 am. The JED Chairperson was absent from Kinshasa at the time the mail reached JED’S secretary, so the JED council barrister replied to the republic general Attorney in a 28 March letter in these terms. “As soon as the JED Chairperson comes back, he will put himself at your disposal. Would you please, date another appointment for the case?” wrote the President of the bar, Mr. Mbuyi-Mbiye Tanayi. Back to Kinshasa on Friday 31 March, the JED Chairperson responded to the general Attorney’s invitation on the following Monday. Since the publication of its investigation report on the double murder of the journalist Ngyke and his wife Hélène, on 28 February, this is the second time JED is called upon. The first time the JED Chairperson had to show up at the Kinshasa/Matete’s Military Court.