June 15, 2007 at 08:37:17

Congo soldiers arrested for Radio Okapi journalist's murder

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By Georgianne Nienaber (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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Maheshe is due to be buried in Bukavu on Friday.

AllAfrica.com reports today that William Lacy Swing, the chief of the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and the Secretary-General's Special Representative to the country, deplored the murder and offered his condolences to Mr. Maheshe's family and colleagues.

Threats and intimidation against journalists are common in Congo, which last year held its first free elections in more than four decades.

The international press freedom watchdog Reporters without Borders classifies Congo as a "difficult situation" country.

Okapi broadcasts three hours a day on short wave.

On the FM frequency, Okapi broadcasts a wide range of programs, including music.

Okapi produces 20 separate news segments a day in five languages, including French, English, Lingala, Swahili, Chiluba and other local languages. However, the Francophone audience is the largest.

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Georgianne Nienaber is an investigative environmental and political writer. She lives in rural northern Minnesota, New Orleans and South Florida. Her articles have appeared in The Society of Professional Journalists' Online (more...)

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