afrol News, 21 July - Reporters Without Borders have condemned the police harassment and violence against journalists during the Republic of Congo elections held on the 12 July.

RSF said the use of violent methods is liable to sow doubt about the regularity of elections which is expected that President Denis Sassou N'Guesso has won another term in government.

“Journalists have been physically attacked, threatened and harassed at the whim of police and soldiers. We urge the authorities to punish all the abuse of authority towards media personnel that took place during the polls,” RSF said.

RSF said visiting journalists, Arnaud Zatman and Marlène Rabaud of the French satellite TV station France 24 and BBC World Service correspondent Thomas Fessy were physically attacked by police while covering an opposition demonstration held in Brazzaville when the results were announced on 15 July.

“Their equipment was confiscated and they were forced to leave the scene of the protest,” it said.

Mr Fessy said police grabbed him around the waist and took his tape recorder, further saying on returning to the hotel, they realised they were being kept under surveillance.

According to reports, a few hours after the polls opened on 12 July, a dozen security agents led by Col Thomas Bakala Mayinda of the Congolese intelligence agency arrived at the Hotel Saphir and asked to see visiting Radio France Internationale reporter Catherine Ninin, claiming they had an interview with her.

An hour later, Ninin received a threatening phone call from a presidential aide while two additional groups of security agents went to the hotel and remained outside all night, RSF said.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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