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Troops tried for DR Congo killing | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Two Democratic Republic of Congo soldiers have gone on trial for the killing of a prominent journalist. | |
Serge Maheshe, 31, who ran the UN-backed Radio Okapi in the eastern town of Bukavu, was shot on Wednesday. | Serge Maheshe, 31, who ran the UN-backed Radio Okapi in the eastern town of Bukavu, was shot on Wednesday. |
He was stopped, asked his name and then shot several times and none of his possessions were taken, witnesses say. | He was stopped, asked his name and then shot several times and none of his possessions were taken, witnesses say. |
A Congolese journalists' organisation has condemned the killing - and the speedy military trial, which it says will not deliver justice. | |
Eastern DR Congo remains unstable despite elections and the official end of a five-year civil war. | Eastern DR Congo remains unstable despite elections and the official end of a five-year civil war. |
The witnesses are under intolerable pressure Donat M'BayaJournalists In Danger "The police tracked down the group of assassins and seized the weapons used in the killing," Gen Gaston Luzembo, the police chief inspector for South Kivu province, told Reuters news agency. | |
South Kivu Governor Celestin Cibalonza said 17 other people had also gone on trial, including the soldiers' wives, accused of the illegal possession of weapons. | |
Intimidation | Intimidation |
Journalists In Danger head Donat M'Baya said the trial was "unacceptable". | |
"The witnesses are under intolerable pressure, the accused have not been able to prepare their defence, the family is not present because they are attending Serge's funeral," he told the AFP news agency. | |
"There are two ways of securing impunity - not to investigate and never hold a trial, or stage a trial the very day after the crime." | |
Some 5,000 people braved driving rain to attend Mr Maheshe's funeral, AFP reports. | |
The United Nations and diplomats based in DR Congo have strongly condemned the killing. | The United Nations and diplomats based in DR Congo have strongly condemned the killing. |
UN spokesman Kemal Saiki said the journalist had previously had an argument with the military, but said it was too early to say whether his killing was politically motivated. | UN spokesman Kemal Saiki said the journalist had previously had an argument with the military, but said it was too early to say whether his killing was politically motivated. |
Correspondents say journalists in DR Congo often face threats and intimidation. | Correspondents say journalists in DR Congo often face threats and intimidation. |
Radio Okapi is seen as one of the few sources of reliable news in the country, they say. | |
The Congolese army is being reorganised, with the recruitment of thousands of former rebel groups. | The Congolese army is being reorganised, with the recruitment of thousands of former rebel groups. |
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