The article “The NGO Journalist in Danger expresses its concerns at the rise of intolerance and physical violence against journalists” plunges us into the heart of a worrying reality. Indeed, in recent days, several journalists have been victims of acts of violence while covering political activities.
The NGO Journaliste en Danger (JED) particularly denounces the case of Franck Kalonji, journalist-reporter at Actu7.cd, who was violently attacked during a meeting organized by the ECIDE party in the town of N’djili/ Kinshasa. These acts of political intolerance are unacceptable and raise serious concerns about freedom of expression and respect for the work of journalists.
Similarly, in Kananga, a dozen journalists were trapped in the convoy of the opponent Delly Sesanga and were victims of projectiles, causing minor injuries to some of them. In Kasai, three journalists were even arrested by the police while covering an unauthorized protest march. These examples testify to the growing violence against journalists in the context of their information work.
Faced with these worrying situations, JED calls on political actors and leaders to intervene and remind their activists to respect press freedom and the safety of journalists. It is essential that journalists who are victims of these acts of intolerance and violence take legal action to seek compensation for the harm suffered.
This rise in intolerance and violence against journalists is a threat to democracy and the free flow of information. It is essential that civil society, the media, and the authorities put in place measures to prevent and condemn these acts, in order to guarantee a safe and respectful environment for journalists.
It is therefore important to make the public aware of this problem and to recall the importance of the role of journalists in society, as well as respect for their freedom to exercise their profession. Journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy, and it is the responsibility of all of us to protect and support it.
In conclusion, urgent action is needed to end this rise in violence and intolerance against journalists. Freedom of the press and the safety of journalists are fundamental rights that must be respected and protected. Every act of violence against a journalist is an attack on democracy and must be condemned without reservation