Sources consulted by the Research Directorate contained conflicting information on Le Lushois.

In quoting statements made by [translation] "a colleague of Ngoie Kikungula," Editor-in-Chief of Le Lushois, the executive secretary of the Centre for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Centre des droits de l'homme et du droit humanitaire, CDH) in Lubumbashi indicated the following in an e-mail sent to the Research Directorate on 19 June 2003:

[translation]

According to information received today, the editor [of Le Lushois] himself is in hiding because he is being sought for publishing an article in one of the latest editions of his paper that accuses a pastor from a church of spiritual awakening of impregnating a woman from his congregation and forcing her to have an abortion. The matter is still at the public prosecutor's level and, fearing he would be taken into custody, the editor decided to go into hiding for the time being.

...

Le Lushois continues to be published, but it is difficult to determine its frequency of issue. An entire month went by between the newspaper issue that printed the article on the pastor and the one that gave front-page coverage to the teachers' strike at Lubumbashi University. Le Lushois, like the newspapers published in Lubumbashi at rare intervals (Mukuba, Le Devoir, La Cheminée, La Tribune...), has always appeared at random without any set frequency, that is, irregular[ly].

It is also worth noting at this point that the paper's head office has not been on the fourth floor of the city hall since early 2003, even though [that is what] the newspaper indicates, but it is coping by having the articles written at the printing plants. The publishing of each issue also depends on the means [at the newspaper's] disposal. When the paper has two or three pages of advertising, it can print as many as 250 copies. There is therefore no doubt that the newspaper does exist.

What I did learn from the conversation I had today with my source is that Ngoie Kikungula is the editor in charge of the newspaper, whereas Bella Mako no longer works for the Lushois. He had already left and started up his own paper. Given the political situation in our country, reporters rarely answer the telephone. When several attempts were made to contact him at his number (97010374), either the telephone did not ring, or someone else answered it. I have just learned today that his sons were answering the telephone. The proof is that today, he was not at our appointment despite having agreed to meet me. Instead, he sent a reporter from his paper.

Like all newspapers in Lubumbashi, circulation barely exceeds 200 copies. For the moment, Le Lushois tends to favour the opposition.

In quoting statements from a correspondent in Lubumbashi, the executive secretary of Journaliste en danger (JED), a non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), provided the following information in an e-mail sent to the Research Directorate:

[translation]

The Le Lushois newspaper is published at a rate of at least two editions per month. And the last edition, which is still on the market, covered the period from June 12 to 19. Before, the paper's head office was located within the confines of Lubumbashi's city hall, but over a year ago they were evicted from the premises and there is still no official head office. The editor of this newspaper is Ngoyi Kikungula, and his telephone number is 243 971 10 374.

As for the editorial bent, it is difficult to say what it is for sure. Often the editorial bent varies according to the interests of the person in charge and the circumstances at that time. What I do know is that the editor of this newspaper was arrested four years ago for having criticized those in charge of provincial security services. Many newspapers in Kinshasa or in the interior of the country do not like to broadcast their official circulation numbers. We do know that it is uncommon for a newspaper in the provinces to have a circulation above 500 copies (18 June 2003).

When reached on 19 June 2003 at the telephone number provided in the two e-mails mentioned above, the editor-in-chief of Le Lushois [as he introduced himself] provided the following information:

Le Lushois was founded 17 years ago. It is a weekly newspaper with a circulation of up to 30,000 copies per week. Since it was established, the newspaper has been published regularly. However, since January 2003, its head office has been in the [translation] "land registry building" at the corner of Mama Yemo Avenue and Tanganyika Avenue. Before, Le Lushois was located on the fourth floor of the city hall. The editor-in-chief of Le Lushois, however, indicated that, due to a lack of space at its office, it does not archive copies of previous editions.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Centre for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (CDH) [Lubumbashi]. 18 June 2003. Correspondence.

Journaliste en danger (JED) [Kinshasa]. 18 June 2003. Correspondence.

Le Lushois [Lubumbashi]. 19 June 2003. Telephone interview with the editor-in-chief.

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Resource Centre country file. RDC

Internet sites, including:

Africatime

Allafrica

FIDH

HRW

ReliefWeb