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"If we take the full meaning of the term society into consideration, it will be seen that till now human beings have not been able to form a real society. If India builds a society for only Indians, Pakistan for only Pakistanis, and England for only the English, then these three separate societies will exist, but we cannot look upon them as the society of humanity. Because humanity is divided into groups, one society will naturally try to thrive by exploiting the vitality of others. �You will notice that efforts are being made to establish so-called societies in some particular part of the world, for some particular section of the people, and based on some particular 'ism" or faith. A social consciousness based on such divisions lies latent in the minds of the people, whether they are Indian, Pakistani or English, so they remain absorbed in thoughts of their smaller groups." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar


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"Human beings have still not been able to form a human society, and have still not learned to move with the spirit of a pilgrim. Although many small groups, motivated by self-interest, work together in particular situations, not even a small fraction of their work is done with a broader social motive. By strict definition, shall we have to declare that each small family unit is a society in itself? If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or momentary self-seeking is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way... in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective. All human beings must attach themselves to others by the common bond of love and march forward hand in hand; then only will I proclaim it a society." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar

"Power concedes nothing without a demand.' The struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice do not take vacations. Societies are not static in this regard. They await the political and civic energies of individuals who engage the arenas of power, multiply their numbers and emblazon in deeds and institutions the immortal principle that "Here the People Rule." - Ralph Nader

Congolese press shaken by double murder of newspaper reporter and wife


Millions have died in the perpetual war taking place in the DRC - Democratic Republic of Congo. A well-known journalist and his wife were added to the figure. What kind of world is it that cannot do anything, does not do anything, in the face of heinous crimes, in the face of injustice? We need to establish a world government which can immediately intervene and apprehend the murderers - when the country fails to obtain justice on behalf of the victims.

Democratic Republic of Congo3 November 2005

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the double murder of a respected newspaper reporter and his wife outside their Kinshasa home in the early hours of this morning, describing it as the latest in a series of politically-motivated killings or attempted killings being carried out by a “murder industry” with complete impunity.

Today’s victims were Franck “Ngyke” Kangundu, 52, who headed the political section of the independent Kinshasa-based daily La Référence Plus, and his wife, Hélène Mpaka, 41.

“We are appalled by these horrible, cold-blooded killings which will send shockwaves through the Congolese investigative press, and we extend our condolences to the family and friends of both victims,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“It is outrageous that nothing is being done to bring those responsible for political killings to justice,” the press freedom organisation continued. “Journalists are favourite targets in this murder industry that is flourishing with complete impunity in Lubumbashi and Bukavu, as well as Kinshasa.”

Reporters Without Borders added : “The United Nations must intervene at once to save independent journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo from the choice between silence, prison or death that is being imposed on them.”

The organisation wrote today to the William Swing, the head of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), asking him to put pressure on President Joseph Kabila to ensure that “justice is done in the case of this murdered journalist.”

The letter reminded Swing, who holds the title of Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, that no serious investigation has been carried out into the attempt murder of Radio Okapi journalist Jean Ngandu by uniformed men on 28 May in Lubumbashi (in the southern province of Katanga) or the murder of human rights activist Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi on 1 August in Bukavu (in the eastern province of Sud-Kivu).

Reporters Without Borders also reminded Swing that Jean-Marie Kanku, the editor of the privately-owned newspaper L’Alerte, has been held incommunicado for the past week at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) in breach of all legal procedures.

Today’s double murders took place at around 1 a.m. when Kangundu and his wife pulled up in their car outside their home in an eastern district of Kinshasa and Kangundu got out to open the gate. He was immediately approached by four hooded gunmen who, according to witnesses, had been waiting for them in the street.

Kangundu tried to negotiate with them, offering to go with them in his car to get money. But the gunmen replied that they had been sent to kill him. They then gunned the two of them down in front of several neighbours. One of the neighbours, a man in his 20s, sustained serious injuries and had to be hospitalized.

The motive for the double murder is not yet known. La Référence Plus is one of the leading Kinshasa newspapers and has a reputation for serious reporting. A friend of Kangundu’s told Reporters Without Borders that one of his recent stories, about a sugar mill in Bas-Congo province, that had resulted in the dismissal of some of the mill’s staff.

Kangundu was also recently sent to cover meetings being held by President Kabila’s party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), especially in Bandundu province. He had five children.

Kanku was kidnapped by three armed ANR agents on Lumumba Boulevard in the N’Djili district of Kinshasa on 28 October after his newspaper ran a series of articles and interviews in which parliamentarian Thierry Bongo described ANR administrator Lando Lurhakumbirwa as an “enemy of the Congo” and accused him of embezzlement.
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Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press freedom throughout the world. It has nine national sections (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). It has representatives in Abidjan, Bangkok, London, Moscow, New York, Tokyo and Washington. And it has more than 120 correspondents worldwide.

Last Updated November 9, 2005 9:44 AM

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and
do not necessarily reflect those of the World Prout Assembly.

The World Prout Assembly is a non-profit organization affiliated with
Proutist Universal Global Headquarters, Kolkata, India.