[DEBATE] : Fwd: CODESRIA: Safeguarding Academic Freedom in the University of Kinshasa

[Sean Jacobs]

>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jean-Pierre DIOUF [mailto:jean.diouf at codesria.sn]
> Sent: Sat 5/24/2008 1:18 PM
> To: Jean.diouf at codesria.sn
> Subject: CODESRIA: Safeguarding Academic Freedom in the University  
> of Kinshasa
>
> CODESRIA
>
> Safeguarding Academic Freedom in the University of Kinshasa!
>
>
>
> The African social science research community has been paying close
> attention to the evolution of the situation at the National  
> University of
> Kinshasa. It is now four months since academic activities have been
> paralyzed as a result of a lecturer's strike for decent wages. For a  
> couple
> of days now, students have become prey to the police because they  
> decided to
> conduct a march to pressure the government to respond positively to  
> the
> lecturers' demands. According to reports that we have received, this
> situation is worsening by the day, making it impossible to carry on  
> with
> normal pedagogic activities in this institution of higher learning and
> research. Worse still, the declining teaching conditions imperil the
> knowledge production process which is indispensable for development.
> Meanwhile, the blind intervention by the police endangers the  
> lecturers and
> students who form the cornerstone of the future of the DRC and of  
> the entire
> continent.
>
>
>
> The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa  
> is an
> organization which promotes academic freedom in African  
> universities. It
> fights so that African scholars and researchers can enjoy best  
> possible
> working conditions which allow them to function without any external
> constraints. As it was recalled at the Kinshasa Conference on Academic
> Freedom in the DRC, jointly organized by CODESRA and the University of
> Kinshasa in 2004, these exigencies not only include decent  
> conditions for
> work on the campus, but also the free expression of their thoughts and
> freedom to undertake research on issues of their choice. Given that  
> the DRC
> scholarly and research community is one of the most active within  
> CODESRIA,
> the Council cannot remain indifferent to the degradation of the  
> working
> conditions to which our Congolese colleagues are subjected. Such  
> silence
> would run contrary to the principles of academic freedom and  
> solidarity for
> which our organization has been fighting since its creation in 1973.  
> No
> university can develop without the guarantee of academic freedom  
> therein,
> just as much as no democracy can survive devoid of scrupulous  
> respect for
> freedom of expression. These freedoms constitute the basis upon which
> scholars and researchers can assume their social responsibility.
>
>
>
> CODESRIA and the entire community of African social science  
> researchers
> exhort the relevant authorities in the DRC to take urgent measures  
> so that
> academic freedoms may be respected and guaranteed for our colleagues  
> at the
> University of Kinshasa, and notably for the demands of our Congolese
> colleagues for better working and living conditions, as well as a  
> raise in
> their salaries, be met. The Council assures our colleagues of its  
> support in
> their fight for a properly functioning university, deeply involved  
> in the
> development of the DRC and of the African continent. The Council  
> also takes
> this opportunity to call the attention of the authorities to the  
> fact that
> they would be held accountable for all unfortunate incidents which may
> result from this crisis.
>
>
>
> Colleagues from across Africa wishing to send messages of support to  
> the
> lecturers and students of the University of Kinshasa are invited to  
> do so by
> sending an e-mail to the following address:
>
> academic.freedom at codesria.sn .
>
>
>