SECTOR 1 Article 6 of the law outlines a number of mediums through which citizens can exercise their right to information and communication. They include radio, television, newspapers, websites, posters, polling institutes, advertising agencies, etc. Other legislation that expands the cadre for the exercise of freedom of expression is the “Public Broadcast Pluralism” law, which guarantees the equitable space for the “direct expression” of political groups, unions and other professional organisations on the public media. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 4.6 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear. Legal guarantees for freedom of expression do exist, but in practice, Congolese are unable to freely take advantage them. The High Council for Freedom of Communication, an organ created by an Act of parliament and which is supposed to defend the rights of the public to credible information, frequently shuts down media houses, a few libel cases brought against journalists were won by media professionals. Arbitrary arrests, death threats and even murders have forced many in and outside the media to watch what they say. In 2012, two lawyers were arrested and jailed for four months for planning to organise a press conference to complain about the violation of the rights of their client, in the same year a colonel of the national army was arrested on 4th March in connection to an explosion in a military camp. The authorities that claimed the lawyers had been arrested for planning the news conference inside a military facility1. 1 Convention collective des Médias du Congo AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 2013 75