(WAN/IFEX) – In a 19 August 2003 letter to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed serious concern at the state printing house’s refusal to print seven newspapers. According to reports, on 14 August the state printing house sent notices to seven newspapers – “Le Soir d’Algérie”, “Liberté”, “El Watan”, “Le Matin”, […]
(WAN/IFEX) – In a 19 August 2003 letter to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed serious concern at the state printing house’s refusal to print seven newspapers.
According to reports, on 14 August the state printing house sent notices to seven newspapers – “Le Soir d’Algérie”, “Liberté”, “El Watan”, “Le Matin”, “El Khabar”, “L’Expression” and “Er-Raï” – informing them that their newspapers would not be printed if they did not settle all their debts by 17 August. Five of the titles did not appear on 18 August, while two found other printing facilities.
WAN is concerned at reports that the government may have been behind the decision to call in the newspapers’ debts and to refuse them access to printing services. The organisation notes that the printing house’s actions coincided with newspaper reports on a series of scandals implicating leading government figures and their associates.
