(RSF/IFEX) – On 20 December 1997, the Arab-language edition of the independent weekly “Le Calame” was banned. For three days, officials from the Ministry of the Interior held on to, at ministry headquarters, copies of the newspaper before issuing the ban. Although authorities did not offer any explanation for the ban, it appears to be […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 20 December 1997, the Arab-language edition of
the independent weekly “Le Calame” was banned. For three days,
officials from the Ministry of the Interior held on to, at
ministry headquarters, copies of the newspaper before issuing the
ban.
Although authorities did not offer any explanation for the ban,
it appears to be linked to an article on electoral fraud that,
according to “Le Calame”, characterised the recent presidential
election as having “an abnormally high turnout, given the fact
that the opposition had boycotted the election.”
Ould Sid Ahmed Taya was re-elected President of the Islamic
Republic of Mauritania.
The measure against “Le Calame” was taken under Article 11 of the
ordonnance on press freedom which permits the Ministry of the
Interior to confiscate any publication and without explanation.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
the press, dating from 1991 and promulgated by the military
regime, is revised
to ban “Le Calame” is lifted
Appeals To
His Excellency Ould Sid Ahmed Taya
President of the Republic
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Fax: +222 2 52636 / 56890Ministry of the Interior
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Fax: +222 2 51547care of the Mauritanian Embassy in your country
(in France)
Fax: +33 1 40 72 82 96(in Canada)
Embassy of the Republic of Mauritania
45 O’Connor Street, Suite 1500
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 1A1 Canada
Fax: +1 613 237 3287
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
