(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the arrest of five journalists in Abidjan. According to RSF’s information, five journalists from the newspaper “Le Populaire” are being held at Abidjan’s Maison d’arrêt et de correction (Arrest and Corrections House, MACA). Raphaël Lakpé, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, was arrested on 28 April 1999 and accused of “disturbing the public […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the arrest of five journalists in Abidjan.
According to RSF’s information, five journalists from the newspaper “Le
Populaire” are being held at Abidjan’s Maison d’arrêt et de correction
(Arrest and Corrections House, MACA). Raphaël Lakpé, the newspaper’s
editor-in-chief, was arrested on 28 April 1999 and accused of “disturbing
the public order and distributing false news”. That same day, the daily had
published an article denouncing the death of a student during
demonstrations. In fact, the student had only been injured, and “Le
Populaire” published a correction the following day.
Four other journalists from “Le Populaire” were arrested between 3 and 10
May. Idrissa Bamba, Shran Haïsy, Junior Mohamed Ouattara and Yves Abiet are
accused of “insulting the Head of State”. In March, the journalists had
written two articles entitled: “The doctorate of shame” and “Thirty years
ago, Bédié purchased his doctorate for 2.5 million F CFA (25,000 FF)”. Lakpé
is also being prosecuted in the same case.
Côte d’Ivoire judicial texts allow journalists to be held in preventive
detention for up to four months.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the justice minister:
journalists
to be held in preventive detention for up to four months
considered by international human rights bodies to be “disproportionate” to
the prejudice suffered by the victim of such infractions
Commission on Human Rights underlined that as a sanction for expressing an
opinion, detention constitutes one of the most reprehensible means of
imposing silence, and, as such, is a gross violation of human rights
prison sentences in press-related cases
immediately released, without commenting on the content of the incriminating
articles
Appeals To
Mr. Kouakou Brou
Minister of Justice
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
