(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has written to the leader of the New Forces (Forces nouvelles, FN) rebel movement, Guillaume Soro, protesting threats and intimidation by his men towards four journalists from Abidjan during their visit to the rebel stronghold of Bouaké on 14 April 2005. The journalists were in the area to cover high-level talks between […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has written to the leader of the New Forces (Forces nouvelles, FN) rebel movement, Guillaume Soro, protesting threats and intimidation by his men towards four journalists from Abidjan during their visit to the rebel stronghold of Bouaké on 14 April 2005. The journalists were in the area to cover high-level talks between the FN and government forces.
“We are aware that an often partisan press frequently echoes the political hatred that exists in Côte d’Ivoire, but there is absolutely no justification for armed men to intimidate and threaten journalists with impunity. Violence against the press is often a harbinger of political violence on a larger scale, but, as an end to the fighting again seems to be the objective in Côte d’Ivoire, it would be incomprehensible if the FN leader did not react publicly to this aggressive behaviour,” RSF said.
The four journalists concerned were Amadou Ziao of “L’Inter”, Arouna Sylla of “Soir’Info”, Gbané Yacouba of “Le Temps”, and David Youant of “Le Courrier d’Abidjan”. After covering the meeting in Bouaké between the high commands of the FN and the National Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FANCI), they set off at about 5:00 p.m. (local time), heading back towards the government-controlled south.
According to Charles d’Almeida, the editor-in-chief of “Soir’Info” and “L’Inter”, the four journalists found their way blocked by men in an FN vehicle who ordered their driver, Didier Gragnon, to get out of the car. A uniformed man then got behind the wheel and drove the journalists to the city cemetery. They were verbally threatened for half an hour by their rebel escorts, who ordered them to kneel, lie on the ground and apologise for what they had written.
Yacouba told RSF that a gun was put to his temple and he was told, “You are going to be killed. You write anything you like about us. We do not want to see you again in Bouaké. If we do, you will be killed.”
The journalists’ mobile phones were initially seized but were eventually returned. Yacouba said all of his money was taken.
The purpose of the Bouaké talks was to relaunch the disarmament process and begin implementing the Pretoria peace accord.
