(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA and Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) alert: On 29 April 2004, Francois Agui, a cameraman for the Ivoirian Broadcasting Corporation’s (RTI) television network, was beaten up by government supporters at the Chaumproux Stadium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s commercial capital. Agui had gone to cover a rally […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA and Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) alert:
On 29 April 2004, Francois Agui, a cameraman for the Ivoirian Broadcasting Corporation’s (RTI) television network, was beaten up by government supporters at the Chaumproux Stadium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s commercial capital. Agui had gone to cover a rally by the “young patriots”, who support President Laurent Gbagbo’s Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI) party.
According to MFWA-Côte d’Ivoire sources, the “young patriots” rally was being held in reaction to a similar rally organised on 28 April by opposition party leaders to demand the full application of the Marcoussis Accords.
Agui was accused of filming empty spaces in the stadium in order to create the impression that there was a lack of support for the “young patriots” rally. The journalist was assaulted and his camera was seized and damaged before being returned to him.
Two other journalists, Laurene Gelfrand of Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Germaine Boni of the Pan-African News Agency (PANA), were prevented from entering the stadium.
MISA and MFWA appeal to Gbagbo’s government to guarantee the rights of all journalists in Côte d’Ivoire, including the right to seek, receive and hold views without hindrance.
