(RSF/IFEX) – A reporter from the independent daily “Soir Info” was detained by rebels on 6 February 2003 in Man (western Côte d’Ivoire). RSF urges the three rebel groups that operate in the city to do everything possible to secure the journalist’s prompt release. “Press freedom can no longer be taken for granted in Côte […]
(RSF/IFEX) – A reporter from the independent daily “Soir Info” was detained by rebels on 6 February 2003 in Man (western Côte d’Ivoire). RSF urges the three rebel groups that operate in the city to do everything possible to secure the journalist’s prompt release.
“Press freedom can no longer be taken for granted in Côte d’Ivoire. With each passing day, journalists are taking more risks to cover the news,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “The rebels, who have boasted about their enormous respect for human rights, must release this journalist and ensure that media professionals can work with a sense of security in areas under their control,” he added.
According to information collected by RSF, on 6 February, rebel forces arrested René Dessonh, a reporter with the newspaper “Soir Info”, in Kouibly (30 kilometres from Man). The rebels who detained the journalist are most likely members of one of two western-based rebel groups, the Ivorian Popular Movement of the Great West (Mouvement populaire ivoirien du Grand-Ouest, MPIGO) or the Movement for Justice and Peace (Mouvement pour la justice et la paix, MJP). The previous evening, the journalist had travelled to Man to cover a meeting of the three Ivorian rebel groups. According to “Soir Info” management, youths reportedly accused Dessonh of being a spy after recognising him at a roadblock. He was then reportedly detained by rebels and driven to Man. No one has received any information from him since and his place of detention is unknown.
RSF recalls that the three Ivorian rebel groups signed the Linas-Marcoussis treaty, in which all parties to the conflict pledged to respect human rights and press freedom.
