(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Justice and Human Rights Jean Kouakou Brou, RSF has again asked for the release of two journalists of the daily “Le Populaire”. RSF reminded the minister that “tomorrow, Raphaël Lakpé will have been denied his freedom for four months.” Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general, noted that “there […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Justice and Human Rights Jean
Kouakou Brou, RSF has again asked for the release of two journalists of the
daily “Le Populaire”. RSF reminded the minister that “tomorrow, Raphaël
Lakpé will have been denied his freedom for four months.” Robert Ménard, the
organisation’s secretary-general, noted that “there is no justification” for
this preventive detention. “In June, the judge heard the case against the
accused, and the release of the accused does not threaten the unfolding of
the investigation.”
**Updates IFEX alerts of 30 June, 10 June, 4 June and 2 June 1999**
According to RSF’s information, Lakpé, the publication’s editor-in-chief,
has been detained since 28 April 1999. He is accused of “distribution and
disclosure of false news and disturbing the public order”. Jean Khalil
Sylla, the author of the incriminating article, has been jailed since 9 June
on the same charges. The two journalists are charged in connection with the
publication on 28 April of an article entitled “One student killed, four
seriously wounded”, which would have allegedly been behind confrontations
which arose between students and police. In actual fact, the most violent
demonstrations took place on the night of 27 April, before the incriminating
article appeared.
