Journalist threatened with imprisonment

(FPJQ/IFEX) – The following is a 28 July 2000 FPJQ letter to Guinean President Lansanna Conté: Montreal, July 28, 2000 Lansanna Conté President Republic of Guinea Fax : (224) 41 16 21 Mr. President, The Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists (FPJQ) is astonished and indignant to learn that the Guinean journalist Alphadio Modesto Ayibatin is […]

(FPJQ/IFEX) – The following is a 28 July 2000 FPJQ letter to Guinean President Lansanna Conté:

Montreal, July 28, 2000

Lansanna Conté
President
Republic of Guinea

Fax : (224) 41 16 21

Mr. President,

The Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists (FPJQ) is astonished and indignant to learn that the Guinean journalist Alphadio Modesto Ayibatin is being threatened with imprisonment in your country for having written an article on April 22 in the Ottawa French-language daily newspaper, Le Droit.

We have recently learned that to avoid being thrown into prison, Mr. Ayiban is trying to obtain political asylum in France.

Guinean authorities accuse Mr. Ayibatin of “discrediting and defaming the government”.

In the article in question, Mr. Ayibatin compares poverty in Canada with that in Africa, and more specifically, in the Republic of Guinea. He cites well-known facts about the high levels of illiteracy, poverty and the lack of respect for fundamental human rights in certain African countries, including the Republic of Guinea.

The very fact that you would bring charges of this nature against Mr. Ayibatin unfortunately proves that what he has written is true. Though it is a fundamental right in all democratic countries, and an essential factor in the economic development of all societies, it is obvious that your government will not tolerate freedom of expression. If independent thinkers must flee the Republic of Guinea in order to preserve their freedom, then your country is being deprived of resources that could contribute to its own economic and social development. Preventing the free discussion of problems by pleading “defamation” is never a solution.

The FPJQ also wishes to emphasize that it is unjust to give a prison sentence to punish press law violations. The French parliament recognized this fact last May: though it had been years since prison sentences had been used to punish press law violations in France, the French parliament officially removed any reference to them from their press law. In the same vein, the United Nations’ human rights committee is asking that prison sentences for press law violations be abolished in all countries.

The Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists asks that you immediately abandon all legal proceedings and sanctions against Mr. Ayibatin, and that you take all necessary measures to ensure freedom of the press and expression in the Republic of Guinea.

We thank you for your consideration of this very important matter.

Sincerely,

Hélène Pichette
President-Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists (FPJQ)
Television Journalist-Radio-Canada

Jane McElhone
Board member of the FPJQ and head of the Quebec Committee for Freedom of the Press
Radio Producer-Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Recommended Action

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Lansanna Conté

President

Republic of Guinea

Fax: +224 41 16 21
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