(RSF/IFEX) – According to information made available by RSF on 30 July 1998, on 20 July 1998, Sy Koumbo Singa Gali and Polycarpe Togomissi, director of publication and journalist respectively for the independent bi-monthly “L’Observateur”, were sentenced for defamation to two-year suspended sentences, fined 1,000,000 CFA francs (about US$1,600.00) and one symbolic CFA franc, to […]
(RSF/IFEX) – According to information made available by RSF on 30 July 1998,
on 20 July 1998, Sy Koumbo Singa Gali and Polycarpe Togomissi, director of
publication and journalist respectively for the independent bi-monthly
“L’Observateur”, were sentenced for defamation to two-year suspended
sentences, fined 1,000,000 CFA francs (about US$1,600.00) and one symbolic
CFA franc, to be paid to the plaintiff, Wadal Abdelkader Kamougué, president
of the National Assembly. The two journalists, who had already been
imprisoned from 3 to 12 June in connection with this case, launched an
appeal on 21 July 1998. An article in the 9 July 1997 issue of
“L’Observateur” reported on remarks by Member of Parliament Yorongar
Ngarlejy, which were critical of the conditions in which Chad’s oilfields
were exploited, in particular, accusing Wadal Abdelkader Kamougué of having
received bribes from a foreign consortium.
**See IFEX alerts of 24 July and 4 June 1998**
RSF also brings attention to the case of Begoto Oulatar and Dieudonné
Djonabaye, director of publication and editor-in-chief respectively of the
independent weekly “N’Djaména Hebdo”, who were sentenced on 12 February 1998
for defamation. The two journalists appealed the judgment on 13 February
1998, however, more than five months later, their files have still not been
passed on to the Court of Appeal of N’Djaména (see IFEX alert of 5 March
1998).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
remarks, and cannot, therefore, be accused of defamation, by virtue of
Article 52, paragraph 2, of Chad’s Law on the Press:
“(…) this offence does not take place where the accused can show that he
has only reported opinions held by others or sought to highlight a point of
view or bring the attention of the public to a matter connected to the
management of public affairs and he sought to establish the validity through
the discussion”
and Political Rights, Article 19 of which guarantees the right to inform and
to be informed, as well as the African Charter of Human Rights, Article 9 of
which guarantees the same rights
international community
handed down to Sy Koumbo Singa Gali and Polycarpe Togomissi
ensure that the delay is corrected and that the case of the two journalists
of the “N’Djaména Hebdo” is dealt with the least delay possible
Appeals To
Mr. Idriss Deby
President of the Republic of Chad
N’Djamena – Chad
Fax: +235 51 4501
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
