(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders urged the Ivorian justice system to accept that journalist Edouard Gonto and managing editor Coulibaly Seydou of the privately-owned daily “Le Jour Plus” have been treated unfairly and should be acquitted. The two journalists, who were arrested on 12 September 2006, were released on the evening of 13 September after […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders urged the Ivorian justice system to accept that journalist Edouard Gonto and managing editor Coulibaly Seydou of the privately-owned daily “Le Jour Plus” have been treated unfairly and should be acquitted.
The two journalists, who were arrested on 12 September 2006, were released on the evening of 13 September after learning from the state prosecutor they were being charged with “offence against the head of state”.
The two are summoned to appear before an Abidjan court on 15 September, along with the editor of “Le Jour Plus”, Frédéric Koffy. In the absence of the managing editor, he headed the editorial team on the day of publication of the offending article – which claimed the president’s wife, Simone Gbagbo, was partly responsible for the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan.
They face a fine of up to 20 millions CFA francs (approx. 30,500 euros).
“The release of these two journalists is certainly good news, but they should never have been arrested and detained in the first place,” the press freedom organisation said.
“The Ivorian presidency has a number of other ways to seek redress, including the publication of a right to reply, a denial or to refer the case to the bodies which regulate the media,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Instead it prefers to use an outdated method which is at the margins of legality”.
