(MFWA/IFEX) – On 25 October 2004, youth supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo called the Young Patriots seized, tore up and prevented the sale of pro-opposition newspapers in the commercial capital of Abidjan. The Young Patriots warned newspaper vendors in different parts of Abidjan, including Yopugon, Port Bouet, Marcory and Cocody, not to sell newspapers considered […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 25 October 2004, youth supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo called the Young Patriots seized, tore up and prevented the sale of pro-opposition newspapers in the commercial capital of Abidjan.
The Young Patriots warned newspaper vendors in different parts of Abidjan, including Yopugon, Port Bouet, Marcory and Cocody, not to sell newspapers considered “pro-rebel”, namely “Le Patriote”, “Le Liberal Nouveau”, “Le Jour plus”, “Le Nouveau Reveil”, “Le Front” and “24 Heures”.
According to MFWA sources in Côte d’Ivoire, the National Federation of Ivory Coast Forums and Parliaments (Fédération nationale des agoras et parlements de Côte d’Ivoire), a movement which comprises pro-government youth groups, made a decision to prevent the sale of the pro-opposition papers during its general meeting held on 23 October in Cocody, a suburb of Abidjan.
In an interview with journalists after the meeting, the federation’s president, Idriss Ouattara, said “pro-rebel newspapers would not appear so long as the disarmament hasn’t begun.” “We don’t want to see pictures of rebels in Abidjan anymore until the disarmament ends,” he added.
In a 26 October letter sent to editors, a newspaper-selling agency, Edipresse, announced the temporary suspension of the circulation of newspapers in Agboville, Gagnoa and Soubre, where the pro-government youth groups had already torn up pro-opposition papers. The agency said it was also suspending its circulation in Abengourou, Agnibilekrou, Tanda and Bondoukou, in eastern Abidjan.
Pro-government youth groups have been mushrooming all over Abidjan and making frequent appearances in public places since the outbreak of the civil crisis in Côte d’Ivoire in September 2002.
The MFWA is deeply concerned about the attacks on newspapers classified by Gbagbo’s supporters as “pro-rebel.” The organisation believes that in Côte d’Ivoire’s current state of “no peace, no war,” all sides of the political divide should be given the opportunity to be heard in seeking an amicable solution.
The MFWA appeals to President Gbagbo to stop the extra-judicial activities of his loyalists, whose actions seem to be deepening the wounds in Côte d’Ivoire instead of helping to seek solutions.