(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the suspension of the “La Griffe” newspaper. According to RSF’s information, on 17 March 1999, the President of the National Communications Council (Conseil National de la Communication, CNC) announced the suspension of the satirical weekly “La Griffe” during the course of an address on Gabonese national television. He justified his […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the suspension of the “La Griffe”
newspaper.
According to RSF’s information, on 17 March 1999, the President of the
National Communications Council (Conseil National de la Communication,
CNC)
announced the suspension of the satirical weekly “La Griffe” during the
course of an address on Gabonese national television. He justified his
decision by the absence of the newspaper’s management from the country,
adding that this suspension was effective immediately and would be
maintained as long as those responsible for the paper were not clearly
identified.
**For information on previous harassment of “La Griffe” newspaper, see
IFEX
alerts of 17 August 1998**
The newspaper was suspended once before, on 12 August 1998, further to a
sentence brought down by the Libreville Correctional Court in a slander
suit. On 15 February 1999, this decision was annulled in a Libreville
Appeals Court ruling.
The CNC’s ruling contradicts both the facts and exisiting laws. First of
all, the two most recent issues of “La Griffe” (dated 5 and 12 March)
include the names and duties of the responsible parties as well as the
newspaper office’s address in Gabon. Secondly, the law does not obligate
the
newspaper to specify the names of its contributors, nor does it require
the
physical presence of the newspaper’s collaborators on the national
territory.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President of the CNC:
law,
which effectively renders the publication and circulation of this
newspaper
impossible
represents a
violation of the right to inform, included in the Constitution of Gabon,
and
guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
which is ratified by Gabon
the
publication and circulation of “La Griffe” newspaper
Appeals To
Mr. Pierre-Marie Dong
President of the Conseil national
de la communication – CNC
Libreville, République du Gabon
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
