(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on all Ivoirian national and local politicians to keep the promises they made concerning press freedom as part of the January 2003 Marcoussis Agreement aimed at ending the country’s civil war. The organisation said journalists still face a climate of constant lawlessness and that despite advances in the national reconciliation […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on all Ivoirian national and local politicians to keep the promises they made concerning press freedom as part of the January 2003 Marcoussis Agreement aimed at ending the country’s civil war.
The organisation said journalists still face a climate of constant lawlessness and that despite advances in the national reconciliation process, arrests, threats and physical attacks on members of the press have not diminished.
“Harassment comes from all sides. Local bosses in some areas of the north ban journalists from going there, threaten and arrest them and seize their equipment. In government-controlled areas, police and other officials are responsible for the harassment,” RSF said. “All political and military leaders must stick to the promises they made so journalists can work properly. This includes curbing the excesses of soldiers and police,” the organisation added.
The distribution of newspapers has been disrupted in Bouaké and other rebel-controlled towns in the north after attacks on vendors. The state-run television station RTI is still only broadcast in the southern part of the country, despite promises by Communications Minister Guillaume Soro, leader of the rebel New Forces and a member of the national unity government.
Eleven journalists have been threatened, arrested or physically attacked so far in 2004. They include Jonas Ouattara Nagolourgo, a photographer with the daily “Notre Voie”, who was threatened on 3 January by armed members of the New Forces in the north. His photographs were seized and destroyed.
On 16 January, Danielle Sylvie Tagro and Thierry Gouégnon, of the privately-owned daily “Le Courrier d’Abidjan”, were detained by the technical education minister during a student demonstration at the ministry’s offices. Tagro was also manhandled (see IFEX alert of 26 January 2004).
On 20 January, Agence France-Presse photographer Georges Gobet was struck by police officers at the opening of the trial of French journalist Jean Hélène’s killer.
On 31 January, Ibrahim Diarra and Charles Sanga, of the daily “Le Patriote”, and Franck Konaté, of the daily “24 Heures”, were physically attacked by presidential guards during an official ceremony in Yamoussoukro (see alert of 2 February 2004).
On 11 February, Emmanuel Konan, a correspondent for the daily “Fraternité Matin” in the western town of Daloa, was arrested by a local warlord and had his equipment confiscated. A few days later, Youssouf Sylla and Diallo Mohamed, correspondents for “Fraternité Matin” in Bouaké, were forced to flee after they were threatened by local political leaders.
On 21 February, Polycarpe Ilboudo, a photographer with the independent daily “Le Jour Plus”, was arrested without explanation and questioned by police in Abidjan after an identification check.
