(RSF/IFEX) – Moussa Kaka, director of the independent radio station Saranouya FM and a correspondent for Radio France International, was released on the evening of 16 August 2004. Kaka had been held since 12 August in connection with an interview broadcast on Saranouya FM with Tuareg rebel leader Mohammed Boula. In the 11 August interview, […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Moussa Kaka, director of the independent radio station Saranouya FM and a correspondent for Radio France International, was released on the evening of 16 August 2004. Kaka had been held since 12 August in connection with an interview broadcast on Saranouya FM with Tuareg rebel leader Mohammed Boula.
In the 11 August interview, the Tuareg leader claimed responsibility for an armed attack on three transport buses in the north of the country the previous day that left three people dead, 11 others injured and during which two gendarmes were kidnapped. Boula claims to be the leader of the previously defunct Aïr and Azaouk Liberation Front (Front de libération de l’Aïr et de l’Azaouk, FLAA), an armed Tuareg independence group that opposes the central government.
The state prosecutor was seeking to charge the journalist with complicity in connection with the attack but was forced to release him after finding insufficient evidence to support his claim. Kaka has been asked to remain available to the gendarmerie, however, pending further investigation.
RSF has expressed its relief at Kaka’s release, but remains fearful of renewed legal action by the state prosecutor. The organisation has also condemned the conditions under which the journalist’s arrest was carried out.
“Nigerian law states that an accused may not be held in police custody for longer than 48 hours. Moussa Kaka was held for 4 days and was not allowed to see his lawyer until the end of the fourth day,” said the organisation.
RSF has further demanded the return of an address book and note pad taken from the journalist’s office at the time of his arrest.
