(JED/IFEX) – On 15 July 2005, Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), a privately-owned station based in the capital Bujumbura, was suspended for an “indefinite period” by the National Communication Council (Conseil National de la Communication, CNC), the body that regulates the media in Burundi. The CNC accuses RPA of having “violated the law on the respect […]
(JED/IFEX) – On 15 July 2005, Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), a privately-owned station based in the capital Bujumbura, was suspended for an “indefinite period” by the National Communication Council (Conseil National de la Communication, CNC), the body that regulates the media in Burundi.
The CNC accuses RPA of having “violated the law on the respect of pluralism and balance in news by the media during the electoral campaign in Burundi.” In the same letter, RPA is accused of having “broadcast defamatory, abusive and offensive remarks undermining the CNC’s honour.”
According to the CNC, RPA allegedly provided live coverage only of the meetings and demonstrations of two political parties out of some 30 involved in municipal and legislative elections, which took place on 3 June and 4 July, respectively. These two elections were won by a former rebel group, the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (Forces pour la défense de la démocratie, FDD), at the expense of the president’s party, the Front for the Defence of Democracy in Burundi (Front pour la défense de la Démocratie au Burundi, FRODEBU).
The accusation of election coverage bias is rejected by RPA, which, in turn, accuses the CNC of abuse of power as it believes this matter could be resolved administratively.
RPA, one of Burundi’s main radio stations, has been sanctioned several times in the past by the CNC, which has often accused it of violating Burundi’s press law (see IFEX alerts of 15 February 2005, 17 September 2003 and 30 August 2002).
