(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF letter protesting the continued detention of two journalists: **Updates IFEX alerts of 4 June and 2 June 1999** Ms. Danièle Boni-Claverie Minister of Communication Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Paris, 10 June 1999 Ms. Minister, During the course of our last meeting in January 1999, your interest in the lot […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF letter protesting the continued
detention of two journalists:
**Updates IFEX alerts of 4 June and 2 June 1999**
Ms. Danièle Boni-Claverie
Minister of Communication
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Paris, 10 June 1999
Ms. Minister,
During the course of our last meeting in January 1999, your interest in the
lot of journalists in Côte d’Ivoire and your respect for press freedom was
noticeable. Thus, I would like to draw your attention to the situation of
journalists from the weekly newspaper Le Populaire.
Currently, two of them – Raphaël Lakpé, editor-in-chief of the publication,
and Jean Khalil Sylla, who wrote the article titled: “One student killed,
four seriously wounded” – remain detained at the Maison d’arrêt et de
correction d’Abidjan (Arrest and Corrections House, MACA). They are accused
of “distributing false news and disturbing the public order” because they
wrote a story which proved to be false, concerning the death of a student
during demonstrations on 28 April.
Four other journalists from Le Populaire, accused of “insulting the Head of
State”, also spent close to a month in detention before benefiting from the
“President of the Republic’s benevolence” on 3 June.
When we travelled to Abidjan, you outlined your inclination to see prison
sentences for press law violations eliminated once and for all. Reporters
sans frontières has been advocating such a move for a number of years. Our
organisation questions the very principle of a law which permits the
detention of journalists for press law violations. A prsion sentence, or, in
this instance, preventive detention, are considered by international human
rights bodies to be “disproportionate” to the prejudice suffered by the
victim of such infractions. As such, in a 14 July 1992 document, the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights underlined that as a sanction for
expressing an opinion, detention constitutes one of the most reprehensible
means of imposing silence, and, as such, is a gross violation of human
rights. This is why no democratic state today imprisons journalists in
press-related cases.
Thus, without commenting on the details of this case, Reporters sans
frontières asks you to do everything in your power to ensure that Raphaël
Lakpé and Jean Khalil Sylla are released. Our organisation also calls for
the prompt introduction of a draft press law revision which would eliminate
jail sentences for press law violations. This would benefit not only Côte
d’Ivoire journalists but could also serve as an example for all West African
countries and other states whose press laws include repressive clauses.
I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter and look forward to
a response at your earliest convenience.
Best regards,
Robert Ménard,
Secrétaire général
Recommended Action
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Appeals To
Ms. Danièle Boni-Claverie
Minister of Communication
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
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