(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has strongly condemned attacks on the pro-government radio stations Radio Solidarité and Pyramide. “It is particularly worrying that the press, which is generally the target of pro-government supporters, should now be attacked by members of the opposition,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “Even if these acts of violence are far less […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has strongly condemned attacks on the pro-government radio stations Radio Solidarité and Pyramide.
“It is particularly worrying that the press, which is generally the target of pro-government supporters, should now be attacked by members of the opposition,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general.
“Even if these acts of violence are far less common that those attributed to pro-government activists, it does not make them any less disgraceful. The use of violence against the media, regardless of who carries it out, is unjustifiable and unacceptable,” he said.
On 17 December 2003, demonstrators calling for President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s resignation attacked a Radio Solidarité crew because of the station’s pro-government editorial line. One of the targeted journalists, Alexis Eddy Jackson, was beaten up and had his tape recorder destroyed. The demonstrators also threw stones at one of the radio station’s vehicles.
Pro-opposition demonstrators marching near the station had previously threatened to destroy it on 11 December. Radio Solidarité director Venel Remarais said station management decided to suspend broadcasts for six hours on 13 December because of the threats.
Opponents of President Aristide also ransacked the offices of the commercial radio station Pyramide, in Saint-Marc, north of Port-au-Prince, on 11 November. Marc Antoine Aldorphe, director of Radio Tête à tête, a rival Saint-Marc station, was reportedly among the attackers.
Radio Tête à tête reportedly suspects Pyramide of denouncing the station to the National Telecommunications Council (Conseil national des télécommunications), the public body that oversees the allocation and use of radio frequencies. The attack came just a few hours after the city’s legal authorities seized a transmitter and two microphones from Radio Tête à tête and sealed the station’s offices on the grounds that it was broadcasting without permission. Station director Aldorphe had earlier criticised those close to the government in his broadcasts. He also criticised Pyramide for its pro-government stance.
In an 18 December statement, RSF condemned the violence and threats against some 15 journalists working for eight media outlets that are critical of the government. The organisation also denounced calls to violence issued by members of parliament from the ruling Fanmi Lavalas party against members of the opposition and the press.
