(RSF/IFEX) – On 26 September 2002, RSF expressed its concern about curbs on press freedom in Côte d’Ivoire since the outbreak of an anti-government rebellion on 19 September, including the blocking of the reception of major foreign radio stations. “It is hard to believe the government’s explanation that the blocking of the stations for the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 26 September 2002, RSF expressed its concern about curbs on press freedom in Côte d’Ivoire since the outbreak of an anti-government rebellion on 19 September, including the blocking of the reception of major foreign radio stations.
“It is hard to believe the government’s explanation that the blocking of the stations for the past four days is the result of a simple technical breakdown, especially since pro-government media have at the same time accused them of ‘fabricating news’ about events in the country,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard.
“We call on the minister of communications to take immediate steps to ensure these stations can be heard once more,” Ménard added. The stations, including the BBC, Radio France International (RFI) and Africa No. 1, have all been blocked since 22 September. Acting Communications Minister Lia Bi Douayaoua has denied giving an order to cut off the stations’ signals.
Ménard also called on the government to ensure the protection of journalists in the country. “Foreign media and journalists working for the opposition press are especially at risk,” he said. “President Laurent Gbagbo must publicly state his commitment to press freedom and appeal for calm among his supporters.”
Reuters cameraman Alain Amontchi, was attacked by demonstrators in front of the French embassy in Abidjan on 25 September. The demonstrators smashed his camera and expressed their objection to the presence of foreign media. More than 3,000 self-styled “patriotic” young people were calling for the French authorities to hand over opposition leader Alassane Dramane Ouattara, who has taken refuge in the embassy.
Mamady Keita, a reporter for the daily newspaper “Le Patriote”, which supports Ouattara’s Rassemblement des Républicains (RDR) party, suffered head injuries on 23 September when he was attacked by members of a youth movement close to President Gbagbo. They accused him of being a spy. “Le Patriote” and “Tassouman”, another pro-RDR publication, have not published for several days because they received many threats.
A Spanish tourist, who young protesters took to be a foreign journalist, was also attacked in Abidjan’s city centre on 23 September and had to be rescued by plainclothes police officers.
Mohamed Fajah Barrie, of the Sierra Leonean newspaper “Concord Times”, has been trapped in the town of Bouaké, a rebel stronghold, for the past six days. He had been sent to cover a football tournament in which a Sierra Leonean team was playing.
