(MFWA/IFEX) – On 29 August 2006, a group of activists of the ruling party, Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), heckled and rained insults on journalists who were covering a press conference for asking “wrong questions”. According to a MFWA-Cote d’ Ivoire source, the press conference had been called to condemn an alleged assault on Diabate Beh, […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 29 August 2006, a group of activists of the ruling party, Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), heckled and rained insults on journalists who were covering a press conference for asking “wrong questions”.
According to a MFWA-Cote d’ Ivoire source, the press conference had been called to condemn an alleged assault on Diabate Beh, economic adviser of the FPI in Boundouali, a town north-east of Bouake under the control of the rebel group Force Nouvelle (New Forces).
William Atteby, FPI spokesman in charge of legal reform who addressed the conference, accused Alhassane Ouattara, leader of the opposition party, Rally of Republicans (RDR), of masterminding the attack on Beh.
During question time, Djedje Augustine, a journalist of “macotdivoire.com”, an online newspaper in the office of the president, made reference to another version of the incident, provided by the RDR, which said that Beh had been a victim of a fight provoked by his own relatives who were unhappy that he was an activist of the FPI.
Following this, the FPI activists charged the journalists, accusing them of asking questions which did not reflect their opinions and sensibilities.
The source said this resulted in a temporary interruption of the press conference until the intervention of the spokesman.
Apart from Djedje, Ahmed Traore of “Nord Sud”, a daily newspaper, and Romarick Foua of the newspaper “24 Heures” were targeted by the irate group.
The MFWA is concerned about growing intolerance of critical opinions in Cote d’ Ivoire and condemns this attack on journalists.
