(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Gilchrist Olympio, president of the opposition party Union of Forces for Change (Union des forces du changement, UFC), RSF condemned an attack against state media journalists and technicians. RSF, which hopes to see those responsible for the attacks brought to justice, called on Olympio to do everything possible to […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Gilchrist Olympio, president of the opposition party Union of Forces for Change (Union des forces du changement, UFC), RSF condemned an attack against state media journalists and technicians. RSF, which hopes to see those responsible for the attacks brought to justice, called on Olympio to do everything possible to end such practices. “On several occasions, Reporters sans frontières has expressed regret that Togolese state media are not more politically aware, but nothing justifies resorting to violence,” added Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general.
According to information collected by RSF, on 22 February 2000, some ten public radio and television journalists and technicians were assaulted by Forces for Change Youth (Jeunesses des forces du changement, JFC) activists while covering an association meeting in Bè, a neighbourhood in the capital. Several JFC members burst into the room where the meeting was being held and threatened the assembled organisers and journalists. They also threw stones and other objects at them. Three people were admitted to hospital, suffering from cranial traumatism as a result of the attack. A camera and tape recorder were also stolen.
In a press release, the UFC stated that “this situation can be attributed to the grotesque and deceitful editing, characteristic of state media, particularly on Togolese television.”
