(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned by the sentencing of two journalists to three-month prison terms. According to RSF’s information, on 28 December 1998, Harry Rahajason and Christian Chatefaux, journalist and editor-in-chief, respectively, of the newspaper “L’Express de Madagascar” were sentenced to three months in prison. Rahajason was found guilty of contempt of court, further to […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned by the sentencing of two journalists to
three-month prison terms. According to RSF’s information, on 28 December
1998, Harry Rahajason and Christian Chatefaux, journalist and
editor-in-chief, respectively, of the newspaper “L’Express de Madagascar”
were sentenced to three months in prison. Rahajason was found guilty of
contempt of court, further to a complaint filed by M. Ralantomahefa, public
prosecutor of the Antsirabé republic at the time of the case. The journalist
was accused of having insulted the magistrate in a June 1997 article. As for
Chatefaux, he was sentenced for having delayed the publication of the
plaintiff’s right to a response for too long a period.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
press
matter
and reminding him that , in a 14 July 1992 document, the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights underlined that as a sanction for expressing
one’s opinion, detention constitutes one of the most reprehensible means of
imposing silence, and, as such, a serious violation of human rights
will allow these journalists to remain free
Appeals To
Monsieur Didier Ratsiraka
Président de la République
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
