(MFWA/IFEX) – On 14 January 2006, Frank Konate, reporter, and Basile Zoma, cameraman, both of the opposition daily newspaper “24 Heures”, were nearly burnt alive by a group of demonstrating Young Patriots. The journalists were on their way to cover a meeting of the International Task Force created by the United Nations to implement its […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 14 January 2006, Frank Konate, reporter, and Basile Zoma, cameraman, both of the opposition daily newspaper “24 Heures”, were nearly burnt alive by a group of demonstrating Young Patriots.
The journalists were on their way to cover a meeting of the International Task Force created by the United Nations to implement its Resolution 1633 on Côte d’Ivoire, the Resolution that states that the term of the current Ivorian parliament should not be extended when it expires.
According to a Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)-Côte d’Ivoire source, the vehicle taking the reporters to the meeting was stopped at a roadblock mounted by the demonstrators. After the demonstrators realized that the two were journalists of “24 Heures”, they threatened to pour gasoline on the car and to set it ablaze with the journalists inside. They also threatened to overturn the car.
However, the timely intervention of Marshall Eugene Djue Kouadiao, a leading member of the Young Patriots, saved the journalists.
The “Young Patriots” is a group that supports Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo.
