IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT UPDATE- AFRICA

10 July 2003

CPJ dismayed that issue of press freedom does not appear on conference
agenda of African Union's Assembly of Heads of State

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

**Updates IFEX alert of 8 July 2003**

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 July 2003 letter to African Union General
Secretary Amara Essy:

July 8, 2003

His Excellency Amara Essy
Secretary General
African Union
African Union Headquarters
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Via facsimile: 251-1-51-2622/3036

Your Excellency,

On the eve of the Assembly of Heads of State at the African Union (AU)
summit in Maputo, Mozambique, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is
writing to express deep concern over the state of press freedom in Africa.

We are dismayed that the issue of press freedom does not appear on the
conference agenda. Outgoing AU chairperson, South African president Thabo
Mbeki, recently stated that a principal responsibility of the organization
is "to ensure that the entirety of our continent enjoys peace, stability and
democracy." But as long as journalists' rights are suppressed, and they are
not free to report on official injustices, such as corruption and other
hindrances to development, the AU will not be able to fulfill its mandate.

We hope that Your Excellency will use your authority to ensure that the
issue of press freedom in Africa is addressed at this conference, and that
it remains on the AU agenda in the future. We also hope that you will use
the occasion of the Maputo summit to encourage AU members to improve
conditions for the media in their respective countries.

Since CPJ last wrote Your Excellency in August 2002, AU member governments'
have done little to improve their treatment of journalists. Reporters in
several countries are routinely harassed, while media outlets are censored
in reprisal for their work. Governments in many African countries continue
to use repressive legislation to restrict coverage and imprison journalists.
Currently, 25 are imprisoned in AU member states because of their work,
according to CPJ research.

CPJ is particularly disturbed by the press freedom records of the following
countries:

* Eritrea: Since September 2001, when the government shut down the country's
entire independent press and began arresting journalists, Eritrea has had
the continent's most appalling press freedom record. Seventeen journalists
currently languish in prison there, nearly all of them held incommunicado in
unknown locations. Many other journalists have fled the country to avoid
persecution. Eritrean authorities have called the journalists "mercenaries"
and "spies" and have accused them of spreading disinformation and creating
division in the country.

* Ethiopia: The Ethiopian government continues to use its repressive Press
Proclamation No. 34/1992 to criminally prosecute and imprison journalists.
Two journalists are currently in jail there, one of whom has been in prison
for more than a year. Though the Ethiopian Parliament passed a new
broadcasting law in 1999, the government has still not fulfilled its promise
to grant broadcasting licenses to private operators. Meanwhile, Ethiopian
authorities are preparing to introduce a new press bill to Parliament, early
drafts of which include harsh criminal penalties for press offenses, place
severe restrictions on media ownership, and allow the government broad
powers of censorship.

* Togo: CPJ recently named Togo one of the world's 10 Worst Places to be a
Journalist. Togolese authorities have shuttered independent broadcasters,
blocked news Web sites, seized entire editions of critical newspapers, and
arrested journalists in reprisal for their work. Three journalists are
currently in prison in Togo, all charged with "publishing false information
and disturbing public order" for electronically scanning photographs of
alleged disturbances during the recent presidential elections. In September
2002, the Togolese Parliament passed an amendment to the Press Code that
compounded its already harsh punishments. Togolese journalists can now be
imprisoned for up to five years for "insulting the Head of State."

* Zimbabwe: The government of Zimbabwe has continued its crackdown on
independent journalists, using repressive legislation passed in early 2002
to prosecute those who criticize the ruling ZANU-PF regime. Though the
country's Supreme Court struck down a section of the infamous Access to
Information and Protection of Privacy Act in early May, authorities have
used other means to harass reporters; ruling-party supporters attack
journalists with impunity and seize copies of critical newspapers from
vendors. In mid-May, immigration officials forcibly removed independent
reporter Andrew Meldrum from the country, despite court rulings ordering his
release, after Meldrum penned several articles on the economic and political
crises in the country.

While CPJ believes that these countries are the most egregious violators of
journalists' rights, the trends of harassment, intimidation, and
imprisonment of reporters, as well as legal restrictions and censorship, are
common across the continent. Authorities in many African countries continue
to deny reporters access to government information, and to use criminal laws
to stifle dissent and punish journalists who criticize ruling regimes.

According to the AU's "Constitutive Act," the union is designed to "promote
democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good
governance" and to "promote sustainable development at the economic, social
and cultural levels." As an organization of journalists dedicated to
defending our colleagues worldwide, we believe that a free press is
essential to attaining these goals. Journalists play a vital role in
ensuring that citizens of African nations are informed about issues of
public concern.

Moreover, we respectfully remind Your Excellency that AU member states are
committed to upholding the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, including
the right to freedom of expression.

AU member states must uphold their commitments and allow the media in their
countries to operate freely, without fear of reprisal. The AU should also
promote the decriminalization of press offenses in all African countries. By
guaranteeing freedom of expression and freedom of the press, the AU can help
ensure democracy and stability across the continent.

Sincerely,

Ann Cooper
Executive Director

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Similar appeals can be sent to:

His Excellency Amara Essy
Secretary General
African Union
African Union Headquarters
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 1 51 2622 / 3036

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Adam Posluns (ext. 107) at CPJ, 330 Seventh
Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212 465
9568, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Internet:
http://www.cpj.org/

The information contained in this action alert update is the sole
responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit CPJ.
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