PRESS RELEASE/ACTION ALERT UPDATE - CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

12 March 2004

Publication director of private daily "L'Hirondelle" sentenced to six months in
prison

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

**Updates IFEX alerts of 9 March and 26 February 2004**

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release, followed by the
organisation's 11 March 2004 letter to Central African Republic President
François Bozizé:

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Journalist sentenced to six months in jail

New York, March 12, 2004-Judes Zossé, publication director of the private daily
newspaper L'Hirondelle (The Swallow) in the Central African Republic (CAR), was
sentenced today to six months in prison and fined 200,000 CFA francs (US$375).
He was charged with "insulting the head of state."

"This harsh sentence belies the CAR government's stated commitment to press
freedom," said Ann Cooper, executive director of the Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ). "We call on authorities in CAR to release Judes Zossé
immediately and unconditionally."

Zossé's lawyer told CPJ that he would appeal the sentence. CPJ sent a letter to
CAR President François Bozizé yesterday calling for Zossé's release [the letter
follows].

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to
safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information about press conditions
in the Central African Republic, visit www.cpj.org.

March 11, 2004

His Excellency François Bozizé
President of the Central African Republic
c/o The Embassy of the Central African Republic
1618 22nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Via facsimile: (202) 332-9893

Your Excellency:

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the continued imprisonment
of Judes Zossé, publication director of the private daily L'Hirondelle (The
Swallow). Zossé was arrested on February 25, two days after the newspaper
reproduced an article titled "General Bozizé: the State's Tax-collector."

The article, which originally ran on the news Web site Centrafrique-presse.com,
alleged that Your Excellency, who came to power after a March 2003 coup, had
personally taken over the collection of state tax revenue in the Central African
Republic, prompting two senior Treasury officials to contemplate resignation.
Centrafrique-presse.com is a France-based opposition Web site run by former
President Ange-Félix Patassé's spokesperson Prosper N'Douba.

On February 26, Zossé was transferred from the police station to the N'Garagba
Central Prison in the capital, Bangui. The transfer came after a hearing before
the Bangui Court Prosecutor, who charged Zossé with "insulting the head of
state" and refused a request by Zossé's lawyer to release the journalist pending
his trial. The prosecutor has asked for an 18-month prison sentence for Zossé.
According to local sources, a verdict in the trial is expected tomorrow.

CPJ is dismayed that Zossé faces criminal charges for an article published in
his newspaper, despite repeated assurances from you and members of your
administration that you would uphold and protect press freedom. Criminal
defamation laws have a chilling effect on journalism and free expression, which
are crucial to the establishment of democracy. Zossé's imprisonment also sets a
troubling precedent during a period in which Your Excellency has called for
national reconciliation and dialogue ahead of elections expected early next
year.

As an independent organization of journalists dedicated to defending our
colleagues worldwide, CPJ demands the immediate, unconditional release of Judes
Zossé, and we call on you to ensure that Central African journalists are able to
pursue their work without fear of imprisonment.

We thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to the president:
- calling on his administration to release Zossé immediately and unconditionally
- call on him to ensure that CAR journalists are able to pursue their work
without fear of imprisonment

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency François Bozizé
President of the Central African Republic
c/o The Embassy of the Central African Republic
1618 22nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
United States
Fax: +1 202 332 9893

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Africa Program Coordinator Julia Crawford,
Research Associate Adam Posluns or Alexis Arieff 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 press release/action alert update is the sole
responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit CPJ.
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