Guinea Alert

May 11, 2004

Newspaper banned from stands

* The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Media Foundation of West
Africa (MFWA), as a joint activity, will henceforth issue alerts, statements and
appeals to highlight media freedom and wider human rights violations in West
Africa. See www.misa.org and www.mediafoundationwa.org for more information.

The May 2-8, 2004 edition (Issue No. 2260) of the J.A. L'intelligent newspaper
has not been permitted to appear on newsstands. The paper, which ought to have
been on the newsstands by 06h00 on Monday, May 3, was not circulated by
SOGUIDIP, the Guinean newspaper distribution company.

According to Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)-Guinea, the Ministry of
Local Government (MATD) prevented the distribution of the newspaper because it
carried the front page banner headline, "Guinea - François Lonceny Fall: Why I
am resigning".

The article, with the by-line of reporter Marwane Ben Yahmed, alleged that
François Lonceny Fall, who was appointed prime minister by Gen. Lansana Conté
barely two months ago on February 23, 2004, purported to "reveal" the reasons
for his resignation. The story alleged that Lonceny Fall was being frustrated at
the head of government. He was also said to have been perturbed about the
authoritarian tendencies of President Conté. The prime minister allegedly
recalled an occasion when he tried to persuade Gen. Conté about the need for
some economic reforms. Conté is said to have told riposted that, ".me, I am a
General. You ministers, you are my corporals. I give the orders, you carry them
out. I don't discuss with you". The article also attributed to the former prime
minister, allegations about some hidden ploys of the Conté government.

On May 3, the management of SOGUIDIP made several enquires with the MATD,
seeking final authorisation to distribute the newspaper. Each time, the MATD
authorities asked SOGUIDIP to hold on. Consequently, only direct subscribers to
the J.A. L'intelligent were able to receive the issue, which then begun to be
photocopied and sold clandestinely in Conakry.

There is no specific law requiring SOGUIDIP to receive the permission of the
MATD before distributing a publication. However, it has been a long-standing
practice which seems to have attained the force of law over time.

Media freedom and freedom of expression have been particularly violated in
Guinea since the disputed December 21, 2003 elections returned Gen. Lansana
Conté, who first came to office in a coup d'état in 1984, to an unprecedented
third five-year term in office.

Please protest the refusal of the Ministry of Local Government to allow the
circulation of Issue No. 2260 of the J.A. L'intelligent and send it to:

H.E. Lansana Conte
President
Republic of Guinea, Conakry

Through:
Mme. Aissatou Diallo
Minister of Information
Ministry of Information
Tel: (224) 415-001, 228-569
Fax: (224) 414-797

M. Mamadou Sylla
Ministre de la Justice
Ministère de la Justice
BP: 564
Tel: 411617
Fax: 411617
E-mail: [email protected] afribone.net.gn

Kiridi Bangoura
Ministre
Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale et de la Décentralisation
BP: 3495
Tel: 414128/ 413532
Fax: 414128
E-mail: [email protected]

Enquiries:

Media Foundation for West Africa
Prof Kwame Karikari
Executive Director (MFWA)
P. O. Box LG 730
Legon, Ghana
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 233-21-24 24 70
Fax: 233-21-22 10 84
Web: http://www.mediafoundationwa.org

Enquiries:

Media Institute of Southern Africa
Zoe Titus
Regional Programme Manager: Media Freedom Monitoring
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Web: http://www.misa.org

Ends