IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT UPDATE - CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

16 April 2004

CPJ concerned about journalist's continued imprisonment despite presidential
pardon for non-violent prisoners

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

** Updates IFEX alerts of 12 and 9 March and 26 February 2004**

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 14 April 2004 letter to President François Bozizé, CPJ
renewed its demand that imprisoned journalist Jude Zossé be immediately and
unconditionally released. The organisation is also concerned that Zossé
remains jailed despite the president's 15 March pardon for non-violent
prisoners.

Zossé, publication director of the private daily "L'Hirondelle" ("The
Swallow"), was arrested on 25 February in connection with an article titled,
"General Bozizé: the State's Tax-collector". He was sentenced on 12 March to
six months in prison and fined 200,000 CFA francs (approx. US$380) for
"insulting the head of state".

The article, which originally ran on the news website
Centrafrique-presse.com, alleged that after President Bozizé came to power
in a March 2003 coup, he took over the collection of state tax revenue in
the country, prompting two senior treasury officials to contemplate
resignation. Centrafrique-presse.com is a France-based opposition website
run by former president Ange-Félix Patassé's spokesperson, Prosper N'Douba.

On 15 March, which marked his first year in power, the president granted a
pardon for prisoners who had been convicted of crimes not involving violence
or corruption. Zossé's lawyers say they withdrew their appeal of his
conviction so that he could benefit from the pardon. They are now being told
that the matter must be decided by the Appeals Court. No date has yet been
set for a hearing.

On 9 April, two gendarmes interrogated Zossé in his prison cell about an
article in the 8 April edition of "L'Hirondelle" that accused the president
of misappropriating treasury funds, according to Agence France-Presse. The
article was reprinted from "Afrique-Educations", a monthly published in
France, and was clearly sourced. This interrogation has fuelled fears among
local journalists that authorities may be seeking to keep Zossé in jail.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to the president:
- calling on him to release Zossé immediately and unconditionally
- urging him to repeal criminal penalties for press offences

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, D.C. 20008
Fax: 202 332 9893

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Africa Program Coordinator Julia Crawford
or Research Associate Adam Posluns 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], 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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