IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/ALERT - EQUATORIAL GUINEA

5 November 2003

Journalist imprisoned

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

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Journalist Imprisoned

New York, November 5, 2003-Police officers in Equatorial Guinea arrested
journalist Rodrigo Angue Nguema at his home in the capital, Malabo, on
November 3. Angue Nguema works as a correspondent for the wire service
Agence France-Presse (AFP), as well as several other foreign news
organizations, and is one of the only independent journalists in the
country. Angue Nguema is currently being held at the central police station
in Malabo.

According to journalists outside the country who were able to speak to Angue
Nguema during his detention, the journalist's arrest stemmed from an article
he wrote for AFP on October 29 detailing rumors of an attempted military
coup in Equatorial Guinea. Government officials have said that the
journalist was detained for questioning in an ongoing investigation into the
origin of the rumors, AFP reported.

Equatorial Guinea has one of the most repressive media environments in
Africa. The state press is dominated by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema
Mbasogo and his ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea. Private
publications appear irregularly, and independent journalists are frequently
harassed. Last year, in spite of having proper accreditation, Angue Nguema
was twice barred from covering the controversial trial of 144 opposition
supporters who had been charged with conspiracy to overthrow the government.

"We deplore this habitual disregard for press freedom," said CPJ Executive
Director Ann Cooper. "We call on authorities to immediately release Angue
Nguema, and to allow independent journalists to practice their profession
without fear of reprisal."

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

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 press release/alert is the sole
responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit CPJ.
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