IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - CÔTE D'IVOIRE

5 March 2004

Political leaders on all sides urged to keep their promises concerning press
freedom

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called on all Ivoirian national and local politicians to
keep the promises they made concerning press freedom as part of the January 2003
Marcoussis Agreement aimed at ending the country's civil war.

The organisation said journalists still face a climate of constant lawlessness
and that despite advances in the national reconciliation process, arrests,
threats and physical attacks on members of the press have not diminished.

"Harassment comes from all sides. Local bosses in some areas of the north ban
journalists from going there, threaten and arrest them and seize their
equipment. In government-controlled areas, police and other officials are
responsible for the harassment," RSF said. "All political and military leaders
must stick to the promises they made so journalists can work properly. This
includes curbing the excesses of soldiers and police," the organisation added.

The distribution of newspapers has been disrupted in Bouaké and other
rebel-controlled towns in the north after attacks on vendors. The state-run
television station RTI is still only broadcast in the southern part of the
country, despite promises by Communications Minister Guillaume Soro, leader of
the rebel New Forces and a member of the national unity government.

Eleven journalists have been threatened, arrested or physically attacked so far
in 2004. They include Jonas Ouattara Nagolourgo, a photographer with the daily
"Notre Voie", who was threatened on 3 January by armed members of the New Forces
in the north. His photographs were seized and destroyed.

On 16 January, Danielle Sylvie Tagro and Thierry Gouégnon, of the
privately-owned daily "Le Courrier d'Abidjan", were detained by the technical
education minister during a student demonstration at the ministry's offices.
Tagro was also manhandled (see IFEX alert of 26 January 2004).

On 20 January, Agence France-Presse photographer Georges Gobet was struck by
police officers at the opening of the trial of French journalist Jean Hélène's
killer.

On 31 January, Ibrahim Diarra and Charles Sanga, of the daily "Le Patriote", and
Franck Konaté, of the daily "24 Heures", were physically attacked by
presidential guards during an official ceremony in Yamoussoukro (see alert of 2
February 2004).

On 11 February, Emmanuel Konan, a correspondent for the daily "Fraternité Matin"
in the western town of Daloa, was arrested by a local warlord and had his
equipment confiscated. A few days later, Youssouf Sylla and Diallo Mohamed,
correspondents for "Fraternité Matin" in Bouaké, were forced to flee after they
were threatened by local political leaders.

On 21 February, Polycarpe Ilboudo, a photographer with the independent daily "Le
Jour Plus", was arrested without explanation and questioned by police in Abidjan
after an identification check.

For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.org

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