IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - SENEGAL

4 February 2002

Prime minister takes legal action against two journalists for "insults"

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris

(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye, RSF protested
the claim brought against Ousseynou Nar Guèye and Cheikh Touré. "If the
journalists are sentenced, press freedom will be the victim of your lack of
self-ridicule. It is important that Senegal, starting with its dignitaries,
accept the popular press's mocking remarks, even if they are in poor taste,"
stated Robert Ménard, the organisation's secretary-general. RSF urged the
prime minister to withdraw her complaint.

According to information collected by RSF, Prime Minister Boye has taken
legal action against Guèye, "Le Tract" newspaper's publication director, for
"insults to a member of the government" and "distribution of false news
through the use of false or fabricated documents". Touré, Guèye's computer
graphics technician, is being taken to court for "complicity". On 31 January
2002, the two journalists appeared before the examining judge in a Dakar
court. Guèye's next hearing is scheduled for 11 February.

On 1 August 2001, Guèye, Touré and Souleymane Ndiaye, "Le Tract"'s
editor-in-chief, were arrested for questioning. That same day, all copies of
"Le Tract" were confiscated by the police. The newspaper's 1 August edition
included a front-page photomontage of Prime Minister Boye in a swimsuit. The
three journalists were released the next morning. The computer used to
prepare the photomontage was seized at the time and has yet to be returned
by the police.

For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, 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.fr

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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