AFRICA - Media and Freedom of Expression

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20. Media and Freedom of Expression

BURKINA FASO: JOURNALIST HELD WITHOUT CHARGE
After nearly a week since his arrest, N'Do Mathieu, chief editor of
the weekly San Finna, is still being held in solitary confinement at
the police barracks of the 'Compagnie Republicaine de Securitie
(CRS)' in Ouagadougou, the capital. N'Do was picked up by security
forces at the Ouagadougou International Airport on November 5, 2004
upon his return from an investigative trip to Cote d'Ivoire. The
government has not given any reason for the arbitrary arrest and
detention of the journalist but it is believed that his analysis on
Burkina Faso's relations with its neighbors in the sub-region may
have led to his ordeal. As chief editor of the San Finna, N'Do often
writes about politics and institutions in Burkina Faso.
Further details: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=25651

IVORY COAST: JOURNALIST KILLED DURING CLASHES WITH FRENCH TROOPS
Antoine Massé, a local correspondent for "Le Courrier d'Abidjan", a
privately-owned daily that supports President Laurent Gbagbo, was
killed on the morning of 7 November 2004 during clashes between the
Ivorian army, demonstrators and members of the French peacekeeping
force (Force Licorne), Reporters sans frontières (RSF), has
confirmed. "Le Courrier d'Abidjan" reported that Massé, who was also
a literature professor, was fatally shot as he covered a
demonstration aimed at blocking the eastward advance of French troops
from Man towards Abidjan.
Further details: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=25653

MOZAMBIQUE: RENAMO BANS TELEVISION FROM FILMING ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
On November 6 2004, local officials of Mozambique's former rebel
movement Resistencia Nacional de Mozambique (Renamo), banned a film
crew of the public television, TVM, from filming the Renamo election
campaign in two northern towns, Mozambique Island and Nacala, despite
the movement's consistent complaints that TVM does not give it
sufficient coverage. Both towns are regarded as Renamo strongholds.
Further details: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=25652

NIGERIA: PHOTOJOURNALIST ASSAULTED BY SECURITY AGENTS
On 11 November 2004, a photojournalist with the Lagos-based daily
"Vanguard", Diran Oshe, was assaulted by security agents who also
smashed his camera as he attempted to take photographs of Major Hamza
Al-Mustapha, the former chief security officer to the late Nigerian
head of state, General Sani Abacha. The incident took place at the
premises of the High Court in Ikeja, Lagos, where Major Al-Mustapha
is standing trial along with four others for his alleged involved in
the attempted murder of Alex Ibru, publisher of the privately-owned
national daily "The Guardian".
Further details: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=25654

RWANDA: EDITOR OF INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER TRIED ON CRIMINAL CHARGES
The editor of Umuseso, a Rwandan language independent weekly, was
tried today on criminal charges of defamation and "divisionism" in
connection with an article that accused parliamentary Vice President
Denis Polisi of plotting to seize power. The Committee to Protect
Journalists condemned the trial, saying journalists should not be
criminally prosecuted for reporting critically about government
officials.
Further details: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=25678


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