Pattern of Repression

Around Africa November 2008
Pattern of Repression

In November, a pattern of repression of journalists and human rights defenders Around Africa raised anxiety among activists. Sudan has been particularly severe in its repression of the press and journalists had earlier in the month organised protests, including hunger strikes, against the pre-publication censorship of newspapers. In response, the Sudanese National Security Services (NSS) unleashed even more aggressive attacks on the media including the interrogation, arrests and torture of journalists aimed intimidating them into silence. Our partners describe a brutal push by the NSS to prevent reporting of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) indictment of President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir for crimes in Darfur and neighbouring Chad. ARTICLE 19 urges all governments, their embassies in Khartoum, regional groups and the international community to intercede and defend the framework for peace in Sudan, which includes right of free expression. Somalia has all but forbidden journalists to do their work. Daily arrests, kidnappings, and even deadly violence are increasingly part of media professionals’ experiences. Radio journalists have been a particular target. Now media repression is spreading to Somaliland which had been seen as relatively progressive on free expression. In November, three journalists were seriously injured in Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland in northern Somalia, when a bomb detonated as they worked. Freelance journalist Hadis Mohammed Hadis was held for two weeks at the Criminal Investigation Department in Hargeisa before being released. ARTICLE 19 calls on Somaliland authorities to maintain its progressive advance toward rule of law including respect for the right of free expression.Repression also resurfaced in Swaziland where officials are exploiting a counter-terrorism act passed in May 2008 to muzzle the press Political activities have been outlawed, marches and demonstrations have been banned, and television camera crews, journalists and political activists have been arrested and interrogated “for making remarks in support of terrorism”. ARTICLE 19 appeals for restraint in Swaziland. Counter-terrorism should not be a pretext for repression and muzzling of free expression.
News Roundup
Official resistance to freedom of expression was palpable Around Africa throughout the month of November. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, journalists (Congolese and foreign) were abducted. Nzonzo Bitwahiki Munyamariza, a 27-year-old journalist and presenter at a community radio station Radio Communautaire Ushikira (Racou), reportedly died from a bullet wound during a stampede that followed the attack on his village of Kiwanja. The journalist's killer is unknown and some of his colleagues were released after a brief detention. Tunisian authorities have charged independent Tunisian independent television station reporter Fahem Boukadous with “belonging to a criminal association” and “spreading reports liable to disrupt public order” last July. Boukadous has since been in hiding. The indictment accuses Boukadous of establishing contacts with demonstrators, as part of his work as a journalist. ARTICLE 19 joins with Reporters Sans Frontières in calling for a withdrawal of the charge against Boukadous. Guinea’s National Communications Council (CNC) took community radio Familia FM, off the air for allegedly broadcasting information that the CNC claimed could “disturb the public peace”. Familia FM is a popular private community radio station that specialises in social issues, but only has the right to broadcast news bulletins. ARTICLE 19 joins the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in calling on the Guinean authorities to reverse this decision.
Events and New Directions
ARTICLE 19 attended a November roundtable with Foster Dongozi, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) during his recent visit to the UK. At a roundtable meeting organised by National Union of Journalists in London, Dongozi provided an update on challenges facing media organizations and professionals in Zimbabwe. He described an anxious work environment where many journalists including bloggers “have compromised ethical conduct”. Dongozi commented,“With the muzzling of most independent and local press, including community radio, online journalism has blossomed, providing an outlet for the younger generation such as new graduates”, but also lamented the fact that they often have “little or no sense of professional standards”. Dongozi called for wider support to strengthen the policy and regulatory environment after the political turmoil ends. He said the power-sharing deal between the Movement for Democratic Change and ZANU-PF includes a recognition that the media landscape is abnormal, “yet violations of free expression and attacks on the media have continued”. Dongozi said the ZUJ would welcome support for training in ethical news gathering and quality reporting. ARTICLE 19 calls on Zimbabwe’s political and community leaders to ensure an enabling environment where journalists can uphold basic standards of ethics in news reporting.
Strengthening Media Policy and Regulation in Africa
In November, ARTICLE 19 with PANOS Institute for West Africa (PIWA) and the Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of Senegal (CNRA) convened a workshop of media regulators from the French speaking zone of West Africa in Dakar, Senegal. This pilot workshop was based on the recently published French version of ARTICLE 19’s Training Manual for Regulators, aimed at strengthening regulatory frameworks for enabling pluralistic and diverse broadcasting in Africa. A similar workshop with the English speaking zone was conducted 2006 when the manual was first published. “Through shared principles of media policy and regulation, we have a unique opportunity to broaden freedom expression and media pluralism across Africa,” says Dr. Agnès Callamard, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 who attended the Dakar workshop. Plans for a Portuguese version of the manual are ongoing. Both the English and French editions are available at: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/tools/broadcasting-manual.pdf
New Trade Group Aims for Progressive Media Industry Practice
ARTICLE 19 welcomes the launch of a new professional body, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), which is poised to advocate progressive terms of employment for media practice on the continent. Delegates from journalists' unions and associations from 31 African countries convened in Nairobi on 21-22 November for the launch of FAJ, following its first working congress to discuss issues affecting the media industry in Africa. The congress adopted a constitution, which expresses unwavering support for fundamental principles of trade unionism, press freedom and freedom of expression. Delegates also established rules of the organisation, a two-year working programme and elected a steering committee of seven members for a three-year term.

NOTES TO EDITORS:
• For more information: please contact Africa Programme Officers Cece Fadoupe, cece@article19.org or Roxanne Abdulali roxanne@article19.org +44 20 7278 9292