GUINEA-BISSAU: RSF protests closure of two private newspapers

ALERT UPDATE - GUINEA-BISSAU

5 November 2001

RSF protests closure of two private newspapers

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontiers (RSF), Paris

**Updates IFEX alert of 31 October 2001**

(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to Guinea-Bissau State Prosecutor Caetano
N'Tchama,
RSF protested the closure of two private newspapers, the daily "Diario de
Bissau" and the weekly "Gazeta de Noticias". "The independent press has
been
in the authorities' sights since Mr. Yala's election to the presidency of
Guinea-Bissau in January 2000," stated Robert Mard, the
organisation's
secretary-general. "This pressure, which constantly threatens the right to
inform, must be ended once and for all," added Mard.

According to information collected by RSF, on 27 October 2001, the state
prosecutor ordered the indefinite closure of the private daily "Diario de
Bissau" and the private weekly "Gazeta de Noticias" because of "irregular
activities." N'Tchama also accuses these publications of disturbing the
country's "peace and stability" and "violating official secrets." Moreover,
N'Tchama has openly threatened to close the private radio stations
Bombolom-FM and Radio Pidjiquiti unless they straighten out "their
administrative and legal situation within fifteen days."

RSF recalled that on 8 September, the same prosecutor personally went to
the
Radio Pidjiquiti offices to demand cassettes from a programme in which
journalists questioned his appointment by Kumba Yala. When the staff
refused
to hand over the cassettes, N'Tchama, accompanied by two armed soldiers,
threatened to arrest the journalists. The following day, he sent his
bodyguard to threaten Radio Pidjiquiti staff again (see IFEX alert of 11
September 2001).

For further information, contact Jean-Francis 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 update is the sole responsibility
of
RSF. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
RSF.
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