NIGER: Two journalists and a newspaper owner jailed in Niamey

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

23 May 2002

Two journalists and a newspaper owner jailed in Niamey

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has protested the arrests of Abdoulaye Tiémogo, publication
director of the private weekly "Le Canard Déchaîné", and Abarad Mouddour
Zakara, publication director of the private weekly "La Roue de l'histoire".
Zakara was arrested and kept in police custody on 18 May 2002, following
Commerce Minister Seïni Oumarou's filing of a complaint for "defamation".
Sanoussi Jackou, owner of "La Roue de l'histoire" newspaper and president of
the Parti Nigérien pour l'autogestion (PNA), a small opposition party, was
also arrested on 17 May in the context of the same case. Tiémogo was held
for questioning on 17 May, one week after hosting a debate on the private
radio station Tambara FM during which Jackou accused Prime Minister Hama
Amadou of ethnic and regional discrimination in the appointment of high
state officials. The three men were placed in provisional detention at
Niamey's civilian prison on 21 May. They are expected to stand trial on 24
May and face a six-month to two-year prison sentence.

In a letter to Communications Minister Mamane Sani, RSF Secretary-General
Robert Ménard stated, "These journalists should not be imprisoned. We remind
you that the United Nations considers incarceration to be a serious human
rights violation as a penalty for violations of the press laws." The
organisation asked him to consult with the relevant authorities to secure
the journalists' immediate release.

RSF also recalled that Tiémogo was imprisoned at Niamey's civilian prison
for 48 days in 2001. On 19 October 2001, the Niamey First Instance Tribunal
sentenced him to six months' imprisonment for "defamation". Agriculture
Minister Wassalké Boukari had filed a complaint against "Le Canard Déchaîné"
following its publication of an article alleging that he had embezzled 200
million CFA francs (approx. US$281,000; 305,000 euros) from a gold-mining
area in the west of the country. The minister withdrew his complaint at the
start of the appeals trial (see IFEX alerts of 12 December and 19 October
2001).

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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