EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Journalist released from police detention

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - EQUATORIAL GUINEA

13 November 2003

Journalist released from police detention

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

**Updates IFEX alert of 5 November 2003**

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 November 2003 CPJ press release:

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Journalist released from police detention

New York, November 12, 2003-Independent journalist Rodrigo Angue Nguema was
released yesterday evening after spending eight days in police custody in
Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo. Angue Nguema works as a correspondent for
the wire service Agence France-Presse (AFP), as well as several other foreign
news organizations, and is one of the only independent journalists in the
country.

Police arrested Angue Nguema on November 3, after an article he wrote for AFP
detailed rumors of an attempted military coup in Equatorial Guinea. Government
officials said that the journalist was detained for questioning in an ongoing
investigation into the origin of the rumors, AFP reported.

Angue Nguema is still being monitored by the authorities and fears that the
government could pursue legal action against him, said his colleagues at AFP.

Equatorial Guinea has one of the most repressive media environments in Africa.
The state press is dominated by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his
ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea. Private publications appear
irregularly, and independent journalists are frequently harassed. Last year, in
spite of having proper accreditation, Angue Nguema was twice barred from
covering the controversial trial of 144 opposition supporters who had been
charged with conspiracy to overthrow the government.

"We welcome Rodrigo Angue Nguema's release from detention, but he should never
have been arrested in the first place," said Ann Cooper, executive director of
the Committee to Protect Journalists. "We call on the authorities in Equatorial
Guinea to ensure that journalists are never imprisoned for their work."

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to
safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information about press conditions
in Equatorial Guinea, visit http://www.cpj.org

For further information, contact Africa Program Coordinator Julia Crawford or
Research Associate Adam Posluns at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001,
U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected],
Internet: http://www.cpj.org/

The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit CPJ.
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