GUINEA-BISSAU: Editor of state radio suspended
The editor of Guinea-Bissau's state-run RDN radio station was suspended last Wednesday by the government for covering the return home of an opposition politician, the Portuguese news agency, Lusa, reported.
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GUINEA-BISSAU: Editor of state radio suspended
ABIDJAN, 13 March (IRIN) - The editor of Guinea-Bissau's state-run RDN radio station was suspended last Wednesday by the government for covering the return home of an opposition politician, the Portuguese news agency, Lusa, reported on Thursday.
RDN's news editor, Ensa Seidi, was suspended for defying instructions not to cover the return on Saturday of opposition leader and former prime minister Francisco Fadul. "The suspension of RDN's news editor Ensa Seidi was the latest incident in a recent government crackdown on opposition politicians and media ahead of April 20 legislative elections," Lusa said.
RDN's director-general, Malam Lamine Djatá, was quoted by Lusa as saying that Seidi would answer two in-house inquiries for having "disobeyed" express orders not to report Fadul's return to the capital, Bissau, from Portugal.
Fadul, who had spent more than two years in self-imposed exile in Lisbon, was transitional prime minister in 1998-99 following the military's ouster of President Nino Vieira. He recently formed a political party to challenge President Kumba Yala's ruling Social Renovation Party in the upcoming elections.
Late last month, Guinea-Bissau closed its most influential private radio station, Radio Bombolom, which the government believed was sympathetic to the opposition. The closure was ordered even though international and national rights groups had appealed to Yala's government to allow the station to continue broadcasting.
Guinea-Bissau has been in the throes of a political and economic crisis for months now. Yala's government has responded to growing criticism by arresting those who speak out against its policies. The April elections were called after Yala dissolved parliament, accusing its members of sabotage.
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