🚀 go-pugleaf

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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
_________________________________________________________________
Date: October 27, 1994

MALI: Escalating attacks on press freedom

ORIGINATOR: Reporters sans frontieres (RSF), Paris

RSF has expressed concern at recent incidents in Mali which point
to a pattern of escalating attacks on press freedom in the
country.

A news team from the television network ORTM was wounded by
security forces on 25 October 1994 near the National Assembly
building, while attempting to cover the police arrest of a driver
and the general clash that ensued between a group of drivers and
security forces. As soon as it was spotted, the team (journalist
Aboubacar Toure, soundman Adama Camara, cameraman Modibo Gueye,
lighting technician Mamaye Camara and driver Breima Traore) was
assaulted by police. The camera and tape recorder were broken,
while the news vehicle's windows were smashed. The journalist
suffered an arm injury, the soundman has a broken collarbone, and
the cameraman suffered back and eye injuries.

In seperate incidents, on the 11 and 13 October of this year, the
range of the signal from the independent radio station "Kayira"
was sabotaged and reduced from 50 km to 400 meters. The station
is known to support the political opposition, was banned in
February 1994, and four of its journalists were recently
arrested, released and are awaiting trial set for December.(see
IFEX CH alerts from 18 February and 30 May 1994)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to Malian authorities:

-expressing concern at the behaviour of public officials who
would allow that the public security force be used to repress a
team of journalists operating legally and within the boundaries
of their professional duties, and to harass through various
illegal measures a radio station

-asking that an inquiry be conducted into the behaviour of police
officers who acted beyond their mandate

-urging that "Kayira" not be subjected to censorship nor acts of
sabotage

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency President Alpha Omar Konare
President of the Republic
Republic of Mali
Bamako, Mali

Fax: 223 22 39 80

Minister Cheickna Kamissoko
Minister of Communications
Ministry of Communications
Box 88
Bamako, Mali

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* IFEX CLEARING HOUSE                                 *
* 490 Adelaide St. W. #205 Toronto ONT M5V 1T2 CANADA *
* tel: 416-867-1638 fax: 416-867-1034                 *
* e-mail: ifex@web.apc.org                            *
* *****************************************************

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Echange international de la liberte d'expression
_________________________________________________________________
Date: le 27 octobre 1994

MALI: Multiplication des atteintes a la liberte de presse

INITIATEUR: Reporters sans frontieres (RSF), Paris

RSF exprime son inquietude quant a la multiplication des
incidents de presse survenus recemment a Bamako, la capitale.

Une equipe de reportage du reseau de television ORTM a ete
blessee par les forces de police le 25 octobre 1994, non loin de
l'Assemblee nationale, alors qu'elle entendait couvrir
l'interpellation par la police d'un chauffeur et l'affrontement
generalise qui en a ete le resultat entre un groupe de chauffeurs
et les forces de l'ordre. On a pas laisse le temps au journaliste
Aboubacar Toure, au sonnier Adama Camara, au cameraman Modibo
Gueye, a l'eclairagiste Mamaye Camara, et au chauffeur Breima
Traore de realiser leur reportage. A peine ont-ils ete reperes
par la police qu'ils ont ete roues de coups. La camera a ete
cassee, ainsi que le magnetophone, tandis que les vitres du
vehicule etaient brisees. C'est dans ces conditions que le
journaliste a ete blesse au bras, le sonnier a la clavicule, et
la cameraman a l'oeil et au dos.

D'autre part, a deux reprises, les 11 et 13 octobre dernier, des
actes de sabotages ont fait chute le rayon d'emission de la radio
libre "Kayira" de 50 km a 400 metres. La station est reputee
proche de l'opposition, a ete interdite en fevrier 1994, et
quatre de ses journalistes ont ete recemment arretes, puis
liberes, en l'attente d'un jugement qui devrait intervenir en
decembre prochain.(voir les alertes de l'IFEX datees des 18
fevrier et 30 mai 1994)

ACTION RECOMMANDEE:

Faire appel aux autorites maliennes en:

-exprimant de l'inquietude face a l'attitude des pouvoirs publics
qui permettent que la force publique soit employee impunement
pour reprimer une equipe de journalistes operant dans la stricte
legalite et dans le cadre de ses activites professionnelles, et
pour harceler par differents moyens non legaux une station de
radio

-demandant qu'une enquete soit deligentee afin d'etablir la
responsabilite des policiers qui ont outrepasse leurs droits

-demandant que la radio "Kayira" ne soit plus victime d'actes de
censure ni de sabotage

FAIRE APPEL A:

Monsieur le President Alpha Omar Konare
President de la Republique
Republique du Mali
Bamako, Mali

Fax: 223 22 39 80

Monsieur Cheickna Kamissoko
Ministre de la Communication
Ministere de la Communication
BP 88
Bamako, Mali


*******************************************************
* IFEX CLEARING HOUSE                                 *
* 490 Adelaide St. W. #205 Toronto ONT M5V 1T2 CANADA *
* tel: 416-867-1638 fax: 416-867-1034                 *
* e-mail: ifex@web.apc.org                            *
* *****************************************************