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MEDIA TARGETED AS CEASEFIRE COLLAPSES

In Côte d'Ivoire, following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement between government and rebel forces, gangs of youth militias reportedly linked to the ruling Ivoirian Popular Front (FPI) party have declared open season on opposition media.

IFEX members are expressing alarm following violent attacks against four private newspapers in the capital, Abidjan. On 4 November 2004, more than 100 armed youths attacked the offices of "Le Patriote," "24 Heures," "Le Nouveau Réveil" and "Le Libéral Nouveau," looting and destroying equipment and documents, reported the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Workers from the four newspapers escaped unharmed. However, they said they received threats accusing them of supporting the rebels and they feared for their safety. None of the newspapers are currently able to publish because of the damage to their premises and equipment.

The attackers are believed to be members of the "Young Patriots," a militia that supports President Laurent Gbagbo's FPI party.

The four newspapers that were attacked were also among eight publications barred from distribution in the south of the country. The publications, including "Le Front," "Ivoire Matin," "Le Journal des Journeaux" and "Le Jour Plus," are considered sympathetic to the opposition.

MFWA and RSF note that on 26 October, unidentified individuals threatened vendors in Abidjan, warning them not to carry copies of these newspapers. There were reports of two vendors being beaten. Sources said they believed the aggressive actions were initiated by the National Federation of Ivory Coast Forums and Parliaments, a movement that includes pro-government youth groups.

Meanwhile, BBC, Radio France Internationale and Africa No. 1 have been prevented from broadcasting from Abidjan. Assailants have sabotaged the broadcasters' FM transmitters.

For more information, visit:

- MFWA:
http://www.mfwaonline.org/en/updates/details.php?objID=0084
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/protests/04ltrs/Ivory05nov04pl.html
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2784&Language=EN
- Human Rights Watch Backgrounder:
http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=africa&c=cotedi
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11789
(Map: © Human Rights Watch)