4 June 1998
Alert
Eight Spanish journalists expelled
Incident details
journalist(s) expelled(RSF/IFEX) - On 31 May 1998, the government ordered the expulsion of eight
correspondents for the Spanish newspapers "El Pais", "La Vanguardia", "El
Heraldo de Aragon", for the news agency EFE, as well as for the state
television channel TVE. Since 25 May, these journalists had been covering
the trial in the war council ("consejo de guerra") of 113 opposition
activists. On 30 May, calling coverage of the trial "tendentious" -
according to Vice-Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs Miguel Oyono -
authorities "invited" journalists to leave the country, claiming that the
council's proceedings had come to an end. The sentences were handed down two
days later.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Political Rights, ratified by Equatorial Guinea, guarantees for journalists
"the right to investigate, receive and circulate information freely"
they institute press freedom, which does not yet exist in the country
Appeals To
His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema
President of the Republic
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
Source:
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
@rsf_rwb
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