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Alert

Security minister seizes weekly's entire print run

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has criticised Guinean Security Minister Moussa Sampil for confiscating all 950 copies of the weekly "Le Petit matin" on 23 September 2004 because of an article ridiculing his "mistakes", and then trying to justify the seizure by falsely claiming the newspaper was illegal.

"We not only protest the security minister's arbitrary decision, but also the extremes to which he has gone to silence 'Le Petit matin'," the organisation said. "If he insists on using the police as auxiliaries for his wounded pride, he will continue to face legitimate criticism from independent journalists and protests from our organisation."

RSF added, "We call for 'Le Petit matin' to be allowed to resume publishing normally and for it to be compensated for the financial losses resulting from the seizure of the 23 September issue."

Acting on Sampil's orders, state security police scoured the streets of Conakry on the morning of 23 September, hunting down the 950 copies of "Le Petit matin"'s issue no. 4. All copies still on sale were seized. As they did not know where the newspaper's offices were located, the police went the same day to the National Council for Communication (Conseil national de la Communication, CNC) and demanded the address of several Guinean newspapers. CNC staff refused.

In an attempt to justify his move, Sampil told the CNC that "Le Petit matin" was illegal. RSF has learned that the president of the Guinean Association of Independent Press Editors then telephoned the Conakry state prosecutor, who said he was unaware of any decision declaring the weekly illegal.

The independent editors resolved to take action on behalf of "Le Petit matin". Concluding that Sampil's seizure of the 950 copies amounted to "buying them on credit," they sent him a bill on 1 October. They also challenged him at a seminar on transparency the same day in Conakry, in which he and four government colleagues took part. Instead of responding to the journalists' questions, Sampil walked out.

"Le Petit matin" has until now been unable to raise the funds needed to publish any further issues. No date has been set for the next one.