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Alert

MFWA calls for reinstatement of two newspaper journalists

(MFWA/IFEX) - MFWA urges the government of Guinea to immediately reinstate "Horoya" state-owned daily newspaper managing director Ibrahima Sory Dieng and editor-in-chief Alhassane Souare to their posts.

On 4 October 2006, Information Minister Aboubacar Sylla indefinitely suspended the two journalists for the failure of the newspaper to publish a photograph of President Lassana Conte alongside the text of his speech.

The minister ordered the printing of the 30 September edition of "Horoya" to be stopped, so that Souare could publish a belated speech by President Conte, to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the country's independence.

The MFWA correspondent says Souare was recalled on October 5 and demoted from editor-in-chief to reporter. The correspondent said that although no decision had been taken on Ibrahima Sory Dieng's fate, there were strong indications from ministry sources that he too would be replaced.

"Horoya" newspaper, which has been in existence since 1961, is in dire financial and logistical constraints. For the edition in question, the editor-in-chief had to use his personal cash to pay for the cost of scanning Conte's speech. "Horoya" newspaper, like other state media in Guinea, is highly centred on the activities of officials and praise for the Head of State, his family and members of government.

MFWA condemns this highhanded decision, which undermines the spirit and letter of the 1990 Constitution of Guinea, which guarantees the freedom and editorial independence of state-owned media.

MFWA believes that the suspension of the journalists is arbitrary and that this act casts a shadow on the exercise of the fundamental and constitutionally-guaranteed rights to media freedom and freedom of expression in Guinea.