21 June 2006
FREE EXPRESSION RAPIDLY DETERIORATING, WARNS COALITION
As African heads of state prepare to visit Banjul, The Gambia, on 1-2 July 2006 for the 7th African Union (AU) Summit, a coalition of African free expression organisations is warning that the state of free expression and press freedom is deteriorating rapidly across the continent.
The Network of African Freedom of Expression Organizations (NAFEO) says there is a "marked increase in the arrests, detention, repression and general harassment of journalists, media and other communications workers."
The coalition also notes that many governments have either introduced new legislation, or have intensified the application, of laws that criminalise journalistic work and free expression.
Six countries stand out as leading violators of free expression, including The Gambia, which is hosting the AU summit, says NAFEO. In recent months, numerous local and international press and human rights groups have criticised the Gambian government for launching a crackdown on the country's independent press in the wake of an alleged coup attempt last March.
Since March, four journalists, including staff members of the bi-weekly "Independent", have been detained by security officials. Three have since been released, including a journalist who was brutally tortured by security guards (see: http://www.rsf.org/IMG/jpg/Gambia-torture-2.jpg).
Other "hot spots" listed by NAFEO included Eritrea, Ethiopia, Swaziland, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.
NAFEO has urged Nigerian President Olusegun Obansanjo to use his influence within the AU to persuade leaders of these countries of the need to respect and protect free expression and freedom of the press.
NAFEO says it is planning a campaign aimed at pressuring governments to repeal laws criminalising press offenses and to free individuals who have been detained or imprisoned for exercising their free speech rights.
It has invited human rights groups, media organisations and other civil society organisations to join the campaign.
Prior to the AU summit, African free expression groups will be participating in a forum in Banjul on 29-30 June to discuss how regional human rights mechanisms can strengthen freedom of expression.
The forum will examine the main challenges facing free expression in Africa, and seek ways in which advocates can more effectively use the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Peer Review Mechanism to protect free expression in their countries.
Participants will draft a list of recommendations that organisers aim to present to a number of African heads of state and key AU officials at the Summit, including the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare.
The organisations hosting the forum include ARTICLE 19, the Media Foundation for West Africa, the Media Institute for Southern Africa and the West African Journalists Association.
Visit these links:
- NAFEO: http://www.misa.org/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1150272690
- NAFEO Founding Statement: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/70186
- RSF Reveals Pictures of Tortured Journalist: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17935
- African Union Summit:
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/Past/2006/July/summit/summit.htm
- NGOs to Hold Free Expression Forum at AU Summit: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/74792/
- BBC Profile of the African Union: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/3870303.stm
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