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Alerts - Madagascar

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Madagascar

More than 80 broadcasters closed on orders given by authorities

Under the guise of a so-called "consolidation of the broadcast landscape," the government is censoring a multitude of small private stations.

Madagascar

Radio Fahazavana personnel freed; another opposition radio station suspended

Ten Radio Fahazavana employees had been in pre-trial detention for several months and still face charges of "inciting a revolt".

Madagascar

Provincial journalist prosecuted over report on poaching of sea turtles

Alphonse Afakandro is being prosecuted on charges of defamation, insult and dissemination of false information following a complaint by the local gendarmerie.

Madagascar

Journalists jailed pending trial, radio station closed

Soldiers carried out a raid on Radio Fahazavana on 20 May, confiscating broadcasting equipment and transmitters and arresting 10 employees.

Madagascar

Soldiers vandalise radio station studios, brutally assault three staff members

"Malagasy journalists and media should not be made the victims of score-settling between politicians," said RSF.

Madagascar

Two Radio Fahazavana journalists detained over alleged involvement in mutiny

Didier Ravoahangison and Lolo Ratsimba are accused of involvement in "acts of political destabilisation" and have been detained in Antanimora prison since 8 January.

Madagascar

Growing threat to news media from political tension

Several journalists have been harassed in recent weeks and a website was mysteriously blocked.

Madagascar

Radio Mada reporter freed after two weeks in detention

Reporters Without Borders welcomes Radio Mada reporter Evariste Ramanantsoavina's release on 20 May 2009. He had been held since 5 May.

Madagascar

Detained Radio Mada reporter charged and transferred to prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is alarmed by the 7 May 2009 decision to keep Radio Mada sports reporter Evariste Ramanantsoavina in detention and charge him with "inciting revolt against the republic's institutions, defamation and disseminating false information." He was arrested on 5 May and forced to reveal the location from which the radio was broadcasting in defiance of a closure order.

Madagascar

Media under attack one month after new president installed

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns the return of censorship to Madagascar in the form of orders to the state-owned media not to cover opposition demonstrations. The press freedom organisation is also worried by the closure of Radio Mada, a station that supports former President Marc Ravalomanana, and acts of vandalism against other pro-Ravalomanana media.

Madagascar

More journalists attacked, five newspapers cease publishing as political crisis continues

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has expressed its renewed concern after five newspapers stopped publishing and several journalists were threatened and physically assaulted during the political upheaval of the past few weeks.

Madagascar

Viva broadcaster raided by security forces, several other media outlets face broadcasting challenges during political crisis

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 March 2009 CPJ press release:

Madagascar

Reporter Ando Ratovonirina fatally shot while covering anti-government demonstration as security forces open fire on protestors

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is shocked to learn that Ando Ratovonirina of privately-owned Radio et Télévision Analamanga (RTA) was shot dead while covering an anti-government demonstration outside the presidential palace in Antananarivo on 7 February 2009. The 25-year-old reporter and cameraman was among the scores of people who were killed or wounded when security forces opened fired on the protesters.

Madagascar

Government closes TV station owned by political rival

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the government's closure of Viva TV on the night of 13 to 14 December 2008, after the station broadcast a message by former president Didier Ratsiraka. The authorities accused the station, owned by the mayor of Antananarivo, of broadcasting statements liable to "disturb public order and security." Ratsiraka has lived in exile in Paris since 2002.

Madagascar

RFI correspondent forced to leave the country after government refuses to renew his work permit

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 27 May 2005 letter to President Marc Ravalomanana, CPJ expressed concern that Olivier Péguy, a correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI) and several other international news organizations, was forced to leave the country on 22 May after the government refused to renew his work permit. Péguy, who had been reporting from Madagascar for four years, told CPJ that no explanation has been given for the non-renewal.

Madagascar

Newspaper director, journalist given one-month prison sentence in defamation case

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is an 11 May 2005 WAN letter to Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana:

Madagascar

Publication director handed down prison sentences in three separate libel cases

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has protested three prison sentences handed down in separate libel cases, on 1 March 2005, to Lola Rasoamaharo, publication director of the independent daily "La Gazette de la Grande Ile". Rasoamaharo remains free, pending appeal.

Madagascar

Three radio stations closed indefinitely

(RSF/IFEX) - Three privately-owned radio stations in the port city of Toamasina, on Madagascar's eastern coast, have been closed by government authorities after broadcasting statements by opposition figures. Radio Ny Antsika (RNA), Sky FM and Radio Feon'i Toamasina (RFT) have been off the air since 10 December 2004. The stations' management has been summoned to police headquarters for questioning.

Madagascar

Opposition radio station closed

(RSF/IFEX) - On 28 June 2004, Communications Minister Clermont Gervais Mahazaka ordered the closure of Radio Say for "broadcasting false news, defamation and insults against the speaker of the National Assembly and a member of the government, and breach of operating terms and

Madagascar

Private radio station suspends programming, threats and pressure against the media continue

Madagascar

Four radio stations attacked as post-election crisis deepens

Madagascar

Press freedom threatened following state of emergeny declaration and attacks on private radio stations

Madagascar

Recent attacks on freedom of expression

Madagascar

Two journalists sentenced to three-month prison terms