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| Omar Faruk Osman, FAJ President: PIX: UNESCO |
In a statement delivered at the ongoing 51st Ordinary Session
of the ACHPR in Banjul, the Gambia (18th April - 2nd May,
2012), the President of FAJ, Omar Faruk Osman, called on the African Commission
to ensure member states end the use of anti-terror laws against journalists
doing their journalistic work.
He said the Commission should also ensure it member states stop the violent
repression against journalists and urgently address the worsening physical
safety, and legal security situation of journalists in the continent.
The three journalists’ bodies, EAJA, FAJ and IFJ stated that
media freedom in Africa continues to be under serious assault from different
players, among them the governments of countries in Africa.
“The situation in Somalia remains very dire and dangerous, with
five journalists’ murdered since last year, sadly keeping Somalia as the most
deadly country for journalist in Africa,” said Mr. Osman, who added: “In this
month, a suicide bomb in Mogadishu injured 11 journalists as they covered a ceremony
at the national theater.”
According to him, there have been intimidation and arrests of journalists
across the country, including Radio journalist Awke Abdullahi, who is currently
detained for more than a month in the northern city of Bossasso.
He also noted that Eritrea stand as the worst jailer of journalist
in Africa. At least 32 journalists are in prison without charge or trial for
more than ten years, while the Eritrean government has already accepted the
death of four journalists in detention.
He said: “We are extremely concerned by the indifference of the world
community in addressing this cold-hearted, cruel and degrading situation.”
In Ethiopia, he said four journalists were arrested, charged
convicted with terrorism and each was given more than ten years imprisonment.
The Ethiopian judiciary system had insisted to use anti terrorism laws
against the journalists, while the media operate within repressive laws and media
outlets and journalists remain cowed.
“It is the only country in Africa, other than Burundi where journalists have
been charged with “treason,” laments.
The media and journalist in Sudan have faced a number of
challenges, as security agencies routinely raided and closed down independent
publications. A number of journalists have been arrested and arraigned in court
while some were released.
Speaking further on the plight of African journalists, the FAJ President,
Omar Faruk Osman, stated the Government of Brundi largely remain hostile
to the media and journalists.
These hostilities towards journalists include the leaders of the journalists
union. The government is currently holding Hassan Ruvakuki after he was arrested
in November 2011 over allegations of “working closely” with outlawed groups
opposed to the government, he explains.
In Tunisia, he said forces in the capital, Tunis ran amok with
baton rounds and tear gas on journalists covering demonstrations on Martyrs’ Day
on 9th April, 2012 and 14 journalists were beaten, some seriously
hurt.
“In Guinea Bissau, we are gravely concerned by the deprivation of
the people of Guinea-Bissau from the right to information following 12 April,
2012 military coup and leaders of the military have restricted journalists’
freedom to report news and information,” he said.
He added: “We are also concern about the situation in Nigeria where
the notorious Boko Haram sect are inflicting violence against civilians, and
had made claims for the killing of the first journalist this year.
He noted that violence and institutionalized intimidation of journalists
and press freedom advocates in Zimbabwe, Dr. Congo and Cameroon remain
in serous distress.
“And we are very disappointed with sustained repression of journalists’ rights
in these countries,” he said, while “expressing serious concern about
insecurity faced by Malian journalists after mutinying soldiers took over the
state broadcasting building.”
On this back drop, the FAJ president urge the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights, ACHPR, to press its Member States to urgently free all
imprisoned journalists, end use of anti-terror laws against journalists doing
their journalistic work.
He also exhorts for the ACHPR to demand its member states to end violent
repression against journalists and urgently address the worsening physical
safety and legal security situation of journalists in the continent.
Source: The Voice
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