Niger
Live debates on regional rebellion bannedPosted Sep 20 2007
Live debates on the armed rebellion of nomadic Tuaregs in the north of Niger have been banned from broadcast. Although broadcasters are still allowed to air debates or opinions that are not live, Nigerian journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists fear this ban is just the tip of the iceberg.
The president of the High Council on Communications, which issued the ban and is government run, stated the implementation of the bad was a “technical” decision in response to a “controversial national issue” and in general content is not being monitored or regulated.
Journalists from private station Radio Saraounya FM in Niamey told CPJ the decision was a response to a live broadcast in which a panel discussed the armed rebellion and spoke against the government's handling of it.
Other actions from the government in recent weeks, according to CPJ, have included banning Paris-based Radio France Internationale for a month and banning the private bimonthly Air Info.
Related links: The Committee to Protect Journalists