Rwanda
Weekly newspapers suspended months before presidential electionPosted Apr 16 2010
Rwanda’s Media High Council has decided to suspend two independent weekly newspapers, Umuseso and Umuvugizi, for six months.
This suspension comes as presidential elections are set to happen in a few months. This has raised many questions as to the reasons why both publications have been suspended and why the duration of their punishments are so long.
Umuseso is accused of insulting the head of state, trying to make the police and army act in an insubordinate manner and inciting fear amongst the people of the country.
“Such publications may incite fear which may eventually lead to the decline of foreign investments in the country for fear of instabilities which are all fabrications,” says the Arthur Asiimwe, Chairman of the Board of the MHC, during a press conference.
But the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says the Council did not point out a specific story that could be linked to the claims. Unlike Umuseo, Umuvugizi was suspended for no specific reason.
By being suspended for the six-month period, both private weeklies will be incapable of covering August’s presidential elections. CPJ says that both newspapers have a history of being strongly critical of the ruling party, Rwanda Patriotic Front. A program coordinator for CPJ believes both suspensions were done to make sure the publications couldn’t speak against the party.
Some are also saying the Council has hidden motives behind the suspension because the amount of time Umuseso has to be closed down goes against the laws against media in the country. A weekly publication can only be suspended for a maximum of two weeks unless it has been a repeat offender. But Umuseso Deputy Editor Didas Gasana says the paper has never been suspended and finds the Council’s decision to be unjust. However, Rwandagatway.org released a statement in 2009 that said Umuseso has been suspended before for “going beyond the boundaries of media rules and regulations.”