Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NIAMEY1092
2008-11-14 05:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:
Nigerien Journalist Convicted, Released
how-toVZCZCXRO0827 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHNM #1092 3190523 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 140523Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4681 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0734
UNCLAS NIAMEY 001092
DEPT FOR AF/W DENNISON, AF/RSA, DRL/AE, AND AF/PDPA LISENBY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KCOR KPAO NG
SUBJECT: Nigerien Journalist Convicted, Released
Ref: Niamey 1069
UNCLAS NIAMEY 001092
DEPT FOR AF/W DENNISON, AF/RSA, DRL/AE, AND AF/PDPA LISENBY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KCOR KPAO NG
SUBJECT: Nigerien Journalist Convicted, Released
Ref: Niamey 1069
1. On November 11, a local court convicted Nigerien journalist
Alzouma Zakari under Niger's criminal libel statute. The court
sentenced him to three months imprisonment (sentence suspended),
fined him 100,000 F CFA (approximately $200),and released him. He
must also pay symbolic damages in the amount of one F CFA to the
Minister of Interior, who filed the original criminal defamation
complaint against him.
2. Zakari is a journalist and publication director for the
pro-opposition independent weekly "Opinions." Officials arrested
him under Niger's criminal libel statutes after Minister Abouba
filed a complaint in response to a recently-published article
alleging corruption in the granting of a government contract
(reftel).
3. Comment: Although the court convicted Zakari, the swift
resolution of his case marks a welcomed departure from previous
cases involving journalists, where prosecutors used continuances and
other delaying tactics to detain defendants for lengthy periods
while opposing requests for provisional release. End comment.
ALLEN
DEPT FOR AF/W DENNISON, AF/RSA, DRL/AE, AND AF/PDPA LISENBY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KCOR KPAO NG
SUBJECT: Nigerien Journalist Convicted, Released
Ref: Niamey 1069
1. On November 11, a local court convicted Nigerien journalist
Alzouma Zakari under Niger's criminal libel statute. The court
sentenced him to three months imprisonment (sentence suspended),
fined him 100,000 F CFA (approximately $200),and released him. He
must also pay symbolic damages in the amount of one F CFA to the
Minister of Interior, who filed the original criminal defamation
complaint against him.
2. Zakari is a journalist and publication director for the
pro-opposition independent weekly "Opinions." Officials arrested
him under Niger's criminal libel statutes after Minister Abouba
filed a complaint in response to a recently-published article
alleging corruption in the granting of a government contract
(reftel).
3. Comment: Although the court convicted Zakari, the swift
resolution of his case marks a welcomed departure from previous
cases involving journalists, where prosecutors used continuances and
other delaying tactics to detain defendants for lengthy periods
while opposing requests for provisional release. End comment.
ALLEN