NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL LIMITS MEDIA

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000528

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL LIMITS MEDIA
FREEDOM IN GUINEA

REF: CONAKRY 00503


1. (U) On August 31, 2009, the National Communications
Council (CNC) issued a decree prohibiting discussion of
political topics on all interactive programs in all languages
until further notice. In response, on September 1, the Union
of Free Radio and Television of Guinea (URTELGUI) issued a
communique stating that the CNC decree is a violation of the
freedom of expression of Guinean citizens. URTELGUI
"condemned with its last energy" the communique, which they
stated is contrary to recent statements by CNDD President
Dadis Camara, who warned against threats to private radio
stations. The URTELGUI communique noted that the union
reserved the right to take the issue to the Supreme Court.


2. (U) PAS Conakry staff contacted personnel from the
leading radio stations in Conakry who said that they were
continuing to operate in the usual manner. Boubacar Yacine
Diallo, Director General of Horizon FM and chairmen of
URTELGUI said that his radio station hosted an interactive
program on the CNC decision today. He believes that the
decision will be reversed. Nostalgie FM, Liberte FM, and
Espace FM personnel also confirmed that they will continue to
host interactive discussions about political topics on their
stations as usual.


3. (U) Jean Raymond Soumah, CNC President, gave an
interview to the internet news site guineenews.org in which
he stated that the decision was taken "so that liberties
given to the media are not confused with 'liberticide'."
According to Soumah, these measures could be lifted when the
situation returns to normal, but did not say when that would
be. Soumah said it is often the journalists that do not take
appropriate measures to moderate their programs that creates
a problem with this type of interactive program.


4. (U) Soumah has called a meeting with the public and
private media and journalist associations for August 3 to
discuss regulation during the transition. However, one
journalist told PAS press assistant that he would not attend
a meeting at the CNC until the ban was lifted. It is not
known if other members of the press corps will do the same.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: This latest GOG decision follows on a
number of recent indications that the CNDD is actively trying
to silence any opposition to the military junta, and to the
expected presidential candidacy of its President. Text
messaging capabilities were turned off for approximately 48
hours last week in an attempt to squelch plans for anti-CNDD
demonstrations (REFTEL). Political leaders are claiming that
they are being denied access to media outlets while a number
of contacts have reported falling victim to intimidation
tactics. END COMMENT.

BROKENSHIRE