GABON: SEVERAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS ARE SUSPENDED FOR

UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000510


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C LISA KORTE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KCOR KPAO PINS SOCI GB TP
SUBJECT: GABON: SEVERAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS ARE SUSPENDED FOR
"VIOLATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS"


1. (U). Summary: After several months of a more open press
environment during Gabon's political transition, the National
Council for Communication (CNC) suspended six independent newspapers
from one to three months for "violations of the principles of
professional ethics." Several of the suspended newspapers were
associated with opposition parties and presidential election
candidates who ran against winner Ali Bongo, and were critical of
the electoral process and Bongo. Communications Minister and Bongo
ally Laure Gondjout led the crackdown, and may also have had
personal motives for the suspensions. Ultimately, reigning in the
press may suit the strong executive style of Ali Bongo. End
Summary

Delayed Reaction by Government to Journalists' Criticism during
Transition

2.(U)Gabon's National Council for Communication (CNC) on November 10
suspended six independent newspapers from one to three months
beginning immediately for "violations of the principles of
professional conduct and ethics" during the political transition
following the death in June 2009 of Pres. Omar Bongo. "Nku'u Le
Messager" and "Le Crocodile" were suspended for one month, "Le
Scriboullard," "L'Ombre," and "La Nation" received two months
suspensions, and "Les Echos du Nord" received a three month
suspension. Two other private publications, "Le Temps" and "Gabon
d'Abord" received a warning to maintain professional standards. In
addition, a call-in chat show, "Entre Nous,"on the private TV
station Canal Espoir was suspended indefinitely for "deficiencies in
moderating the program."

3.(U)The CNC spokesperson said the suspended newspapers passed on
rumors and insults, were responsible for 'lazy journalism," and
created ethnic divisions. One article cited from "Nku'u Le
Messager" entitled "And the Monarchy is Installed in Gabon"
criticized the electoral process that resulted in the election
victory of Omar Bongo's son, Ali Bongo. Prior to the August 30
election, several of the accused newspapers raised ethnic and other
factors that might determine the winner of the election, and were
critical of the succession of power within the Bongo family.

4.(U) The suspensions have been widely criticized by international
NGOs concerned with the protection of journalist freedoms.
Norbert Ngoua, president of the private Gabonese press association
APPEL and director of one of the banned journals, "Nku'u Le
Messager", said in an interview that the CNC did not provide any
details about the newspapers' specific press violations, and the
journalists are not legally allowed to appeal the suspensions.

Return to Media Control of Omar Bongo Era?

5.(SBU) Many Gabonese journalists believe the suspensions reflect
the commitment of the new Gabonese administration to continue Omar
Bongo's control of the media. Prior to his death, Omar Bongo used
suspensions to punish newspapers that published articles critical of
the President, his family and his wealth.


6. (SBU)The current crackdown is attributed to Minister of
Communications Laure Gondjout. A strong Bongo supporter, her
involvement is seen by some as proof that the selection of these
publications is directly tied to their links with opposition parties
and candidates in the August 30 election. "Nku'u Le Messager "and
"Le Scriboullard", for example, have been more politically oriented
to the UPG party (Gabonese People's Union) led by opposition leader
and election second runner-up, Pierre Mamboundou. "L'Ombre" has
been linked to ruling party defector and election runner-up Andre
Mba Obame, and he is rumored to have paid for articles there. "Les
Echos du Nord" is associated with former vice-premier and
presidential candidate Paul Mba Abessole of the RPG party (Rally for
Gabon). Several of the suspended newspapers presented views of
opposition candidates in the election, and "Le Scribouillard" and
"Le Crocodile" are satirical journals that frequently take aim at
Gabon's political figures.

Minister Gondjout Benefits from Government Media Funds

7.(SBU) In addition, several of the suspended newspapers printed
articles about Minister Gondjout's personal benefits from the
allocation of government funds for the media. FCFA 500 million (USD
1.13 million) is allocated each year by the government to the
printed press, and Gabonews, the internet press organization which
is owned by Minister Gondjout, has received a large portion of these
funds for the past two years. To some observers, the suspensions
provided an opportunity for Gondjout to silence her critics.

Comment


8. (SBU) We were surprised that the CNC cracked down on the
independent newspapers a month after Ali Bongo's inauguration. As
reported previously, Gabon's media opened up during the political
transition and presented serious analysis of the issues, candidates,
and the electoral process. Even "L'Union," the daily newspaper that
presents the government's viewpoints, was critical of mishandled
electoral lists and bungled election-day balloting. Since the
inauguration, the press overall has been receptive to rather than
critical of Bongo's government reforms. A key factor at play with
the suspensions may be the effort of Communications Minister
Gondjout to return the media to a more controlled environment as the
President makes changes in the government and the way Gabon is run.
Although Bongo has promised to run a more efficient government, he
is already showing signs of doing it with a firm hand that is likely
to include reigning in the press. End Comment