Another Journalist Jailed in Niger

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000702 DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE, AND AF/PDPA LISENBY PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID WA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KCOR KPAO NG SUBJECT: Another Journalist Jailed in Niger Ref: a) Niamey 567 b) Niamey 619 NIAMEY 00000702 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Summary: Ibrahim Soumana Gaoh, director of a private weekly newspaper, is the latest journalist to be arrested in Niger for criticizing the government. Security officials arrested him on September 20 for defaming the Minister of Communications and Government Spokesman by implying he was complicit in an embezzlement scandal at the telecommunications firm SONITEL. Embassy Public Affairs Officer (PAO) met with the President of the Network of Journalists for Human Rights, who said that it is rare for journalists to persevere in such cases. He added that Gaoh and his accuser are actually acquaintances, and that mutual friends are trying to broker a settlement. This arrest continues the unfortunate but steady erosion of press freedoms in Niger. End summary. Independent Journalist Gaoh Arrested -------------- ¶2. (U) Security officials arrested the director of the private news weekly "Le Temoin," Ibrahim Soumana Gaoh, on September 20 for alleged defamation after publishing an article accusing the Minister of Communications and Government Spokesperson of embezzlement. On September 23, the Office of the Tribunal Prosecutor charged Gaoh with defamation and ordered him held without bail until his trial on September 29. Security officials transferred Gaoh from police custody to the Niamey Civil Prison. SONITEL Embezzlement Alleged -------------- ¶3. (U) The September 14 edition of "Le Temoin" alleged that the Minister Mohamed Ben Omar was involved in major financial misappropriation at the telecommunications firm SONITEL in an article called, "Wassosso (Note: a Hausa word for scandal. End note.) a la SONITEL." The article tied Ben Omar to a scandal disclosed by a 2008 parliamentary investigation that found the embezzlement from SONITEL of between four and eight million CFA (approximately USD 900,000 to 1.8 m). (Note: Current exchange rate is 445 CFA = 1 USD. End note.) The scandal contributed to the revocation of the license of the Chinese-Libyan major shareholder and SONITEL's subsequent re-nationalization. Ben Omar responded by filing a complaint against Gaoh, leading to his arrest. The President of RJDH Weighs In -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On September 23, PAO discussed the Gaoh case with Abdourahamane Ousmane, President of both the Network of Journalists for Human Rights (RJDH) and the Board of the Maison de la Presse, a public and private media umbrella organization. (Note: Ousmane will participate in the Edward R. Murrow IVL Program for Journalists beginning on September 26, 2009. End note.) Ousmane is an associate and personal friend of Gaoh's and had visited him in prison. Ousmane said that this is yet another worrisome development, and told PAO that in similar cases involving charges of libel against highly-placed authority figures, the accused are rarely granted provisional release and almost always convicted. Ousmane said that Gaoh told him that while "Le Temoin" did not have material evidence of embezzlement involving Ben Omar, he did have a reliable source. According to Ousmane, in similar cases lacking physical evidence to substantiate the journalists' claims, judges nearly always ruled against them. ¶5. (SBU) Ousmane mentioned that Gaoh and Ben Omar have similar backgrounds and mutual friends. They studied at university together and graduated in the same class. A group of mutual friends and associates in the communications sector is trying to mediate a settlement between the two parties. Thus, according to Ousmane, advocates for press freedoms, such as RJDH (his organization) and the association of independent press editors (ANEPI),have been asked to moderate their reaction until mediation attempts have run their course. Update on Tiemogo, another Jailed Journalist -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Gaoh joins another imprisoned journalist, Abdoulaye Tiemogo, director of the independent news weekly "Le Canard Dechaine," held since August 18, 2009. Tiemogo received a sentence of three months for "discrediting a judicial decision" by criticizing the arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Hama Amadou on the private television channel Dounia on July 31 (ref A). In an official press statement on August 17, Embassy called for the release of Tiemogo and for the rule of law and civil liberties, including the rights of free association, speech and press to be respected. This press release received wide, positive coverage in the independent media (ref B). NIAMEY 00000702 002.2 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The arrest of Gaoh continues the trend of eroding press freedoms in Niger, following the arrest of eight journalists in the run-up to the constitutional referendum on August 4, 2009 (ref A). As the President of Niger maneuvers to consolidate his recent political gains, it appears that the GoN is continuing its harassment and intimidation of the local media prior to National Assembly elections on October 20. End comment. ALLEN