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Alert Niger: Government threatens to revoke radio stations licenses
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Alert Niger: Government threatens to revoke radio stations licenses
Alert Niger: Government threatens to revoke radio stations licenses
The Nigerien authorities on August 4, 2006 threatened to revoke the
licenses of some independent FM radio stations for what they described
inciting civil war in the country. Prime Minister Hama Amadou who
issued the threat at a press conference in Niamey failed to disclose
the radio stations that would be affected.
According to Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)-Niger source
Prime Minister Amadou explained that this decision by the government
is as a result of the inability of the media regulatory body Conseil
Superieur de la Communication(CSC), to apply severe sanctions on
media houses.
Some stations have openly called for civil war and as the CSC is not
playing its role, government would take its responsibility by revoking
the licenses of these stations,? he told journalists.
The Prime Minister's threat contravenes Nigerien media law, (Law No
2006-24 of July 24, 2006), which empowers the CSC, an independent
administrative authority, to revoke a radio station?s license in
instances of professional and ethical violations.
The government in May 2005 closed down "Alternative FM", an
independent radio station based in Niamey after it gave extensive
coverage of civil society demonstrations to protest high cost of
living. The station was however reopened on April 5, 2005 by a court,
which declared the closure illegal.
Meanwhile there have been widespread condemnations of the threat by
the country's civil society organizations.
MFWA is deeply concerned by the government's intolerance of critical
media and the haste with which it issues threats at independent
journalists.
We appeal to the Nigerien authorities to respect freedom of
expression, especially press freedom which is guaranteed under the
country's constitution. |
Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2006 (Archive on Sunday, August 20, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
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