Gabon broadcaster, newspaper suspended for opposition coverage

 New York, 06 Jan – (ANA) - The Gabonese government has imposed suspensions on a TV station and a newspaper for coverage of opposition leader André Mba Obame, according to local journalists and news reports.

 The state-run National Communication Council announced on national public television the suspension of Obame-owned broadcaster TV+ for three months and the private weekly Echos Du Nord for two months, according to news reports.

 The decision was based on TV+’s broadcast on Sunday of a new year’s national address by Obame, who has proclaimed himself president and staged a swearing-in ceremony since rejecting the results of the 2009 presidential elections. Bongo was declared the winner of the polls, which were marred by political censorship of pro-opposition media outlets and allegations of vote-rigging, according to CPJ research. The Council sanctioned Echos du Nord for publishing in its Monday edition a transcription of Obame’s address, editor Désiré Ename told CPJ, adding that the newspaper was denied the hearing it should have received prior to the decision as prescribed by Gabonese press laws.

 “The suspensions imposed on TV+ and Echos Du Nord for covering the activities of Gabon’s opposition leader constitute political censorship,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “We condemn this decision, which further undermines the Council’s credibility as an independent media regulatory agency.” (ANA)