Local media banned from interviewing dissidents

Burundi's National Communication Council banned local media on Thursday from interviewing anti-government dissidents waging war in various parts of the country, the official Argence burundaise de presse (ABP) reported. The measure followed Defence Minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye's complaint to the council that the local Radio Publique Africaine had been compromising state security by broadcasting details of planned military operations against the dissidents. Council President Jean-Pierre Manda said on Thursday that following a review of the station's newscast on 26 April, it was clear that the broadcaster had revealed defence secrets about preparations for an army operation in Bubanza Province, and even identifying the code - Operation Ndubura. "It's was not possession of the information that was illegal, but its premature broadcast," he said. The council, he added, was "particularly concerned" by several errors made by reporters, and accused them of aggressive behaviour, lack of respect, vulgarity, vendettas and the invasion of people's privacy. The result, Manda said, was often the publication of false information that "often went uncorrected". "We totally reject the council's accusations and insults," Alexis Sinduhije, director of Radio Publique Africaine, said in a broadcast on Thursday. "If we are found guilty of violating the defence secrets [act] we will accept punishment in accordance with the law." Local media executives met Communications Minister Albert Mbonerane and several other government officials on Thurday, on the issue of reporting sensitive information about the 10-year civil war.