Media rights body appeals for press freedom

An international media rights watchdog has appealed to the leader of the Central African Republic (CAR), Francois Bozize, to uphold, in full, his stated commitment to media freedom. In a letter to Bozize on 9 September, delivered through the CAR Embassy in Washington DC, the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also called for the release of Michel Ngokpele, the director of publication at the privately owned French language daily, Le Quotidien de Bangui. CPJ said Ngokpele was sentenced to a six-month term on 26 June for defamation and "inciting ethnic hatred". It said that local reporters had expressed concern that charges such as this were vague and could be used to punish journalists reporting matters of public concern. It said Ngokpele was arrested on 18 May in the southwestern town of Mbaiki, after his newspaper published his article detailing corruption and embezzlement by Dr Thomas d'Acquin Koyazegbe, who heads Mbaiki Hospital. CPJ also detailed the arrest of other journalists for various reasons, such as the refusal to divulge their news sources. "While CPJ understands that the Central African Press is young, we believe that an open environment with civil, instead of criminal, restitution for press offenses is the best way to foster media professionalism," the rights group said. It added that only an environment that fostered press freedom would allow for the full exercise of democracy. It reminded Bozize of his own commitment to that ideal. "CPJ wishes to remind Your Excellency of your speech on June 25, quoted in full by state news agency Centrafrique-Presse, in which you stated that 'Central Africans are free to express their opinions without fear of imprisonment,’" the rights body said.