Another radio suspended indefinitely

The Burundian government suspended on Tuesday another privately owned broadcaster, Radio Publique Africaine (RPA). The radio discontinued its programmes on Tuesday at 7 pm, earlier than its usual schedule, to comply with the indefinite suspension order signed by Communications Minister Albert Mbonerane. He said the radio had violated the 1997 Press Bill, and had insulted the government by broadcasting information that he termed "propaganda for the country's enemy". RPA broadcast an interview with Pasteur Habimana, the spokesman of the Forces nationales de liberation (FNL) faction led by Agathon Rwasa in a Tuesday midday news bulletin in French. Habimana was reacting to the suspension, on Saturday, of the privately-owned FM Radio Isanganiro. At a news conference on Wednesday, Mbonerane said RPA aired the interview on purpose, knowing that another radio station had been suspended for giving voice to the FNL spokesman, hence the indefinite suspension. He said the government had on several occasions, including during his meetings with media owners on 12 May 2002 and on 15 July 2003, prohibited the media from broadcasting information on the FNL faction "as long as it still refuses to negotiate with the Burundian government". Media owners, particularly owners of the FM stations, have protested the suspension saying the prohibition was not written down. RPA's suspension follows that of Radio Isanganiro, which had also aired an interview with Habimana. The Press Bill allows the minister to take such a measure only during emergencies, otherwise he has to refer the case to the Conseil national de la communication. Mbonerane said the government's decision to deny media access to Rwasa's FNL also affects international radio stations monitored in Burundi such as Voice of America, the British Broadcasting Corporation and Radio France International. He said he would meet with media executives to discuss the issue. Following the suspension of the radios, representatives of political parties, civil society, media organisations and human rights organisations have expressed their concern and protest against the measure they consider a serious breach of the freedom of expression. The New York-based Commission to Protect Journalists wrote to President Domitien Ndayizeye on Tuesday to express concern over restrictions on journalists attempting to cover the country's 10-year-old civil war and ongoing peace process. The commission urged Ndayizeye to lift the suspension on Radio Isanganiro "immediately and unconditionally", saying the free flow of information was critical to the exercise of democracy.