By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 27, updated -- When Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire offered thanks to the press at the UN on Wednesday, it raised questions about media freedom since he has been in power. Inner City Press asked Ouattara about the case of Hermann Aboa, a pro-Gbagbo journalist now facing life in prison for, among other things, “endangering state security.”
Ouattara began by referring to the precedent of Radio Mille Collines in Rwanda, saying that Aboa “called on hate, hatred.” Video here, from Minute 13:56. But press freedom experts have rejected this analogy, after viewing RTI footage like this.
Ouattara went on to say Aboa got money from Gbagbo “to buy arms, to distribute arms to mercenaries.” Then why focus on Aboa's speech?
Inner City Press asked about the FRCI, under Guillaume Soro, taking over pro-Gbagbo media organizations in Abidjan, and also reportedly shaking down miners and others.
Ouattara said Soro's Forces Nouvelles are being “merged” with “Mister Gbagbo's Army” and that commanders will be held responsible. So what about Douekoue?
Inner City Press asked the spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who met with Ouattara on Wednesday morning, if as requested he had raise the case of Hermann Aboa. Spokesman Martin Nesirky said he didn't know, even if the request had been received. We will continue on this.
