Guinea Authorities Ban Political Discourse on Radio Broadcasts

By Ricci Shryock

Dakar
02 September 2009

After temporarily suspending SMS text messaging in order to curb
political rallies in the capital Conakry, Guinea's military authorities
have now banned political discussions from radio broadcasts.  

In
the wake of increasing criticism, authorities in Guinea's ruling
military junta have banned political discourse from all radio call-in
programs. Some people have recently used these radio call-in shows to
criticize the expected presidential candidacy of ruling military junta
leader, Moussa Dadis Camara.

The decision to ban political
discourse was announced by the president of the National Council for
Communication, Jean Raymond Soumah. Captain Camara appointed Soumah
days after staging a coup last December in the West African country.

Members
of the radio and television union in the West African country quickly
condemned the order. They said they will not respect the ban and will
continue to discuss politics on their call-in shows.

After union
member Sekou Mahdi Traore read details of the new order, he expressed
the implicit concern that members of the union have about the ban.

He added that the decision violates the right to the freedom of expression held by citizens of Guinea.

When
Captain Camara seized power late last year after the death of long-time
President Lansana Conte, he promised that neither he nor anyone from
his party, the National Council for Democracy and Development, would
run for elections.

Tensions have been rising in Guinea since
Captain Camara announced a change in election dates last month, as well
as the possibility that he can run for office if he chooses.

Meanwhile,
the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch says there are increasing crackdowns
on dissenters by Captain Camara and his party. The group said at least
one human rights worker received three death threats after he denounced
the change of election dates on a radio station.

For several
days, SMS text messaging was cut off to the entire population after
groups of youth were trying to organize in the streets, both for and
against Captain Camara.