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Guinea government democratises airwaves
The small West African Republic of Guinea has taken an important step towards guaranteeing press freedom by opening the airwaves to private broadcasters.
The President of Guinea, Lansana Conté, signed a decree on 20 August 2005 that enables private citizens and organisations to broadcast, ending a 14-year ban. Local journalists said pressure from donors, especially the European Union, and a strong local campaign led to the lifting of the ban. While an important step, the decree excludes political parties and religious movements from broadcasting, notes Committee to Protect Journalists(CPJ).
The IFEX member says the true test will be whether the government uses political criteria in granting licences, and whether stations are allowed to broadcast freely. Local journalists fear the process of obtaining licences could become mired in red tape. Licenses have to be granted by the Ministry of Information, which must first seek the advice of the National Communications Council. Frequencies are then awarded by the Ministry of Telecommunications.
A handful of private newspapers exist in the capital, Conakry. Few publish regularly and all are subject to government interference or censorship if they run articles critical of the government, says CPJ. Foreign-based publications such as the French news weekly "Jeune Afrique L'Intelligent" are occasionally seized by authorities if they carry articles on sensitive topics, such as the president's health or rumours of political instability.
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