Burundi

JULY 22, 2005
Posted: August 17, 2005

Radio Publique Africaine
CENSORED

RPA fell silent around 5 p.m. local time as a large group of police broke into the station compound, padlocked its studios, and cut off its transmitter, local sources said. The closure took place despite an earlier compromise deal between the authorities and RPA.

JULY 22, 2005
Posted: August 17, 2005

Radio Publique Africaine
CENSORED

RPA fell silent around 5 p.m. local time as a large group of police broke into the station compound, padlocked its studios, and cut off its transmitter, local sources said. The closure took place despite an earlier compromise deal between the authorities and RPA.

New York, July 27, 2005—The National Communications Council—known by its French acronym CNC—authorized independent radio station Radio Publique Africaine to resume broadcasting as of today, after police shuttered it on Friday in a standoff over news content.

President Domitien Ndayizeye also named a new CNC, following the resignation yesterday of its former chairman Jean Pierre Manda. The new CNC will be headed by a former journalist and will include RPA's deputy director Jean-Marie Hicuburundi.

New York, July 25, 2005—Radio Publique Africaine remained off the air today after police in Burundi closed the independent broadcaster's offices on Friday night, briefly detaining eight journalists and continuing a standoff over the station's news coverage.

RPA Deputy Director Jean-Marie Hicuburundi told CPJ that he and seven colleagues were taken to a police station and held for four hours without explanation before being released without charge. The detentions came as police broke into the station compound, padlocked its studios, and cut off its transmitter, despite an earlier agreement between authorities and RPA to end the dispute, CPJ sources said.

New York, July 22, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply shocked about today's closure of independent radio station Radio Publique Africaine. The closure took place despite an earlier compromise deal between the authorities and RPA, local sources said.

RPA fell silent around 5 p.m. local time as a large group of police broke into the station compound, padlocked its studios, and cut off its transmitter. It was not immediately clear if any RPA staff had been arrested, although one journalist told CPJ in a brief phone call, "they are taking us to the police station."

New York, July 19, 2005—Independent station Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) went off air yesterday, after a compromise was reached with the National Communications Council, according to local sources. RPA agreed to a 2-day suspension, on the understanding that Thursday, the council—known by its French acronym CNC—will lift its original ban, which would have required the station to close down indefinitely.

"We will resume broadcasts on Thursday morning, even if the CNC drags its feet," RPA deputy director Jean-Marie Hicuburundi told CPJ from Bujumbura, the capital. He said the shortened ban was still unfair, but that RPA had thought it necessary to respect a compromise negotiated by media professionals. The agreement was mediated by an association of Burundian journalists, an association of private radio broadcasters, and the Burundian Press Observatory, a self-regulatory organization for the profession.

JULY 15, 2005
Posted: July 18, 2005

Radio Publique Africaine
HARASSED

Burundi's National Communications Council ordered the popular independent station Radio Publique Africaine off the air indefinitely, alleging that RPA's recent election coverage was biased and that it had insulted the council. Alexis Sinduhije, RPA's director, called the suspension unjust and said the station intended to stay on the air despite the order.

New York, July 15, 2005—Burundi's National Communications Council has ordered the popular independent station Radio Publique Africaine off the air indefinitely, alleging that RPA's recent election coverage was biased and that it had insulted the council. Alexis Sinduhije, RPA's director, called the suspension unjust and said the station intended to stay on the air despite the order.

New York, June 23, 2005—Radio and online journalist Etienne Ndikuriyo was released on bail today after spending more than a week in jail for writing a story about the health of President Domitien Ndayizeye. Criminal charges are pending, and he has been ordered to report to a judge once a week, according to his lawyer, Gabriel Sinarinzi.