Joliba TV stopped broadcasting on November 26, its license having been withdrawn after the broadcast of a debate during which the veracity of a supposed foiled coup d’état in Burkina had been called into question. Malian journalists unanimously mobilized against this “ violation of freedom of expression “. On Tuesday, November 17, the HAC revised this sanction downwards, imposing only a six-month suspension on Joliba TV. A notable decline, but not enough to satisfy either the channel or the profession.
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The management of Joliba TV received the notification from the HAC on Tuesday evening. The channel, which had initiated an appeal procedure, ultimately retained its precious license but remained suspended for six months. A “reduction of sentence” obtained by the Maison de la presse du Maliwhich brings together the country’s journalists’ organizations, and which had combined public threats of general mobilization and discreet and peaceful mediation with the HAC.
This step back by the Malian regulatory authority, on a clearly political issue and closely followed by the highest authorities of the Transition, is a first victory. First only, because it is in no way sufficient to extinguish anger, nor from the Joliba TV editorial teamnor of the profession as a whole.
Also readMali: Joliba TV no longer broadcasts but the profession remains mobilized for the restart of broadcasts
“ Six months suspension for nothing », deplores an executive of the private Malian channel, while the cessation of programs weighs heavily on the company and its employees. But it is above all the very principle of the sanction which arouses anger: “ My indignation is indescribable, comments this journalist, it is the programmed end of the media. »
“Defend freedom of information at all costs”
“ This suspension is severe and resembles a media beheading, agrees another leading journalist. It aims to reduce to nothing the channel’s capacity to inform and debate. It is a brutal blow which hits a dedicated team but also a space for civic expression. »
“ Joliba TV refuses to disappear, finally reacts another editorial executive, but despite the already very serious economic consequences for the channel, despite all the obstacles, TV will remain standing, determined to resist and defend freedom of information at all costs. »
Objective : ” immediate reopening »
Same intransigence from the Mali Press House: “ We want better than what is offered », Indicates a manager of the umbrella organization of the profession, only immediate reopening is acceptable. »
It is therefore still time to mobilize to defend Joliba TV and, behind it, media pluralism, freedom of opinion and freedom of expression in Mali. An extraordinary meeting is convened this Saturday, December 21 by the Maison de la presse to discuss “ decisions to make » as part of the « management of the Joliba TV – HAC affair “.
Requested by RFI, the Malian High Authority for Communication did not respond.
It was the comments made during a debate show on Joliba TV by Issa Kaou N’Djim which triggered the affair. The Malian politician and media man judged that the images, presented last month by Burkina Faso state television RTB as a blatant attempted coup d’état, resembled a ” assembly » – in the sense of “staging” – “ not even professional ”, aiming to “ distract public opinion from the real issues “. Words that put him in prison for more than a month. Placed under arrest warrant on November 13, Issa Kaou N’Djim will be tried in February for “an offense committed publicly against a foreign head of state.”
Also readMali: Issa Kaou N’Djim placed under arrest warrant after a complaint from Burkina