In Guinea, relations between the transitional authorities and press defense organizations have further deteriorated. Thirteen journalists spent Monday in detention. Arrested in the morning when they intended to demonstrate in Conakry to denounce the blocking of the Guinea Matin news site, they were released in the early evening. Charged with “participation in an illegal assembly on a public highway”, they must be tried next week
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With our correspondent in Conakry, Matthias Raynal
It was to be a peaceful march, starting from the roundabout of the autonomous port of Conakry. “ There was a large force of police and gendarmerie who ordered us to take our eyes off » explains Abdoul Latif Diallo, the publication director of the site Dispatch Guinea. He was at the rally organized by the press union. A gathering quickly dispersed by the police who had been mobilized in large numbers in the city center.
“ They pushed us back, they trampled us, there were others who were beaten », continues Abdoul Latif Diallo. Armed with their grenade launchers, agents fire tear gas.
In the middle of the day, press defense organizations fought back. The union makes a declaration to the labor exchange. “ There were thirteen trade union journalists arrested. The SPPG (Union of press professionals of Guinea) condemns with the utmost energy this brutal and inhumane arrest and draws the attention of national and international opinion to the serious violation of press freedom in Guinea, even though enshrined in the transition charter “, declared the SPPG.
The journalists were released shortly after 5 p.m. Their trial is due to begin next week. They are accused of illegal assembly.