Dandois and Creisson face Death Penalty in Niger

by without borders Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:24

IFEX is 'The International Freedom of eXpression exchange, and has been working
on many problems to do with media safety and human rights to expression.

This is the link to the Dandois and Creisson story:-

http://www.ifex.org/es/content/view/full/89283/

The two journalists were arrested by Gendarmes in Niamey on 17.12.07, they
had been accused of violating the terms /permissions of what they had been allowed to film.

The owner of the taxi was later arrested in Maradi in the South .

The area that the two men had been filming in is (according to reuters) uranium -rich
and the arrest did not occur at the location of the filming but at a later point and on
return to the Capital.

There has been little response from Sarkozy who did fly to Chad to rescue people accused
of criminal activity in relation to people-smuggling in the last few weeks.

contact:- Leonard Vincent,
RSF, 47, rue Vivienne,55002, Paris, France.
africa@rsf.org
http://www.rsf.org

For info and pics: the google list includes video appeals and family appeals.

by without borders Sat Jan 12, 2008 14:53

The former advisor on Foreign Affairs and now Presidential Spokesman for Nicholas Sarkozy;
David Martinon (age of 36) has not made much in the way of statements regarding the
upcoming trial of Dandois and Creisson. The two men face the death penalty for meeting with
Tuareg rebels in the Northern (Uranium-rich) territories of Niger.

Martinon has contributed to and is involved in the modelling of 'Europe-aid', an internal
soft-security mechanism involving file-sharing and flying squads, cos thats what we want
our money spent on.. not education and safe water infrastructure.

He , like Miliband who is a neo-conservative and in much the same type of role in
Brown's Government (talking head) is pictured below. Sarkozy, meanwhile is possibly avoiding
media due to the unfortunate release of a biography (warts and all ) of his former wife.

The trial of the two independent journalists is due to begin in the next days.

http://www.rsf.org

Sarkozy talking head

by C Murray Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:07

UN Observor and Press Association have accused the French Government of a 'cool' response
to the crisis involving the upcoming trial of Dandois and Creisson, they face the death penalty for
talking to Tuareg rebels in the North of Niger- which, the former colony of France insists is
a crime punishable by death. there have been no release of information as to the health
and well-being of the two men who had been in the country covering a story for
Franco-German publication 'Arte'.

http://www.ejc.net/media_news/french_journalists_on_tri...tence
http://www.unobservor.com/layout5.php?id=4263&&bIz=1

(cannot get press association link to operate:- mainpage http://www.pressassociation.co.uk)

by - Sun Jan 13, 2008 15:44

The international press today seems more interested in Cecilia Sarkozy's attempts to have a biography
banned before it was published. She gets front page on the London Independent today with a two page
apread on pages 31-31 discussing Nicholas.

Cecilia herself intervened in the nurse crisis in Libya, getting nurses released during the Aids
scandal, she met with and negotiated with Colonel Ghadaffi who was later welcomed to Paris...
The vitriolic criticism of the president seems to tie quite neatly in with Royal's comments on
how the Office of President has been cheapened by the over-weening interest in the Sarkozy
private life. There is little coverage of the situation with Dandois and Creisson who are facing trial
for meeting with the Tuareg rebels in the Northern area of Niger:-
http://www.rsf.org

by C Murray Mon Jan 14, 2008 19:34

Dandois and Creisson were arrested on the 17th of December, and the news of their trial has
been slow in the uptake.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0114/niger.html

Reporters without Borders and the Press Association have covered in the last days, this
is the first Irish news Coverage I have seen:- http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0014/niger.html

Meanwhile Nicholas Sarkozy, (mentioned in the comments above) fresh from a meeting with Tony
Blair on Blair's Presidency bid in the EU has been In Riyadh signing trade deals worth billions to the French economy.
Martinon, the Presidential spokesman has not updated on the health and
well-being of the men who face death for breaking their agreements to confine themselves
to Southern and Central Nigeria.

Links to their story are in the comments:-

http://www.rsf.org , has details on the State of World Press Freedom and a yearly report
on Journalist safety on their frontpage.

by C Murray Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:15

http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/news/world/20....html

Trial begins tomorrow and is expected to last two days.

A re-iteration of IFEX and Reporters without Borders State:- the men were doing their job,
(on bird flu) took the opportunity for a wrecki in the north and are criminalised and subject to
death-threat.

iFEX and RSF links in the first two comments. RSF looks at the 244% rise in violences against
journalists in this last year.

http://www.rsf.org

by C Murray Tue Jan 15, 2008 16:02

was going to call this 'Murky and Lurky'

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25042

IFEX link:- http://www.ifex.org/es/content/view/full/89283

Family members of the journalist and cameraman have arrived in Niger to support the
men during the hearing which takes place tomorrow.

by C Murray Wed Jan 16, 2008 19:28

The original post at the top of this page alluded to comments in the London Independent regarding
how unhappy the French were regarding Sarkozy's perceived lack of concern in the issue, which is why
there are street protests in Paris by journalists and print media.

Dandois is a Scot and the EU and Conservative Party reps in Brussels have added their voices
to petition for clemency. 70 members of the European parliament have now added their voices
to appeals for clemency in the case of the men whose straying from the Bird flu story to
interviewing Tuareg rebels has earned them the death penalty.

Interestingly very little is been said by Martinon, or Sarkozy who directly intervened in the Chad
Crisis and accompanied the prisoners who had received 8 years hard labour home to France
himself.

The two journalists have appealed for clemency and the trial is being monitored by the head
of Reporters Without Borders along with family members.

http://www.voa.news.com/english/2008-01-16-voa34.cfm

Paris Protest today

Paris Protest Yesterday

by link Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:37

http://africaflak.blogspot.com/2008/01/looking-for-clam....html

by C Murray Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:01

The charges against the men have been heard and the legal process is continuing.
Both men are well-treated in prison and are 'up and down'.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200801171060.html [another imprisonment/detention]
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25104 [families statement]

A blanket ban on reporting from the Northern territory in Niger had been instituted last year , the
penalty for breach is death, the men had undergone ' intense interrogation' , the charges laid
against them are 'Threatening National Security'. There is no date announced for their
trial and no information available as to the ongoing legal process.

The families returned to paris.

http://www.ejc.net

by C Murray Fri Jan 18, 2008 13:41

4 men were imprisoned as a result of the ban on media in the Tuareg rebel region of northern Niger.
Dandois and Creisson are to be bailed.
Kaka- rsf radio journo who has just finished a 100 day detention, is still up on charges
which involve being wire-tapped (link in comments)
Al-hassane Abdourhman , the driver, is in continuing incarceration (in less healthy conditions than the
journalists were).
the families and supporters of Dandois and Criesson will continue to highlight their cases,
whilst raising the high amount of funds necessary to the Bail conditions.

http://www.rsf.org/article.phph3?id_article=25111

by Without Borders Tue Jan 22, 2008 18:34

Al-Hassane Abdhourahman, the driver of the car who brought Dandois and Criesson
to the Northern part of Niger has been released and re-united with his family. he had been
arrested separately and kept alone in Kollo Prison, which is 20 miles south of Niamey.
Press release on here:-

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25148