Gabon’s censored media vow to publish

Two opposition newspapers in Gabon vowed Wednesday to keep the presses rolling despite the National Communications Council’s (CNC) decision to suspend them for six months.

The media regulatory body said Saturday it suspended the Ezombolo and La Une newspapers for disrespecting the institutions of the republic, after they poked fun at top Gabonese officials.

“We will publish next week, distribute for free and using our own resources. We’ll see who can stop us,” said Ezombolo managing editor Jean de Dieu Ndoutoum-Eyi at a press conference.

His counterpart on La Une, Maximin Mezui, also pledged to continue publishing and called the CNC’s decision “selective censorship.”

On Saturday the CNC said the papers “persistently disrespect the institutions of the republic and the people who represent them.”

The suspensions come after Ezombolo likened Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba to the plump character used by the tyre firm Michelin as its trademark and called for the army to revolt.

La Une meanwhile called Jean Ping, the Gabonese former head of the African Union Commission, a “wet dishcloth”.

On Monday the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the CNC’s decision.

“The suspension of Ezombolo and La Une are acts of censorship and intimidation designed to silence criticism of public officials,” CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita said in a statement.

In January another paper and a television channel owned by Bongo’s main opponent, Andre Mba Obame, were temporarily suspended after broadcasting New Year’s greetings from Mba Obame, who proclaimed himself president in January 2011.

Bongo subsequently called for firmer action from the CNC.

“While I support freedom of expression, I still call for more vigorous action … against these transgression,” he said.