Ivory Coast: Le Réveil media group threatened

Patrice Yao, managing editor of Le Nouveau Réveil, a pro-opposition daily newspaper based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and other officials of the media group, on May 5, 2010, received threatening SMS messages and telephone calls warning them to be careful.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the threats come at a time when the Rallye des Houphouétistes pour la Démocratie et pour la Paix (RHDP), a coalition of the four main opposition parties namely, Parti Democratique de Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI), Rassemblement Des Républicains (RDR), Union pour la Démocratie et la Paix en Côte d'Ivoire  (UDPCI)  and  Mouvement des Forces  d'Avenir (MFA), is preparing for a peaceful march dubbed Liberation of Côte d’Ivoire scheduled for May 15, 2010.

Some of the messages which described the officials of Le Réveil media group as “pro-rebels who want to burn the country down” stated that the homes of the officials were known to them (callers and those sending the text messages).

Le Reveil media group says it will hold the authorities responsible if their rights are infringed upon.

For further information please contact:

Prof. Kwame Karikari

Tel: +233-21-242470

Fax: +233-21-221084

Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.ghThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , alerts@mediafound.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.mediafound.org

- May 11, 2010 by MFWA

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Source: www.mediafound.org/index.php (accessed on 11.05.2010)