Guinea Bissau: Newspaper office vandalized for publishing narcotic story

Two angry men in Guinea Bissau, on May 15, 2010, stormed the premises of privately-owned daily newspaper Diario de Bissau amidst death threats and attacked Joao De Barros, the newspaper’s editor, and destroyed its equipment.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the action of the two men, Almando Dias, a businessman and his driver, followed a May 14 article that Diario de Bissau published about the narcotic trafficking in the country.

The article headlined: “Guinea Bissau, a Suspected Narcotic State” carried photographs of four prominent personalities including former President Nino Vieira, as being victims of drug trafficking in the country.

 In an interview, Joao De Barros told MFWA’s correspondent that the attackers completely destroyed the newspaper’s equipment.

Meanwhile, there has been widespread condemnation of this particular attack on Diario de Bissau newspaper and the impunity with which journalists and media are attacked by agents of drug criminals in Guinea Bissau.

For further information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70
Fax: 233-302-22 10 84
Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.ghThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.mediafound.org

- May 26, 2010 by MFWA

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Source: www.mediafound.org/index.php (31.05.10)