Feb 20 2008
Moussa KAKA works as a reporter for Radio France International (RFI) in Niger. He is jailed because he interviewed rebels.
He was doing his job and providing the world a fundammental right: the right to access to information.
He is still jailed for complicity of destabilisation of the state !!!
Free Moussa KAKA now!
Feb 04 2008
From spiral-jetty.blogspot.com:
Dear Friends,
Yesterday I received an urgent email from Lynn DeFreitas, Director of Friends of the Great Salt Lake, telling me of plans for drilling oil in the Salt Lake near Spiral Jetty. The deadline for protest is 13 of february. Of course, DIA has been informed and are meeting about it today.
I have been told by Lynn that the oil wells will not be above the water, but that means some kind of industrial complex of pipes and pumps beneath the water and on the shore. The operation would require roads for oil tank trucks, cranes, pumps etc. which produce noise and will severely alter the wild, natural place.
If you want to send a letter of protest to save the beautiful, natural Utah environment around the Spiral Jetty from oil drilling, the emails or calls of protest go to Jonathan Jemming jjemming@utah.gov
Every letter makes a big difference, they do take a lot of notice and know that publicity may follow. Since the Spiral Jetty has global significance, emails from foreign countries would be of special value.
They try to slip these drilling contracts under the radar, that’s why we found out so late, not through notification, but from a watchdog lawyer at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, the group that alerted me to the land leasing for oil and gas near Sun Tunnels last May.
Thank you for your consideration of this serious environmental matter.
Be well,
Nancy Holt
Jan 22 2008
I’m really glad about the freedom for the two french journalists working on the tuareg rebels in the North of Niger. But since they’re back in Paris. No more news from this country. Not a single line in the newspapers. Not a word on TV.
It’s was exactly the same for Afghanistan before 9/11.
I think people don’t realize what’s happening in Niger. I don’t think people understand that if our western countries don’t help Niger others will do it …
My friend Jean-Marc Durou, a photographer, falled in love with Niger 30 years ago. He has published more than 40 books about Sahara, and still wants to convince our politicians to help Niger … Just as Christophe de Ponfilly did for Afghanistan.
You can discover his work and take a few minutes in Niger.
Jan 19 2008
“French journalists Thomas Dandois and Pierre Creisson arrived at Orly airport in Paris at 3 p.m. today. In a news conference at the airport, they said they hoped their driver, Al-Hassane Abdourahman, would also be freed soon. The two journalists still faces charges in Niger of “violating state security.””
Via RSF
Jan 16 2008
Supporters from everywhere in Europe sign the petition to free Pierre Creisson, Thomas Dandois and Al Hassane Abdourahmann, arrested while they were reporting for the Franco-German channel Arte about the Tuareg rebels of the Movements of Nigeriens for Justice (MNJ). So what about Australia, Usa, China ?
You can also sign here: +++
A Traveler asked me something : Do you know why there is a M16 gun on the MNJ’s logo, on their blog and not a Kalashnikov AK47 ? The AK47 is the usual gun of all rebels in Africa. Any idea ?
Jan 14 2008
Yesterday afternoon, we were participating to a demonstration near the Eiffel Tower, to support Pierre Creisson, Thomas Dandois and Al Hassane Abdourahmann.
“Pierre Creisson and Thomas Dandois have been arrested on December 17 2007, and incarcerated with their driver Al Hassane Abdourahmann on December 21 in Niger, in the Kollo prison at the south of Niamey. When they were arrested, they were reporting for the Franco-German channel Arte about the Tuareg rebels of the Movements of Nigeriens for Justice (MNJ), up north. The authorities accuse both reporters to have infringed the interdiction to travel to the north of Niger.
They are accused of conspiring against the security of the State, a crime punishable by the death penalty in Nigerien law.
Pierre’s and Thomas’s families, their associate, the editor of Arte reports, Robert Menard, secretary general of Reporters without borders have all denounced the disproportion between the sentence and the reality of what the two reporters can be reproached with. They have called for the clemency of the Nigerien presidency.
France has also asked Niger to “show clemency” and to free the two French journalists who were “fulfilling their information mission” when they were arrested, the Minister of Foreign affairs indicated.
Their call has not led to any response.
On Thursday Nigerien president Mamadou Tandja said that the “behaviors of four journalists including two Frenchmen who have been accused and imprisoned for presumed relationships with active Tuareg rebels in the north of Niger, are intolerable”. The activities of these journalists “cannot be tolerated under any circumstance”, Mr Tandia declared in front of foreign diplomats during a ceremony for New Year’s greetings.
The two journalists will be presented to a judge on January 17, 2008.”
You also can support the journalists here:
http://pierre.thomas.alhassane.info
Join the facebook group to support them +++
Read news on RSF.org about what’s happening in Niger +++
