Oumar Tely Diallo, a trainee-reporter of the privately-owned satirical Lynx-Lance newspaper, was on September 21, 2012 physically assaulted by a group of angry pro-government militants while covering a political riot. The attack on the journalist left him with torn clothes while his attackers made away with his camera, pen-drive, mobile telephone and some cash. According to the Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent, Diallo was covering a riot which pitted opposition militants against supporters of the ruling People’s Rally of Guinea (RPG) when he was suddenly surrounded and beaten by his assailants.
In a related development, on the same day, the premises of Conakry-based Sabari FM was vandalized by unknown persons resulting in the destruction of reporting equipment and the loss of personal belongings of the journalists. The glass windows of the radio station were also shattered. The MFWA is deeply concerned about the recent spate of attacks targeted at the media, considering the fact that in a space of one month, two politicians have attacked two radio stations while party militants continue to assault journalists.
We, therefore, reiterate our call on the authorities to be critical of these attacks and safeguard the lives and rights of journalists and media personnel in Guinea.
For more information please contact:
Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70
Fax: 233-302-22 10 84
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.mediafound.org