Post by Onyango Oloo on Sept 29, 2005 20:47:26 GMT 3
Kenya ChargesTwo Journalists Over Coup Article
29 Sep 2005 14:11:03 GMT
Source: Reuters
By C. Bryson Hull
NAIROBI, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Kenya on Thursday charged two opposition newspaper journalists with incitement over an article on the prospect of a coup during a volatile campaign for a new constitution.
Press rights advocates called for immediate release of the pair, and said the Kenyan government's treatment of them was "barbaric" and against international democratic standards.
Kenya Times editor Onyango Omollo and writer David Ochami appeared in court and denied trying to cause alarm or incite a coup against President Mwai Kibaki with an article headlined "Coups in Africa do not occur out of nothing".
"Today, as the president's men talk of an impending ouster of Mwai Kibaki, there are others who feel this should occur sooner," Ochami began his opinion piece.
It followed accusations from Kibaki's allies that political foes were plotting to oust him over his campaign for a "Yes" vote in a Nov. 21 constitution referendum.
The journalists were freed on bail before their trial on Nov. 8. They face up to a year in prison if convicted.
The Kenya Times is owned by the opposition Kenya African National Union (KANU), which ruled the country from independence from Britain in 1963 until it was defeated by Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition in late 2002.
KANU and a party in the ruling coalition are leading the "No" campaign.
The arrests are the latest twist in a turbulent campaign that has seen riots, stone-throwing, gunshots and fist-fights among legislators and their supporters.
Some critics say the proposed constitution fails to curb the president's immense powers in the east African nation of 32 million. Others say the document betrays Kibaki's pledge to include broad input from the Kenyan people, and not just politicians, in drawing it up.
The Kenya Union of Journalists called the arrests "barbaric and serious", and accused politicians of pressuring the police to arrest the men.
Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders said Kenya had ignored calls to overhaul its press laws to meet democratic norms advocated by the United Nations.
Kenyan journalists enjoy some of the better press freedoms on a continent where watchdogs say many face severe restrictions and even imprisonment, torture and killing.
Reporters suffered beatings, arrests and intimidation under the 24-year reign of former President Daniel arap Moi, but freedom of expression has flourished since Kibaki took power although the threat of arrest remains.
In Sunday's article, Ochami said Kenya was on the verge of collapse, and blamed Kibaki for betraying Kenyans and mishandling the constitution review process.
Omollo was charged because he oversaw publication.
(Additional reporting by Humphrey Malalo and Wangui Kanina)
29 Sep 2005 14:11:03 GMT
Source: Reuters
By C. Bryson Hull
NAIROBI, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Kenya on Thursday charged two opposition newspaper journalists with incitement over an article on the prospect of a coup during a volatile campaign for a new constitution.
Press rights advocates called for immediate release of the pair, and said the Kenyan government's treatment of them was "barbaric" and against international democratic standards.
Kenya Times editor Onyango Omollo and writer David Ochami appeared in court and denied trying to cause alarm or incite a coup against President Mwai Kibaki with an article headlined "Coups in Africa do not occur out of nothing".
"Today, as the president's men talk of an impending ouster of Mwai Kibaki, there are others who feel this should occur sooner," Ochami began his opinion piece.
It followed accusations from Kibaki's allies that political foes were plotting to oust him over his campaign for a "Yes" vote in a Nov. 21 constitution referendum.
The journalists were freed on bail before their trial on Nov. 8. They face up to a year in prison if convicted.
The Kenya Times is owned by the opposition Kenya African National Union (KANU), which ruled the country from independence from Britain in 1963 until it was defeated by Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition in late 2002.
KANU and a party in the ruling coalition are leading the "No" campaign.
The arrests are the latest twist in a turbulent campaign that has seen riots, stone-throwing, gunshots and fist-fights among legislators and their supporters.
Some critics say the proposed constitution fails to curb the president's immense powers in the east African nation of 32 million. Others say the document betrays Kibaki's pledge to include broad input from the Kenyan people, and not just politicians, in drawing it up.
The Kenya Union of Journalists called the arrests "barbaric and serious", and accused politicians of pressuring the police to arrest the men.
Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders said Kenya had ignored calls to overhaul its press laws to meet democratic norms advocated by the United Nations.
Kenyan journalists enjoy some of the better press freedoms on a continent where watchdogs say many face severe restrictions and even imprisonment, torture and killing.
Reporters suffered beatings, arrests and intimidation under the 24-year reign of former President Daniel arap Moi, but freedom of expression has flourished since Kibaki took power although the threat of arrest remains.
In Sunday's article, Ochami said Kenya was on the verge of collapse, and blamed Kibaki for betraying Kenyans and mishandling the constitution review process.
Omollo was charged because he oversaw publication.
(Additional reporting by Humphrey Malalo and Wangui Kanina)