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MRA Condemns Arrest of The Diet
Newspapers Editor
LAGOS, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1997:
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) condemns Sunday night’s
arrest of the editor of the Diet newspaper, Mr. Niran Malaolu, and three
of his colleagues by armed soldiers from the Directorate of Military
Intelligence (DMI) for yet undisclosed reasons.
While the MRA welcomes the release yesterday of the three
others – Mr. Wale Adele, the night editor; Mr. Emeka Egerue, head of the
computer department; and Mr. Emma Evwara, a production sub-editor – we
view the continued detention of Mr. Malaolu without charge or trial, after
more than 24 hours in custody, as arbitrary, illegal and
unconstitutional. It constitutes a gross violation of his right to
personal liberty and to freely practice his profession.
We are deeply concerned by the fact that the Federal
Military Government, its on-going systematic attack on the independent
news media, continues to disregard its obligations under our Constitution
as well as international human rights instruments to which it has
voluntarily acceded, to respect and protect the fundamental rights of its
citizens.
Media Rights Agenda also views the constant threat to
journalists against reporting on the alleged coup plot for which Lt. Gen.
Oladipo Diya and an unspecified number of other persons have been
detained, as unnecessary harassment and intimidation aimed at preventing
the press from fulfilling its obligation to provide members of the public
with information from divergent sources.
The government’s own reluctant to provide adequate
information on the alleged coup plot makes it imperative for journalists
to conduct independent enquiries into the matter. We urge the government
to respect the right of journalists to freely gather information and to
report such information without let or hindrance, subject to “any law that
is reasonably justifiable in a democratic
society”.
Media Rights Agenda calls on the Federal Military
Government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Malaolu and
other journalists who are currently detained or jailed in the course of
their professional duties. We further call on the Government to commit
itself to a programme of respect for human rights, including media
freedoms, as the country enters the final stages of its transition to
civil rule programmme.
For further information, please contact:
Edetaen Ojo
Executive Director
Tel: 01-860456
E-mail: mra@rcl.nig.com
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