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R 181412Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1535

UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000510 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C LISA KORTE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KCOR KPAO PINS SOCI GB TP
SUBJECT:  GABON:  SEVERAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS ARE SUSPENDED FOR 
          "VIOLATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS" 
 
¶1. (U).  Summary:  After several months of a more open press 
environment during Gabon's political transition, the National 
Council for Communication (CNC) suspended six independent newspapers 
from one to three months for "violations of the principles of 
professional ethics." Several of the suspended newspapers were 
associated with opposition parties and presidential election 
candidates who ran against winner Ali Bongo, and were critical of 
the electoral process and Bongo.  Communications Minister and Bongo 
ally Laure Gondjout led the crackdown, and may also have had 
personal motives for the suspensions. Ultimately, reigning in the 
press may suit the strong executive style of Ali Bongo.  End 
Summary 
 
Delayed Reaction by Government to Journalists' Criticism during 
Transition 
 
2.(U)Gabon's National Council for Communication (CNC) on November 10 
suspended six independent newspapers from one to three months 
beginning immediately for "violations of the principles of 
professional conduct and ethics" during the political transition 
following the death in June 2009 of Pres. Omar Bongo.    "Nku'u Le 
Messager" and "Le Crocodile" were suspended for one month, "Le 
Scriboullard," "L'Ombre," and "La Nation" received two months 
suspensions, and "Les Echos du Nord" received a three month 
suspension.  Two other private publications, "Le Temps" and "Gabon 
d'Abord" received a warning to maintain professional standards.  In 
addition, a call-in chat show, "Entre Nous,"on the private TV 
station Canal Espoir was suspended indefinitely for "deficiencies in 
moderating the program." 
 
3.(U)The CNC spokesperson said the suspended newspapers passed on 
rumors and insults, were responsible for 'lazy journalism," and 
created ethnic divisions.  One article cited from "Nku'u Le 
Messager" entitled "And the Monarchy is Installed in Gabon" 
criticized the electoral process that resulted in the election 
victory of Omar Bongo's son, Ali Bongo. Prior to the August 30 
election, several of the accused newspapers raised ethnic and other 
factors that might determine the winner of the election, and were 
critical of the succession of power within the Bongo family. 
 
4.(U) The suspensions have been widely criticized by international 
NGOs  concerned with the  protection of journalist freedoms. 
Norbert Ngoua, president of the private Gabonese press association 
APPEL and director of one of the banned journals, "Nku'u Le 
Messager", said in an interview that the CNC did not provide any 
details about the newspapers' specific press violations, and the 
journalists are not legally allowed to appeal the suspensions. 
 
Return to Media Control of Omar Bongo Era? 
 
5.(SBU) Many Gabonese journalists believe the suspensions reflect 
the commitment of the new Gabonese administration to continue Omar 
Bongo's control of the media.  Prior to his death, Omar Bongo used 
suspensions to punish newspapers that published articles critical of 
the President, his family and his wealth. 
 
¶6. (SBU)The current crackdown is attributed to Minister of 
Communications Laure Gondjout.  A strong Bongo supporter, her 
involvement is seen by some as proof that the selection of these 
publications is directly tied to their links with opposition parties 
and candidates in the August 30 election.  "Nku'u Le Messager "and 
"Le Scriboullard", for example, have been more politically oriented 
to the UPG party (Gabonese People's Union) led by opposition leader 
and election second runner-up, Pierre Mamboundou.  "L'Ombre" has 
been linked to ruling party defector and election runner-up Andre 
Mba Obame, and he is rumored to have paid for articles there.  "Les 
Echos du Nord" is associated with former vice-premier and 
presidential candidate Paul Mba Abessole of the RPG party (Rally for 
Gabon).  Several of the suspended newspapers presented views of 
opposition candidates in the election, and "Le Scribouillard" and 
"Le Crocodile" are satirical journals that frequently take aim at 
Gabon's political figures. 
 
Minister Gondjout Benefits from Government Media Funds 
 
7.(SBU) In addition, several of the suspended newspapers printed 
articles about Minister Gondjout's personal benefits from the 
allocation of government funds for the media.  FCFA 500 million (USD 
1.13 million) is allocated each year by the government to the 
printed press, and Gabonews, the internet press organization which 
is owned by Minister Gondjout, has received a large portion of these 
funds for the past two years.  To some observers, the suspensions 
provided an opportunity for Gondjout to silence her critics. 
 
Comment 
 
¶8. (SBU) We were surprised that the CNC cracked down on the 
independent newspapers a month after Ali Bongo's inauguration.  As 
reported previously, Gabon's media opened up during the political 
transition and presented serious analysis of the issues, candidates, 
and the electoral process.  Even "L'Union," the daily newspaper that 
presents the government's viewpoints, was critical of mishandled 
electoral lists and bungled election-day balloting.  Since the 
inauguration, the press overall has been receptive to rather than 
critical of Bongo's government reforms.  A key factor at play with 
the suspensions may be the effort of Communications Minister 
Gondjout to return the media to a more controlled environment as the 
President makes changes in the government and the way Gabon is run. 
Although Bongo has promised to run a more efficient government, he 
is already showing signs of doing it with a firm hand that is likely 
to include reigning in the press.  End Comment