VZCZCXRO2658
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0493/01 1811540
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301540Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5161
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000493 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE, AND AF/PDPA LISENBY 
PLA PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID WA 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KCOR KPAO NG
SUBJECT: GON Shuts Down Private TV and Radio 
 
Ref:  a) Niamey 00484, b) Niamey 00492, c) 08 Niamey 00809 
 
NIAMEY 00000493  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  On June 29, the Government of Niger closed Radio and TV 
Dounia, private stations, for allegedly airing opposition 
incitements to security and military forces to disobey unlawful 
orders.  Although the suspension order came earlier in the day, 
police appeared during the 8:00pm broadcast and abruptly ended the 
transmission.  The suspension order, purportedly made by the High 
Council for Communication, arose from a vote by four of ten members 
to do so; the other six wrote a statement of objection. 
Subsequently, the GON arrested an opposition figure whose message to 
the armed forces pertains to the Dounia closure.  End summary. 
 
Radio and TV Dounia Silenced by Communications Council 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2. On June 29, the private TV and radio group Dounia received an 
order to suspend broadcasting indefinitely from the High Council for 
Communication (CSC), the Governmental media regulatory authority. 
CSC President Daouda Diallo signed the order over the objections of 
six of ten board members, who felt due process had not been 
followed.  CSC suspension order number 0005 cites Dounia's 
broadcasting of a declaration from the leader of the opposition FDD 
(Front for the Defense of Democracy) appealing for the Nigerien 
security and military forces to ignore unlawful orders.  Mahamadou 
Issoufou, leader of the FDD, made his statements on June 27 in 
response to President Tandja's decision to grant himself the 
authority to rule by decree (ref A), this followed the 
Constitutional Court's reaffirmation of its earlier decision that a 
referendum to amend the constitution to allow Tandja to extend his 
mandate would be illegal. 
 
¶3.  After receiving the suspension order from the CSC on the 
afternoon of June 29, Dounia began broadcasting a recurring written 
and oral announcement from the Director General of the Dounia Group, 
Habibou Garba, expressing surprise and indignation at what he termed 
a unilateral decision that damages freedom of the press in Niger. 
At 8:00 p.m. local time, Dounia broadcast the evening news as 
scheduled, leading with a repeat of the Director General's response 
condemning the suspension.  They also showed a written declaration 
of dissent from six of the CSC board members. 
 
FUSAD's Amadou Arrested for Exhortation to Military 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4.  Midway through an interview with opposition leader Marou Amadou 
of FUSAD (United Front for the Safeguarding of Democratic 
Achievements - a coalition of civil society organizations opposed to 
the extension of President Tandja's presidency), at approximately 
8:20 p.m., the police arrived at the station and broadcasting 
terminated.  Following an interview with the Voice of America later 
that evening, police arrested Amadou on charges that he had plotted 
against the authorities of the state to destabilize national 
security, incited the insubordination of military and security 
forces, and sapped the morale of the troops for his statements made 
on Dounia (ref B). 
 
Dounia:  A Repeat Offender 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. Dounia Group (with a broadcast range covering the major 
population centers in Niger) has run afoul of the GON before. 
Dounia Group was repeatedly warned and eventually suspended for a 
month in August last year for allegedly broadcasting statements 
inciting violence during coverage of the arrest on corruption 
charges of then Prime Minister Hama Amadou and subsequent 
demonstrations (ref C).  Dounia Group has regularly covered 
opposition political demonstrations and anti-referendum rallies. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6. Although the Constitution provides for the freedom of speech and 
press, the GON in practice routinely restricts these rights through 
media bans and the intimidation of journalists.  The CSC, created by 
the National Assembly in May 2006, is ostensibly independent from 
government influence, but frequently bends with the political winds. 
 The public dissenting opinion of six of the members of the CSC, a 
majority, and Dounia's defiance underscores deep concerns over 
President Tandja's actions among influential sectors in the media. 
His decision to close a major independent media group is yet further 
evidence of increasing willingness to do whatever is necessary to 
consolidate power.  End Comment. 
 
 
NIAMEY 00000493  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶7. Minimize considered. 
 
ALLEN