A fourth journalist gets prison sentence

Reporters Without Borders voiced outrage today at the one-year prison sentence and fine of 100,000 CFA francs (about 152 euros) imposed yesterday by a magistrate's court in N'Djamena on Sy Koumbo Singa Gali, the editor of the L'Observateur newspaper. She is the fourth journalist to receive a jail term in Chad this year. "We learn of Gali's sentence with sadness and anger," the press freedom organisation said. "The international community has reacted with indifference to this crackdown by President Idriss Déby's government. France, in particular, which proclaims its support for free expression, should wake up to the scandal this fourth prison sentence represents and should use all its weight to obtain the release of the four journalists as soon as possible." Gali was convicted for a 13 July interview with imprisoned independent journalist Garondé Djarma, who was already serving a three-year prison term. In the interview, Djarma attributed his arrested to a "Janjaweed plot," using the term "Janjaweed" to refer to Chadian Arabs of the CDR party. As a result of these remarks, Djarma yesterday received an additional sentence of one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 CFA francs for "defamation" and "inciting hate." He was given the three-year sentence on 18 July. Many Chadian journalists demonstrated support for Gali yesterday and accompanied her during her transfer to prison. The Union of Chadian Journalists (UJT), to which most state and private-sector journalists belong, yesterday called for a one-week strike from 22 August. In addition to Gali and Djarma, the other Chadian journalists currently serving prison sentences are Samory Ngaradoubmé and Michael Didama.