Harassment of local press continues as two more journalists charged

Reporters Without Borders is deeply concerned over the recent wave of charges and sentences of journalists whose reports have made local authorities uncomfortable. Among those listed by the organisation are Kamel Gaci, a reporter with the daily "Le Soir d'Algérie" ("Algeria's Evening"), and G. Lotfi, a Djelfa-based correspondent for the daily "Liberté" ("Freedom"). Gaci has been charged with "failure to report a fugitive", following the publication of his interview with an escaped convict in the columns of "Le Soir d'Algérie". The fugitive, who happens to be a former police officer, contacted Gaci through the newspaper two weeks after his escape from El Khemis prison, saying he wanted to tell his story. The journalist notified the authorities of his interview with the fugitive, but did not say where it was to take place. The day after the article's publication, the Bedjaïa Prosecutor's Office brought charges against Gaci. The court granted the journalist a conditional release, placing him under judicial surveillance pending the verdict of his trial, in the upcoming weeks. The case of Lofti, a Djelfa-based correspondent for the daily "Liberté", further serves to illustrate the pressures faced by correspondents outside the capital. The journalist was given a three-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay 200,000 dinars (approx. 2,300 euros) in damages to the Djelfa police chief after the latter filed a complaint against Lofti over a 14 April article he'd written on the suicide of a local businessman. The police chief also filed defamation charges against journalist and human rights advocate Hafnaoui Ghoul, resulting in a six-month sentence for Ghoul on 26 May. Reporters Without Borders also condemns local authorities' failure to act in the handling of certain cases, in particular that of the daily "Ouest Info" ("West Info"). The newspaper filed a complaint with authorities after being cheated in the purchase of its new computer equipment. The paper now fears it may be forced to close because the complaint was not dealt with in time.