Private daily "Le Matin" threatened with closure over non-payment of back taxes

The Internal Revenue Department has given the private daily "Le Matin" a deadline of 6 March 2004 to pay 39 million Algerian dinars (approx.US$560,000; 450,000 euros) in back taxes or risk closure. Reporters Without Borders is not calling into question the Internal Revenue Department's right to audit media outlets. However, the organisation urges the authorities to work with "Le Matin" in order to establish a repayment schedule. Reporters Without Borders cautions the Algerian government of the disproportionate consequences that may arise from the daily's closure. Moreover, in the context of the current strained pre-election mood in the country, the ultimatum against "Le Matin" may be interpreted as an effort to silence the newspaper, which has been critical of the president's clique. In addition, the paper's managing editor, Mohamed Benchicou, recently published a book entitled, "Bouteflika : an Algerian imposture", in which he was very critical of the president (see IFEX alert of 16 February 2004). On 15 October 2003, "Le Matin" learned that it had been ordered to pay back taxes of 90 million dinars (approx. US$1.3 million; 1 million euros) for the period running from 1998 to 2001. The daily was granted a deferment and allowed to pay half of the amount demanded (45 million dinars, approx. US$650,000; 520,000 euros). On 1 March, the Internal Revenue Department demanded that "Le Matin" pay the remaining 39 million dinars in back taxes within one week.