Freedom of the Press 2007: Seychelles
Freedom of the Press 2007: Seychelles
Judicial harassment forces opposition weekly to stop publishing
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced dismay at the decision of a Seychelles court to sentence the privately-owned weekly “Regar” to pay an exorbitant fine, thereby forcing one of the archipelago’s only two opposition newspapers to suspend publication. “The government and its allies have repeatedly sued ‘Regar’ on the slightest pretext for years, taking […]
Newspaper editor freed, charged with “unlawful assembly”
(RSF/IFEX) – Roger Mancienne, editor of the privately-owned weekly “Regar” and secretary-general of the opposition Seychelles National Party (SNP), told Reporters Without Borders he was released on the morning of 4 October 2006, after being held for nearly 24 hours in the central police barracks in Victoria. Like SNP leader Wavel Ramkalawan and “Regar” publisher […]
Newspaper editor arrested, publisher injured when police disperse protest against state broadcast monopoly
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemned the violent dispersal of an opposition demonstration in the Seychelles capital of Victoria on 3 October 2006, to demand for an end to the state’s monopoly of radio and TV broadcasting. Roger Mancienne, the editor of the opposition weekly “Regar”, was arrested while Jean-François Ferrari, the newspaper’s publisher, was […]
Arson attack causes serious damage to opposition weekly’s press
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned an arson attack that seriously damaged the printing press of the pro-opposition weekly “Regar” on the night of 8 December 2005. “The attack seems to have been politically motivated and such methods of intimidation are utterly unacceptable,” the press freedom organisation said. “There must be a thorough investigation […]
Privately-owned weekly’s survival threatened following heavy fine
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 9 December 2004 hearing, the weekly “Regar” was heavily fined for ignoring a Supreme Court order that it not publish a letter by three judges. RSF denounced the fine as excessive, while noting that it may “wipe out the Seychelles’ only independent newspaper.” The organisation said it was “absurd” that the […]
Country’s only independent newspaper may fold after court orders it to pay exorbitant damages
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to President France Albert René, RSF protested the harassment of the country’s only independent newspaper. “Tourists visiting the Seychelles should know that the ‘world’s most beautiful beach’ hides one of the Indian Ocean’s most repressive regimes for press freedom,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “The only newspaper that refuses to […]