The Coordination of Press Associations (CAP) is tightening its tone in its campaign for the release of journalist Pape Alé Niang. She held a rally yesterday at the Maison de la Presse Babacar Touré. In the event that the colleague specialized in investigations is not released quickly, the Coordination is planning a boycott of government activities and a day without press.
For 31 days, Dakar Matin journalist and site administrator Pape Alé Niang has been in prison in Sébikotane. And since his incarceration, the Coordination of Press Associations (CAP) has been working to get him released. Several actions were carried out including the publication of joint editorials denouncing The Monster, the distribution of banners or spots and even a national march. Yesterday, a rally was held at the Maison de la Presse to denounce the journalist’s arrest but also to demand his release during the second media council held by the CAP.
To keep pressure on the authorities, media professionals are planning a boycott of government activities and a day without press. We are going to get tough. And this week, there is a provision for unconventional action. And when I speak of unconventional action, it is a brilliant action, which would probably take us to prison and we are not afraid of prison,” said Ibrahima Lissa Faye, member of the CAP and president of the Association of Online Press Professionals (APPEL).
According to him, the argument of secrecy does not shake by the actors of the press and members of the CAP. He forcefully told some 50 journalists and media technicians that no one will be able to intimidate the corporation. They need to know that. They just have to prepare the prisons, expand them if they have to, but we are all ready to go to prison. This week, it is planned to go towards a slogan of boycott of government activities. We will take the necessary steps to do so. We don’t leave a day without a press,” continued the head of Pressafrik.
For journalist Momar Ndiongue, if at the end of the hearing of Pape Alé Niang scheduled for Friday, the journalist is not released, the CAP will be forced to go to the next level in its campaign for the release of Pape Alé Niang or PAN. The total and complete boycott of all government activities is not excluded. Nor do we exclude a day without a press because, today, we feel that through Pope Alé, all the press would be gagged. We are mobilized, we remain in tune and wind of what will be done Friday at the end of his hearing”, said the director of the daily Le vrai Journal.
For his part, the journalist and former secretary general of the SYNPICS section of the national daily Le Soleil, Maguette Ndong, said that it is time to remobilize so that the State releases Pape Alé Niang once and for all so that he can join his family. He mentioned the launch of a petition signed by about 100 journalists and great writers. The president of the Senegalese League for Human Rights (LSDH), Alassane Seck, has asked the journalist to suspend his hunger strike since he will be heard by the investigating judge next Friday. «The Senegalese League of Human Rights renews its support and its availability to accompany him if there will be a trial» assured Seck.
Note that our confrere Pape Alé Niang is currently observing a hunger strike. He will be heard on the merits this Friday by the judge of the second investigation of the high court out of class of Dakar. On social media, PAN announced that due to his deteriorating health, he will not be able to receive visitors.
Source : SenePlus
