- Chadian journalists have united in their fight against the decreeing of a law that censored press freedom by launching a "newspaper of newspapers" in the capital N'djamena on Friday.
This followed the enforcement of an emergency rule prompted by rebel assault in N'djamena early last month.
Through financial support from the Paris-based Reporters sans frontières (RSF), independent Chadian weeklies that went on blackout ['N’djamena Bi-Hebdo', 'L'Observateur', 'Le Temps' and 'Le Miroir'], are published on a single issue, calling for the repealing of Decree No. 5.
“The independent N’djamena-based press is showing a united front to the government with this single issue at time when many journalists are in exile and there is a great deal of fear and uncertainty about the future,” RSF said.
“By working together, the independent press has found a way to return to work and to demand, with a single voice, the repeal of an archaic law adopted in unfair circumstances.”
In coordination with RSF, Chadian Professional Media Association decides to publish the 16-page publication. Printing 10,000 copies, the paper uses the logos of the shuttered 'Notre Temps' and radio 'FM Liberté'.
The obnoxious law imposes heavy penalties on journalists found guilty of publishing "false news" and defamation charges. Besides, the law entrust the Prosecutor's office the High Council of Communication of handling newspaper registration matters.
Its sudden imposition comes after two years of stormy negotiation between the government and the private press.
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