Despite the desire to be open to the press displayed by the Head of State and his appeals to all administrative officials to follow in his footsteps and communicate, obstacles to press freedom, survivals of the 2015 crisis, subsist. These annihilate or put a damper on this commitment. Journalists on mission obliged to have the green light from the administration to
Despite the desire to be open to the press displayed by the Head of State and his appeals to all administrative officials to follow in his footsteps and communicate, obstacles to press freedom, survivals of the 2015 crisis, subsist. These annihilate or put a damper on this commitment.
Journalists on mission obliged to have the green light from the administration to do their reporting, cases of reporters on mission asked to turn back or brutalized journalists, cases of censorship, arrests following information deemed disturbing, correspondents forced to conceal certain facts or have their papers validated by certain administrative officials, authorities who only answer to certain journalists… so many obstacles to freedom of the press.
This picture is far from brilliant, almost at the antipodes of the commitment or the will displayed by the head of the Burundian executive to improve his relations with the press. Relationships dominated or characterized by mistrust following the 2015 crisis where some media found themselves vandalized following their position.
At the time when it notices these few obstacles to the freedom of the press, which is guaranteed by the Constitution and other texts of law, the party in power makes it known that the situation is not so alarming, it recognizes that there has improvements to make.
Agathon Rwasa, the president of the main opposition party, the CNL, insists on these efforts to be carried out so that this fundamental principle in any democracy respectful of freedom of opinion and freedom of expression, can contribute to the promotion of a rule of law.
According to him, the Basic Law guarantees freedom of the press and many other freedoms, but it is at the practical level where the shoe pinches. “There are limitations and hindrances and it’s either self-censorship or censorship that takes place outright. Or it is either the government which holds the monopoly of opinion”.
“Muzzling the press is going against any rule of law”
For this former rebel leader who swapped his fatigues for a suit, it is as if other citizens had no right to speak: “There is no room for a divergent opinion and it is very dangerous for a society that wants to be democratic. It is detrimental not to listen to the other to feel what he feels and react accordingly,” he insists.
To promote democracy, he points out, we must not give primacy exclusively to the voice of those who run the country. “They must have the courage to listen to a divergent opinion because sometimes it is this divergent opinion which can reveal to them what their followers or their courtiers dare not tell them and by acting in this way, they could better adjust their actions”.
Agathon Rwasa is categorical: “Attempting to muzzle the press, attempting to flout freedom of opinion, does not help the country to take steps forward in terms of governance, in terms of democracy, in terms of achieving each other’s dreams. The one who dominates risks imposing his will which is not necessarily the most positive compared to the will of others. And there is a risk of plunging into a state where the law of the jungle reigns.
When the Executive brandishes its slogan, ”’Never without the media”, this opponent makes it known that one should not rely too much on slogans. “We must rather see what there are as actions if not the slogans, it’s always positive but the reality is quite different”.
Agathon Rwasa calls on the President of the Republic, who is the guarantor of the Constitution, to make an effort to reframe the situation. “It is his duty to call his collaborators to order so that there are no more obstacles to the freedom of the press, to freedom of expression, unfortunately this seems to be confirmed rather than it is unofficial speeches that become more official”.
For Agathon Rwasa, “the rule of law is at the tip of your lips, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion is at the tip of your lips, the right to this here and that is at the end of the lips, window dressing so that the eyes do not see exactly what is happening”.
“There have been notable improvements”
Despite this gloomy picture, Nancy Ninette Mutoni, spokesperson for the Cndd-Fdd party maintains that freedom of the press in Burundi is a reality, that there has been progress.
“There have been significant advances in freedom of expression and freedom of the press in particular. We recognize the vital role played by the media. Freedom of the press is fundamental for the promotion of the rule of law in democracy and here in Burundi, the state of play is satisfactory even if it is a daily fight to win even more”, she insists. to underline.
The spokeswoman for the ruling party admits that it is difficult to ignore certain obstacles to this freedom of the press. “We try to correct and work with the stakeholders”.
In any case, she recognizes, as the laws are not restrictive of freedom of the press, it is already an achievement on which we can build a permanent dialogue with the press.
“Until then I would only congratulate all the stakeholders who make it possible for us to be at this level of freedom and action because who says freedom also says the positive actions which result from it and we therefore congratulate all the stakeholders who take action so that there is no longer any withholding of information”.
For Nancy Ninette Mutoni, there is openness on the part of those in charge who are the primary sources of information beneficial for the people in their aspiration and there is reason to rejoice in the efforts made.
When we know the key role that belongs to the press in the strengthening and consolidation of democracy, she notes, we appeal to all the authorities, all the sources of information not to withhold information because the people need to be enlightened.
“Burundian citizens need to hear the authoritative voice that gives information and we salute the professionalism, the citizen journalist, the journalist who accompanies development and who meets the needs of the people”.
For the spokesperson for the ruling party, dissonant voices in a democracy are necessary. “At Cndd-Fdd, we are for freedom of expression. Everyone must bring out their opinion, their opinion but in a constructive way, so that there is a clash of ideas to bring out the light. It is also important that everyone has their place and knows it. We are for freedom but not for licentiousness.
reactions
Gérard Ntahe: “The objective of journalism is not to please.”
When it happens that administrators ask certain correspondents to show them their papers before broadcasting, Gérard Ntahe, a lawyer specializing in the media, is categorical: “Showing the product of one’s investigations to any authority before its publication does not is no longer journalism but censorship. The objective of journalism is not to please but to investigate and give useful information whether it pleases or not because the information does not necessarily have to please”.
Laurent Kaganda: “The CNC is satisfied but…”
For the vice-president of the National Council of Communication, Laurent Kaganda, this media regulatory body appreciates the good relations with media officials.
“Things haven’t been that way lately because some media have adopted other attitudes, taken other paths. Today, there are meetings not to accuse each other but to discuss and correct what was wrong, to provide advice”.
According to him, even if the CNC is satisfied with the challenges are not lacking: “Professional faults are noted here and there, some more serious than others. The CNC organizes meetings to correct what can be corrected in good time and thus be able to move forward on cleared ground”.