«The eternal problem of respecting legal texts in Togo and the rights of citizens. And I am surprised that despite the condemnations and denunciations, the Executive does not make efforts to rehabilitate itself. It’s sad for leaders who like to talk about building democracy with a Ministry of Human Rights and Democracy. The case of Ferdinand Ayité with a summons to appear at the SCRIC on a Sunday challenges us. And then a few days ago the flagrant draconian attitude of the PM against the daily LIBERTÉ was corrected by the Supreme Court. The true rule of law is demanding and requires that the leaders avoid lending the flank to anything that is ARBITRARY.(A disillusioned Togolese citizen)
It is a bit by chance that we came across this reflection of our brave compatriot who suffers in his flesh, like the vast majority of Togolese from the eternal drama that has been theirs for half a century. And it is with pleasure that he authorized us to reproduce these few lines, oh so relevant, to be indignant at the uncertain fate reserved for our no less brave compatriot and freedom fighter in Togo, Ferdinand Ayite. And since it is about him, the publishing director of the bi-weekly “L’Alternativehas disappeared from radar screens since Sunday March 05, 2023; in other words, he would no longer be contactable for his relatives. And everything would have started with a summons to appear on March 5, 2023 at 3 p.m. at the SCRIC; remember that it was a Sunday and that you have to be in Togo, in this atypical country, to ask a citizen to report to any authority whatsoever on the last day of the weekend; and the mere fact that Ferdinand Ayité was summoned on that curious day denotes the sinister character of our authorities’ intentions against the journalist.
Ferdinand Ayité, it is this journalist who refused ease and indignity, by putting himself at the service of his martyred people; and by choosing this kind of combat journalism, he knew the risk he was exposing himself to in a country run as everyone knows. And it is right that the daily Liberté, in its publication of Monday March 06, 2023, wrote in its editorial: “We have since known that the kind of journalism we have freely chosen to embrace will always be fraught with pitfalls and pressures of all kinds. But in every country, there are and always will be men and women determined to play their role as watchdogs within the city…And it is on the strength of this priesthood that the investigative journalist Ferdinand Ayité, alongside the bi-weekly he publishes, created another online television program “l’Autre Journal”, to discuss government policy. , criticize and make proposals with his team and other local journalists. An initiative widespread in any civilized country where the rule of law and freedom of expression and of the press are truly a reality.
Let us recall that Ferdinand Ayité, in the exercise of his work, was already accused in the past, together with one of his fellow journalists, late Joel Egah, by two ministers of the Togolese government of defamation and attack on their honor; the two journalists were imprisoned in December 2021 in the civil prison of Lomé. After a few days of detention, helped by media and popular pressure, they regained their freedom on New Year’s Eve. Journalist Joël Égah will be less lucky, since he will die on Sunday March 6, 2022, a little over two months after their release. One of the conditions for their release was to present an apology on the show which was the source of their setbacks to the two ministers; what was done.
Why then this curious twist in this famous affair of supposed defamation of the two ministers? Why this curious summons, which looks like a relentless SCRIC? And why SCRIC? And above all, where is Ferdinand Ayité today? The journalist’s relatives, his colleagues in the free press and all Togolese thirsty for freedom and democracy hold their breath and want to know, and above all want to see the investigative journalist, editor of the bi-weekly “L’Alternative” , free and safe. All national and international organizations for the defense of human rights, all diplomatic representations in Togo are challenged and must take their responsibilities.
Samari Tchadjobo
Germany
