"PRESS UNDERGROUND IN THE IVORY COAST": Three journalists recently arrested IN Abidjan

Le 25 novembre 2011 par IVOIREBUSINESS - The main historical features of the ivorian post turmoil period rests in the fact that journalism in the "Ivory Coast" as a specific field of

human endeavour, must always be situated within its economic, political, and cultural environment. Thus, to appreciate the role of the ivorian press, the main historical features of the postwar period and turmoil in the "Ivory COAST" must first be understood. What is apparent right now in the current historical accounts is the reality of northern tribal domination in this postwar ivorian society. Effective control of the ivorian economy has been in the hands of ethnic groups through blatant nepotism process. Therefore, both the native elite from the "Ivory coast" country people elite have cornered a large share of the country's wealth, leaving the majority of the people impoverished. In addition to that crucial reality, particularly since president "ALLASANE Ouattara" took over in APRIL 11, a conspicuous african bureaucracy seems to be back that can be defined as a premature and bureaucratisation, because new bureaucrats has little or no experience of commitment to professional norms. Even some african leaders can more be corrupt! That's to say, the development of modern organs of state power preceded the development of modern attitudes toward bureaucracy and power... in front of this reality, the african press as a whole has to play his role through a scientific job of investigation ,knowing that the press always plays a crucial role both in preserving the old and in ushering in the new.That shows clearly how the press in the "Ivory Coast" could be a drag or midwife to change, depending on which side the publishers and editors chose to cast their lot:Let's come to the facts in the "Ivory COAST", a nation being a no man's land since APRIL 11TH, where freedom of press is also in jeopardy : Right now, four prominent ivorian journalists are underground namely: "HERMAN ABOA"(ivorian national tv reporter-rti), "César Etou"(deputy editor of "notre voie",daily newspaper close to former president "Gbagbo") (Didier Depri,sub editor of "notre VOIE"), "BOGA SIVORI",from( "notre VOIE").

"The PRESS UNDER MARTIAL LAW IN THE IVORY COAST": Increasingly, president "Allassane Ouattara" seems to be a tragic figure, being accused of nepotism, corruption and backward bureaucracy by the ivorian press from close to the left wing:IN the same trend, the daily newspaper "NOTRE VOIE" has recently pointed out the fact, through a fair and relevant article, that President "Allassane Ouattara" sems to consider the ivorian national treasure his own, by buying expensive cars specially (40 brand new Mercedes) while the ivorian people is still dying of starvation in this post war period.Never forget the fact that, he also bought previoulsly an expensive private jet in a country going through a post war economic recession!Finally, the cup seems to be emptied, when jounalists from "notre voie" emphasized that the ivory coast'currency(franc cfa) days seem to be numbered and might be devalued in the short run...That are basically the major reasons why the three journalists from the left wing newspaper "NOTRE VOIE' have been arrested the 23rd of NOVEMBER 2011.Perhaps, president "ALLASANE OUATTARA" will issue a letter of instruction in the days to come, ordering his press secretary and the defense secretary to take over and control or cause the taking over and control of the mass media in the "Ivory Coast" for the duration of his new so called regime, or until otherwise ordered by him, or by his duly designated representative.We are unquestionably on an eventual dictatorship road in the "IVORY coast". Nobody knows.

(YVES T Bouazo)