PRESS AND POLITICAL POWER IN WEST AFRICA: A PROMINENT JOURNALIST UNDERGROUND IN THE IVORY COAST!

Freedom of speech and press seems to be at stake in the "IVORY COAST" with reference to the latest major facts that, one prominent and peculiar ivorian journalist is still behind the bars since (SEPTEMBER 2011) in a wellknown prison called (LA MACA) in the economic capital city of the "IVORY COAST":"SY SAVANE" is indeed the general deputy of the ivorian press GROUP called the "CYCLONE" composed of ivorian daily newspapers such as:("Le temps"(Time), "LGinfos" and "prestige magazine").By the way ,"SY SAVANE" seems to be the visible victim of a so called one party system which seems to strengthen softly some martial laws in a country of big number of daily newspapers, in the process of squeezing and threatening the press in the new millenium in this part of AFRICA!
As a matter of fact, i take this oportunity to point out the fact that the ivorian press, in the light of the latest developments, deserves closer and wider scrutinity, so that we may fully understand how it operates within its given social context!
Meanwhile, the major aim which stirs us to action, is to situate clearly the current ivorian press under the rule of head of state "ALLASSANE OUATTARA"
remains a press under some martial laws for those who wish to remain up-to-date...In the same trend, under a so called martial law system, it is fairly easy to pinpoint the most urgent problems or shortcomings facing the beleaguered ivorian press. As a result, the closure of critical publication some months ago and the arrest and imprisonment of a prominent journalist such as "SY SAVANE", to some extent the insuance of repressive decrees which place fundamental human rights, including freedom of press in jeopardy!
Today, in the "IVORY COAST", as far as some facts are concerned, a number of journalists have been released , so such blatant repression no longer exists , but the "layers of constraints" originating elsewhere are palpable in the whole country. Finally, it seems that we are back to the one party system in the seventies; to the free-wheeling hard hitting press, which rambunctiously gave us at that time, the illusion of full freedom and democracy...
Right now, we keep on asking ourselves the reason why the ivorian journalist "SY SAVANE" still remains behind the bars, despite the official protest of
french press influential structures such as: ("REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERES"-"REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS").The cup of injustice seems to be full in the "IVORY COAST" and the controversy will move up to the pinacle until journalist "SY SAVANE" has not recovered his full freedom in the "IVORY COAST".Wait and see ,and time will really tell!

(YVES T BOUAZO)