Chad

June 6, 2008

His Excellency Youssouf Saleh Abbas
Prime Minister of the Republic of Chad
c/o The Embassy of Chad to the United States
2002 R Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009

Via facsimile: (202) 265-1937

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

We are heartened by your recent statements in support of a private, independent press, and we now urge you to further your commitment by pushing for the repeal of Presidential Decree 5.

New York, March 21, 2008--The Chadian government effectively forced the country's only permanent foreign correspondent to leave the country on Thursday after withdrawing her work permit without explanation, according to news reports.

Sonia Rolley, a journalist reporting for several France-based media outlets, including Radio France Internationale (RFI), Agence France-Presse (AFP), French daily Libération and international television news channel France 24, left the capital N'Djamena after authorities notified RFI on Tuesday that her work permit had been pulled, Rolley told CPJ from Paris today.

March 3, 2008

President Idriss Deby Itno
President of the Republic of Chad
c/o The Embassy of Chad to the United States
2002 R Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009

Via facsimile: (202) 265-1937

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to express our alarm about the increasing restrictions against Chad's once-vibrant independent media, particularly following the deadly rebel assault on the capital, N'djamena, in early February.

New York, 17 janvier 2008--La police de la capitale tchadienne, N'djamena,  a fermé mercredi par la force une station de radio et a arrêté son directeur sur des allégations de diffamation, suite à la diffusion d'un communiqué de presse d'une association qui milite pour la défense des consommateurs, selon les journalistes locaux et les médias.

New York, January 17, 2008—Police in the Chadian capital, N'djamena, forced a radio station launched by local human rights activists off the air on Wednesday and detained its director on allegations of defamation over the broadcast of a press release by a consumer advocacy group, according to local journalists and news reports.

The studios of FM Liberté remained sealed under police guard today and Station Director Djekourninga Kaoutar Lazare was expected to spend a second consecutive night in custody, according to local journalists.