Rights & Democracy demands independent inquiry into killing of French journalist in Ivory Coast
News Release
Montreal, Oct. 22, 2003 - The murder of French journalist Jean H?l?ne in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, must be thoroughly and independently investigated, says Rights & Democracy.Mr. H?l?ne, who covered the Ivory Coast and much of Northern Africa for Radio France Internationale, died late yesterday from a gunshot to the back after an altercation with a uniformed police officer. The killing took place outside the headquarters of the Ivory Coast's national police, where the journalist was awaiting the release of 11 opposition activists.
Mr. H?l?ne and his fellow correspondents from France have been accused by loyalists of President Laurent Gbagbo of favouring anti-government rebels in the Ivory Coast's recent civil war. However, accusations of a French bias are widespread on both sides of the conflict, which a Paris-brokered peace accord and the presence of 4,000 French troops helped bring to an end in July.
"Jean H?l?ne's murder is a disturbing set-back for the cause of human rights and democracy in the Ivory Coast," said Jean-Louis Roy, President of Rights & Democracy. "An independent, internationally-observed inquiry unfettered by political constraints must be established immediately in order to understand why this officer would kill a journalist - and prevent such a travesty from occurring again."
For More Information
Please contact Steve Smith (ext 255) or Louis Moubarak (ext 261) at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.
