wfn.org | Church radio journalists charged

["Daphne Martin_Gnanadason" <Daphne.Martin_Gnanadason@warc.ch>]

>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>News Release
>31 May 2010

>Church radio journalists charged

Concern is mounting for eight radio journalists and technicians
detained in Madagascar last week. The eight work for
RadioFahazavana,a church-supported station in the nation’s
capital, Antananarivo. BBC reports that on Friday the group was
formally charged with threatening state security. The radio
station has been shut down and its equipment confiscated by
government officials.  

A statement issued by the president and the general secretary of
the World Alliance of Reformed Churches condemns political
actions in the country which are curtailing freedom of expression
and threaten the welfare of Malagasy citizens.

“We support the prophetic voices seeking to bring justice and
reconciliation in Madagascar today,” say Clifton Kirkpatrick,
President, and Setri Nyomi, General Secretary, in a message sent
to churches in 107 countries. Radio Fahazavana is run by the
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), a WARC member
church.

“These journalists must be given full protection while under
arrest and allowed a fair and free hearing,” says Nyomi.

In joining with WARC in expressing concern for the situation,
Des van der Water, General Secretary of the Council for World
Mission (CWM) writes: "We join with our friends from WARC in
condemning this unfair and unjust action against the radio
journalists. FJKM are a valued member of both WARC and CWM and we
call for the immediate release of the journalists and a safe
return to their families. Above all, we pray for a peaceful
solution to this current round of violence and that a common
sense of humanity will prevail for the welfare of all
Madagascans.” 

On Friday, the head of the media office of Swiss Protestant
churches and the general secretary of a Swiss church mission
service delivered a letter to Madagascar’s ambassador to
Switzerland expressing surprise that the Radio
Fahazavanajournalists and technicians had been detained and
charged with attempting to destabilize the government.  

“We have worked with these journalists for a long time,” says
Michel Kocher, director of Médias-proand Jacques Küng, general
secretary of DM-Echange et Mission in their letter. “We have
offered several months of training including a course in media
ethics.” 

Kocher and Küng ask the ambassador to transmit to Malagasy
authorities their call for respect for freedom of expression in
Madagascar. “We are convinced that no government gains
credibility by attacking freedom of the press,“ they write.

The arrests come at a time when tensions are running high in
Madagascar. On 20 May,  Ranaivo Rivoarison, a pastor of the
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM)was shot by government
forces. He died from his wounds later in hospital. Several
pastors from the church have reportedly gone into hiding.

Reports say the eight detainees arejournalists Josiane Ranaivo,
Solomon Ratsimba, Jaona Olivier, Tiburce Soavinarivo, Philémon
Raveloarison, Tiana Maharavo and technicians Andry Randrianasolo
and Tsivoho Rakotoson.  

>Kristine Greenaway
>Executive Secretary, Communications
>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>150 Route de Ferney
>P.O. Box 2100
>1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
>tel.  +41.22 791 6243
>fax: +41.22 791 6505
>email: kgr@warc.ch 
>web: www.warc.ch ( http://www.warc.ch/ )