Alliance Guinea, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Columbia University’s Graduate School of  Journalism present:

Democracy Under Fire: Freedom of Media in Guinea

When: Wednesday, May 12, 7-9pm
Where: Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Stabile Student Center

Moderator: Milton Allimadi, Publisher & CEO, Black Star News

Featured Speaker: Nassirou Diallo, Le 4ème Pouvoir

Panelists:

Josh Friedman, Head of international programs, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and board member, Committee to Protect Journalists

Alice Backer, Former Global Voices Online editor responsible for African blogs, new media communications consultant

On September 28, 2009, the military of the West African country of Guinea stormed a stadium filled with tens of thousands of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators and opened fire. In the end over 150 people were killed, 1700 wounded and more than 100 women and girls brutally raped in what a Human Rights Watch and a UN Commission of Inquiry have deemed crimes against humanity.

Journalist Nassirou Diallo was there – covering the events live on the radio before the station owner cut the signal. It wasn’t the first time his reporting and political talk shows had put him in danger and the previous threats, arrests, and beatings he and other journalists in Guinea had received from soldiers told him that this last eye witness report would not be tolerated. He left Guinea that night and is now a journalist in exile living in New York City, using new media to continue his work in the run-up to the Guinean elections now scheduled for June 27. If held they will be the first democratic presidential elections in the country’s history.

Nassirou Diallo reports live from the demonstrations of September 28, 2010 in Conakry

Join this discussion with a journalist and panel on the frontlines addressing questions of the freedom of media in times of political and social turmoil and the situation in Guinea in particular, the nexus of journalism and activism, and the role of new media in opening the space for expression across borders and diasporas.

Presented in partnership with the Guinean Forces Vives in the USA and Columbia University’s African Studies Working Group

For Black Star News’ feature on Nassirou Diallo, “Guinea Frontline Reporter,” see here.

“Guinea West Africa has carried the torch of freedom since its independence from the French in 1958.  The country has been an example to the rest of the region throughout its history, as it was the first nation of French West Africa to gain its independence. That said, I am deeply concerned about the rising tensions within the country and its potential to ignite regional instability within the West African region.”

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of New York made this official statement read into the Congressional Record last week on the occasion of the march on Washington, rising to address the Speaker of the House of Representatives “to acknowledge the Movement of Guinean Women in the United States, the Commission for Guinean Forces Vives in the United States and Alliance Guinea” for organizing the demonstration in front of the State Department to protest the atrocities that continue to take place in Guinea.

Congresswoman Clarke’s declares that she “strongly believes that all citizens of Guinea should be afforded the right to have their voices heard without the threat of violence” and that “those responsible [for the appalling rapes] must be brought to justice.” She calls for the international community to provide emergency care and humanitarian assistance for the people of Guinea following the traumas caused by September 28 and declares her strong backing of the State Department’s position in “admonishing those who committed [the] injustices” and supports the call for the CNDD not to stand in elections.

Congresswoman Clarke has emerged as an early ally in the US Congress for the cause of justice and freedom in Guinea, and we are grateful for her support. To become involved with reaching out to representatives from your home state, tell us of your interest here or email allianceguinea@gmail.com.

Marchers in front of the White House

With a huge showing of women in the lead, an estimated 5000 people from at least 11 states across the east coast and Midwest – Guineans and friends of Guinea – marched in front of the White House and to the US State Department today to increase awareness of the atrocities of September 28 and to demand justice for the victims and help for a transition to democratic elections in Guinea.  The marchers highlighted in particular the horrific violence committed against women that day and made it clear that these sacrifices must not be in vain.

In addition to the march, members of the Movement of Guinean Women in the United States and the Guinean Forces Vives in the US met with staff at the State Department where they fully briefed the African bureau on the current situation in Guinea and discussed strategies for continued U.S. support of an end to military rule in the country.  In addition, a second delegation of Guinean civil society members and American friends of Guinea met with the staff of key offices on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the situation in Congress and garner additional support.

Meeting with Marissa Doran, staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Submitted this letter in the name of the Movement of Guinean Women and Guinean Forces Vives in the US and Alliance Guinea, clearly making the case for why action is needed now and what further steps the United States in particular can take to accelerate the transition.

In addition to people residing in Washington DC, marchers came in from Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Ohio, Indiana, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, with 17 buses from New York alone to show unity and solidarity for the people of Guinea and demand that action be taken now in the name of human rights and democracy.

Were you at the march? What was it like to express your views in front of the White House, State Department, and US Congress? Share with us your experiences here.

Students at UCLA, Columbia University, and other schools across the country have held or are planning to hold similar events on their campuses. Alliance Guinea encourages campus organizers to share ideas or to ask questions regarding the logistics and content of information sessions and avocacy campaigns.

The whole world was grieving, saddened, shocked and outraged by the atrocities of September 28 last on the peaceful population of Conakry. In more than 157 people killed, 1253 injured, dozens of women were publicly raped and abused by the red berets of the presidential guard.
On this painful and unacceptable occasion, the movements of Guinean women in the United States in partnership with the Guinean Forces Vives in the United States organize a protest march Monday, October 26, 2009 in Washington DC to express their solidarity with the victims and their support efforts and actions of the Forum Forces Vives.
We therefore invite the Guinean women, children and men, all American communities, African and all Democrats residing in the United States to go massively in Washington DC to encourage and solicit the support of the Department of State and Congress for the departure of captain Musa Dadis Camara and the military junta. Let us also march in DC to demand that the perpetrators of September 28’s crimes are brought to justice.
Liberian, Sierra Leonean, Ivorian, Malian, Senegalese, Bissau Guinean, Nigerian, Beninese, Togolese, Mauritanian, Cape Verdian, Gambian, Burkinabé, Nigerian (etc…) women and communities are cordially invited to take part in the march for the defense of the right , freedom, equality, justice and democracy.

Meet at Lafayette Park (across from the White House) Monday, October 26, 2009, at 10:30.

Contacts :

Mme Camara Binta Boiro (NY) : 347 299 6899

Saliou Diallo (DC) :240 603 9902

Mme Sanoh Doussou Condé (NY):646 696 5114

Karamba Diallo (MA) :857 249 3393

Aboubacar Demba Cissé (NY): 646 377 9518

Alsény Diallo (IL) : 773 412 6876

Mme Tounkara Hadja Maimouna Conté (NY): 347 597 7130

Mme Diallo Mariam Bijoux Diallo (DC) : 571 216 8355

Alpha Issagah Diallo (NY): 917 420 7415

Mamadou Kolon Sylla (PA): 267 259 7391

Mme Barry Fatoumata Barry (NY): 646 318 1425

Demba Cissé (NY): 646 324 2207

Mme Keita Fatou Chinois (NY): 646 934 4751

Mory Doré (PA) : 215 651 7245

Alhoussaine Bah (NY) : 347 570 3357

Thierno Mountaga Diallo (IN) 317 514 2880

Organized in particular as a women’s march in protest to the horrific violence against women and girls committed that day and the need for peace and unity in Guinea, the march is expected to bring together thousands of women and men – Guineans and other friends of Guinea – from around the United States that day to express their outrage and demands for justice and democracy.

The march will begin at 10am at Lafayette Park, with stops at the State Department and Capitol Hill. Detailed itinerary forthcoming.

If you are in the greater Washington DC area, we plan to see you there. If you are elsewhere in the country and would like to connect with others from your area who will be travelling to Washington, please email allianceguinea@gmail.com.

Our goal: to make the 26^th as big a show of solidarity as possible – demonstrating that Guinean tragedies and dreams are everyone’s tragedies and dreams.

Today in Guinea, the new millennium has signed a mature political consciousness of the people of Guinea that is enriched by years of bloody dictatorship. Since the time of independence until today’s multiparty system, militaries have been and are still present in the Guinean politics. The recent advent of the ruling CNDD in the eyes of the international community is a symbol and confirms a living reality in our country.

The movement of people who wanted to fight demanding better living conditions, the affirmation of identity and ensuring a bright future has always turned to the massacre of demonstrators.

It is in this context that the Guineans living in Guinea and abroad, gathered in a patriotic Guinean alliance and a non-profit named “Droit Pour Tous en Guinée” ( Law for All in Guinea), and aware of our place and our responsibility in the present and the future of Guinea and Guineans, we say and reiterate that the CNDD absolutely must leave and let the people of Guinea elect its president on the basis of universal democracy. Poor people have long been suppressed in his political aspirations and the expression of its expectations. Nevertheless, the Guineans and friends of Guinea have emerged as crucial players in the social and political transformation of Guinea. While Guineans and friends of Guinea rally to pay tribute to the illustrious victims of the events of  September the 28^th, the National Council for Democratic oligarchy (CNDD) continues to get rich on the back, tears and blood of people who live miserably and shamefully.

Gassimou Diallo
Droit Pour Tous en Guinée

The United States condemns the Guinean military’s brazen and inappropriate use of force against civilians on September 28 . . . We demand the immediate release of opposition leaders and a return to civilian rule as soon as possible, a move that the Guinean people themselves continue to demand. The United States also insists that the National Council for Democracy and Development respect the commitments it has made and not field candidates in Guinea’s upcoming elections.  The United States will continue to monitor the extralegal actions of the military and government as well as work with its international partners . . . to support a peaceful transition in Guinea.

 – Ian Kelly, Department Spokesman, U.S. Department of State, 9/29/09

Immediate international response to the attrocities of September 28 in Guinea was strong and clear – and together, this Alliance is working to ensure concrete follow-through. For this quote from the US State Department and others from French, American,  African, and UN leaders, download our new quote compilation. For the French version of this compilation and many other recent briefings and other useful information, please see the Education and Resources page and let us know if there are other resources we should add.

Halimatu Bah, Chloe Graef and Sekou Konde at the Alliance meeting in Brooklyn, at the MOCADA museum

NY-based members of the Alliance met yesterday to discuss how best Guinean civil society can work together with friends of Guinea across the US to ensure that American political leaders are fully aware of what is going on in Guinea and stand firmly behind the statements of the international community thus far. (See more pictures in the Image Gallery.)

If you are in the US and want to be a part of the cross-country efforts we are planning, let us know here or by writing to allianceguinea@gmail.org. If you are not in the US but want your voice heard in meetings with members of Congress and other leaders, continue to share with us here your ideas for what American decision makers should know and do. Finally, if you are a witness to what happened on September 28 or if your family and friends were affected by what happened that day or in the following days, please leave your remarks on the Testimonials page of this website.

With thanks and solidarity.