AFRICA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

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frequencies with assistance from foreign governments and development organizations.
One of N’deke Luka’s objectives is to promote peace and development by publicizing
programs of international and local nongovernmental organizations (NGO’s)
working in the region. There are no broadcast media entities either privately owned
or operated by citizens of the country, as distinct from transnational French networks
or Catholic networks. There are no privately owned stations that broadcast
domestically produced national news or political commentary.
The Government continued to monopolize domestic television broadcasting. Private
television broadcasting is allowed by law; the High Council of Communication
is responsible for authorizing private television as well as radio stations. No applications
to establish a private television station have been received. The Government
does not restrict domestic receipt or distribution of satellite or cable television, but
few citizens can afford it, and it is not widespread even in the capital. A private
telecommunications company, which was established pursuant to a 1996 law that
liberalized telecommunications, operates a domestic Internet and e-mail service provider
as well as cybercafes. Few citizens can afford home access to the Internet, but
many urban residents rent brief access at cybercafes.
Unlike in the previous year, the Government did not impede foreign journalists
in their work.
The Government respects academic freedom. University faculty and students belong
to many political parties and generally express their views without fear of reprisal.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association.—The Constitution provides for
the right of assembly; however, the Government restricted this right in practice on
at least one occasion. In addition some legal restrictions on freedom of assembly remain.
A 1992 decree requires organizers of demonstrations and public meetings to
register with the Government 48 hours in advance and also prohibits political meetings
in schools or churches. Unlike in the previous year, the Government did not
ban public demonstrations and mass meetings nationwide; however, it rarely granted
approval for public demonstrations. Prior to 1999, the Ministry of Interior generally
had not prohibited demonstrations or public meetings if notified in advance.
There were several incidents of Government interference with opposition meetings
during the year. In 1999 the Government banned the Union des Forces Acquises a
la Paix (UFAP), a coalition of political parties, labor unions, and NGO’s, from holding
public meetings on the grounds that it was not a registered organization. The
organization dissolved following the presidential election; on November 15, opposition
parties formed The Coalition of Opposition Political Parties, replacing the
UFAP.
On January 23 and February 4, police forcibly dispersed demonstrations by members
of the Karako militia (see Section 1.c.). The Karako militia, which come from
President Patasse’s district in the northwestern part of the country, was formed initially
to protect the presidential regime during the 1996 and 1997 mutinies. The
Ministry of Defense has enlisted several hundred of the 1000 Karako militiamen as
it promised to do when recruiting the militiamen during the mutiny.
On November 14, riot police forcibly dispersed approximately 3,000 civil servants
who marched in Bangui to protest salary arrears (see Section 6.a.). On November
24, over 10,000 civil servants and their union representatives marched through
Bangui to protest salary arrears. Although the Government did not authorize the
march, it did not take action to disperse it (see Section 6.a.).
On December 19, at Bangui’s Bonga-Bonga stadium, USP and riot police violently
dispersed approximately 4,000 demonstrators. The rally, which had been banned by
the Government, was organized by opposition leaders to protest salary arrears and
call for the President’s resignation; several persons were injured and numerous persons
were arrested (see Sections 1.c. and 1.d.).
The Constitution provides for freedom of association; however, the Government restricted
this right in practice. All associations including political parties must register
with the Ministry of Interior in order to enjoy legal status. The Government
usually grants registration expeditiously.
There are more than 35 registered political parties and a variety of nonpolitical
associations. The Government normally allows them to hold congresses, elect officials,
and publicly debate policy issues without interference except when they advocated
sectarianism or tribalism. Unlike the previous year, there were no incidents
reported of Government restrictions on NGO activities during the year.
The law prohibiting nonpolitical organizations from coalescing for political purposes
remains in place; no significant reports of enforcement of this law were reported
during the year, although government officials complained publicly about
labor unions coordination with opposition political parties in year-end demonstrations.
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