African journalists call for repeal of Official Secret Acts

Journalists call for repeal of Secrets Act
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This is from a Kenyan newspaper The Standard. The author is wrong in thinking that Arar is a journalist but maybe he should be!

By Kepher Otieno in Toronto

African Governments have been asked to repeal Official Secrets Acts to enhance free flow of information.The Governments are being accused of using such draconian laws to gag the media. The Act was cited for denying the media access to information. African Journalists attending a global investigative journalism conference in Toronto, Canada, demanded immediate repeal of the Acts.

Veteran journalist, Mr Maher Arar, who was detained by US officials over terrorism allegations, imprisoned and tortured by Syrian Government on accusations of having links with Al-Qaeda, said it was only through courage that journalists could uncover societal ills.

He said governments, politicians and bureaucrats doctored information released to the public because draconian media laws shielded them.

The journalists decried a system of governance in Africa that has given room to poor governance and corruption, thus stifling economic growth.

"African leaders should be open to the media to enhance democracy and gain public confidence," said Arar.

Insensitive media laws

The President of Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), Mr Paul Scheneidereit, and Executive Director, Mr John Dickins, concurred that such insensitive media laws were a stumbling block to freedoms in Africa.

Held for the first time in North America, the Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC) encouraged journalists to trade skills and strategies and expand networks.

The conference also provided the journalists with an opportunity to reflect deeply on issues such as terrorism, corruption and corporate crime.

In Kenya, the public has no right to information held by Government and even basic information is only released after authorisation by key public officials, whose hands are almost always tied by the draconian Officials Secrets Act.

For instance, the proposed Kenya Information and Communication Bill of 2005, which has sparked heated debate has sections intended to stifle press freedom.

Such moves have been rejected by media owners, journalists, press freedom activists and politicians, who are fronting for complete self-regulation.

In 2005, the Cabinet had agreed that the print media could regulate themselves. However, it was agreed that the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) should regulate electronic media.



— Additional reporting by James Ratemo