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EABC condemns raid on Standard Group
2006-03-03 09:45:48
By Guardian Reporter
The East Africa Business Council (EABC) has said that it is perturbed by the attack of one of its Member Organizations, The Standard Group in Nairobi, by the Kenya Police yesterday morning and thus joins other stakeholders and citizens of Kenya and beyond, in seeking for explanations from the Kenyan authorities.
’We as the ’voice of the Private Sector’ condemn in the strongest terms possible the brutal affront by the police.
It is indeed the saddest day for Kenya, the EAC region and the media world at large, in this era of press freedom,’ says a statement signed by the Council’s Executive Director Elly Manjale.
The Council has urged the Kenyan government to come out on the issue and clear the air as it feels that the attack was sanctioned by the government.
’This goes against the very principle of democracy and freedom of association, including that of the Media that it (government) proclaims,’ the statement stresses, adding that the government also sends a bad signal to the business people and the would be investors.
The operation against the Standard Group began yesterday morning at 12.15 a.m. and it was reported that several employees on duty were beaten up with gun butts, forced to lie on the floor and some journalists were arrested.
It has also been reported that the Police also switched off operations of the Kenya Television Network (KTN), took away its computers and smashed vital parts of the Company’s Industrial Area Plant on Likoni Road.
’We realize that the reporting by the Standard Group on the ’Secret Meeting’ between the President, His Excellency Mwai Kibaki and former Environment Minister Hon Kalonzo Musyoka, happens to be the genesis of the matter.
Whereas, we are not in a position to confirm this or not, we recognize that there are channels to seek reprimand such as demanding for apology and corrections from the Standard Group, channeling the issue to the Press Council and even seeking redress in the Courts of Justice,’ the statement clarifies.
It adds that the sequence of events that have followed including the arrest and unlawful detention of journalists and the commando-like attack of the Media House were unwarranted.
Consequently the East African Business Council wishes to register its strongest disappointment with the manner in which the government has handled this matter and finds it unacceptable.
’The Council is calling for the immediate release of those unlawfully detained or charge them in court if a crime has so been committed by the journalists.
It also wants those who carried out the heinous attack held responsible,’ the Council says in the statement and urges the Minister of Information and Communications Mutahi Kagwe to take action since his docket is supposed to safeguard Press freedom.
EABC is also demanding for immediate action from the Minister of Internal Security, John Michuki, and the Commissioner of Police, Major Gen Hussein Ali, and expresses solidarity with the Standard Group in as far as its desire to report factually, objectively and fairly is concerned. ( related story on page one)
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