26 February 2002

Alert

Editor-in-chief of radio station assaulted


Incident details

Lucienne Moréo-See

attacked

(PINA/IFEX) - On 20 February 2002, New Caledonian radio station Radio Djiido reported that its editor-in-chief, Lucienne Moréo-See, was assaulted at her home near Nouméa, capital of the French Pacific territory. The radio station said Moréo-See was attacked by two men in the morning hours several days earlier. They assaulted the journalist and then left.


"The physical and psychological results were such that Lucienne was severely shocked and remained locked at home," Radio Djiido said. The station said she finally saw a doctor.


Radio Djiido ceased broadcasting for twenty-four hours in protest against what it called "continuing attacks on press freedom." Radio Djiido has played a prominent role over the years, providing coverage of pro-independence viewpoints and indigenous Kanak issues. The station withstood heavy pressures during earlier conflicts between pro-independence groups (led by indigenous Kanaks) and anti-independence groups (led by pro-French Europeans).


Radio Djiido said the assault on Moréo-See appeared to be related to ethnic tensions on the outskirts of Nouméa. Local indigenous Kanaks and Wallisian settlers have been clashing for nearly three months in a dispute over land. Thousands of Wallisians have come to New Caledonia from another French Pacific territory, Wallis and Futuna, in search of work.


On 12 February, another Radio Djiido journalist, Jean-Louis Koroma, was manhandled and a station vehicle was damaged, Radio Djiido said. It added that other staff members from the station have also been threatened. After the assault on Koroma, Moréo-See had gone on air to criticise the attack.

Background Information


On 13 February, the publisher of the weekly satirical newspaper "Le Chien Bleu", Etienne Dutailly, was beaten up at his Noumea office by two men (see IFEX alert of 15 February 2002). "Le Chien Bleu" features satire about the sometimes turbulent New Caledonian political scene. In July 2001, Dutailly was assaulted with a pipe by a masked man, the daily "Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes" reported.


Local political and community leaders have condemned the assaults on the news media.




Source

Pacific Islands News Association
Level 2, 46 Gordon Street, Damodar Centre
Private Mail Bag, Suva
Fiji Islands
pina (@) connect.com.fj
Phone: +679 3303623
Fax: +679 3317055

At a glance

New Caledonia (France)

See more

New Caledonia (France)
 

At a glance

Asia & Pacific

See more

Asia & Pacific

IFEX members working in this region 24

See list

 
More from Asia & Pacific
  • TRUTH VS MISINFORMATION: THE COLLECTIVE PUSH BACK

    SOUTH ASIA PRESS FREEDOM REPORT 2018-2019

    International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) 3 May 2019

  • The Campaign for Justice: Press Freedom in South Asia 2013-14

    Journalism in South Asia is far from an easy profession, as the 12th annual review of journalism in the region "The Campaign for Justice: Press Freedom in South Asia 2013-14" portrays. But this year's report also tells the story of the courage of South Asia's journalists to defend press freedom and to ensure citizens' right to information and freedom of expression in the face of increasing challenges to the profession and personal safety.

    International Federation of Journalists 3 May 2014

  • THE STORIES WOMEN JOURNALISTS TELL: Women in Media in South Asia

    The report is the first created by the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) looking specifically at the experience of women journalists in the South Asia sub-region

    International Federation of Journalists 13 March 2014