Reporters Without Borders Annual Report 2004 - Seychelles
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 2004 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Reporters Without Borders Annual Report 2004 - Seychelles, 2004, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/46e6911323.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The years pass without a lot changing in Seychelles. The authorities continued to harass the only opposition newspaper, Regar , and continued keep strict control of the state-owned news media.
Politicians filed one lawsuit after another against the opposition weekly Regar in 2003, each time demanding a sizeable sum in damages. None of these cases had come to trial by the end of the year. But just one successful suit with a full award of damages would suffice to bankrupt the newspaper and finish if off for good.
The distinction between journalism and activism is tenuous in Seychelles. Regar editor Jean-François Ferrari was detained along with several other people in July while distributing leaflets calling for the repeal of a new tax. All of them were released on bail after several hours.
The state-owned media continued their propaganda work, just relaying official statements and avoiding any reports critical of the government. The state-owned daily Seychelles Nation carried articles disparaging the opposition and its press.
