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The Southern African Editors’ Forum (SAEF) has condemned the arrest of Botswana Gazette editor and journalist on Thursday without proper court orders in what could be a ploy to silence the media in that country.
In a statement yesterday SAEF said it was alarmed by the military-type of coercion used by the Botswana government officials to intimidate media and condemned the arrests of the Botswana Gazette journalists and lawyer.
Botswana Gazette Publisher Shike Olsen, Editor Lawrence Seretse, journalist Innocent Selatlhwa and Publisher’s lawyer Joao Carlos Salbany were arrested on Thursday by security agents who did not have proper court orders.
The security agents are also alleged to have sealed off the Gazette offices preventing journalists and other workers from accessing the building.
“SAEF condemns these actions by the Botswana government security agents which are turning the country into a police state where arbitrary draconian measures are taken to silence the media,” read SAEF statement.
“SAEF is dismayed at the constant erosion of democratic values in Botswana of late, and would like to call on the older statesmen of Botswana to urgently intervene and secure the immediate release of Olsen, Seretse, Selatlhwa and Salbany.”
The editor’s forum said if indeed the Botswana Gazette committed any offence, the democratic principles of treating suspects should apply.
Online Reporter