Ahmed Afif was
informed by the management of Pure FM that he would no longer be allowed to
participate in Revi Finansyel, the radio station’s popular Wednesday phone in
show devoted to demystifying some the economic and financial issues affecting
Seychelles. Mr Afif said he believed it to be “a political decision”. “It’s a
big blow to democracy and press freedom. The show aimed to educate the public
on economic and financial issues and I tried to be objective as possible. It’s
very sad”, he stated
The abrupt end to Mr Afif ’s engagement with the radio
station may be the start of further clampdowns; interactive legal debates may
soon be axed. It is one more attempt by government to stifle freedom of
expression.
We all know who owns the radio station and his affiliation
with government. The radio station came into being at a time when the world was
crying foul over press freedom in Seychelles; there was a need to have a
‘private’ station up and running. A savior came up; the SMC (Seychelles Media Commission)
gave its blessings and our press freedom ranking improved; mission
accomplished! Alas, small Seychelles had a ‘private’ radio station and
government had reduced the licence fee as proof of its commitment towards freedom
of expression; not everybody was fooled. Government had the right man in the
right place to do the right bidding at the right time. Journalists and other media
professionals migrated from the SBC to greener pastures; little did they
realize that they were moving to an ad hoc government media house. They now
find themselves in a perfectly imperfect situation; they had been serving the
same boss all along.
The listeners are calling for a complete boycott of the
radio station until Mr Afif is brought back on Pure Fm. According to insider
Government sources this has nothing to do with the Seychelles Airlines drama!
