Former Toronto Star publisher John Honderich gives an example of the deteriorating state of press freedom in Rwanda. And a very trivial one it is, which makes the matter all the more disturbing.
Listen to Rwandan President Paul Kagame on the subject and you would think he is totally onside (with the notion of a free and independent news media).
At his most recent monthly press conference and for the past year, he has loudly espoused his belief in a free and independent press.
Yet only a few weeks ago this same president ordered the summary firing of the Sunday editor of the country's only daily for publishing an unflattering photo of the president.
The photo, a copy of which is shown, was taken at a gorilla naming ceremony – hardly the stuff of great controversy.
Kagame, shown in casual shirt, is seen with his finger pointed upward. No big deal, certainly nothing inflammatory.
And the editor involved, Gaaki Kigambo, certainly had no intent to show any disrespect. "It never occurred to me the problems I'd face."
None of this mattered. It seems a lesson had to be taught. And henceforth, the president's office only wants their man shown in command and in the middle of the photo.
A subsequent inquiry to the president's office elicited the response that there are protocols for photos and the president. "Nothing unusual here," was the written reply.
Translation: the president's office will decide which photo will be published and when.
Journalists who have had the temerity to do actual journalism have been fired from the New Times. Some of them tried to start up a new newspaper called The Weekly Post. The government shut it down after one issue.