Jean Hélène
Encyclopedia
Jean Hélène was a French journalist specializing in Africa. He was working for Radio France Internationale
in Ivory Coast when he was killed in Abidjan
by
police Sergeant Théodore Séry Dago. Jean Hélène was his press name,
Christian Baldensberger being his real name.
correspondent in Rwanda. His coverage of the Rwandan genocide
during this period was biased in favour of the Hutu
s. In particular, during the early months when thousands of civilians were butchered, he characterized the killings as those of enemy combatants.
A French court ruling in May 1999 says:
Possibly this coloured the African perception of Jean Helene, and
Voltairenet reports that several African governments had considered him
to be an "agent of the French Secret Service".
, Hélène had gone to the Abidjan police headquarters to interview some government opponents who had just been released from detention. Apparently he had an altercation with Sergeant Dago over parking, following which Dago went inside, grabbed an AK-47
and shot him dead
as he was walking from his car, talking on his mobile phone.
Sergeant Dago was immediately arrested and apparently confessed to the crime. Subsequently however, he changed his position claiming that he had come inside the building after talking to Helene when he heard the shots that killed him.
There was wide international condemnation of the event.
Amnesty international said:
After the event, Théodore Séry Dago became a hero and a Dago
support committee was formed.
In January 2004, a military court under judge
Ahmed Lanzéni Coulibaly considered ballistic evidence which indicated
that the bullet had been shot from Dago's service weapon, and
found him guilty of having
“deliberately killed" Helene. Dago was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
in Ivory Coast when he was killed in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
by
police Sergeant Théodore Séry Dago. Jean Hélène was his press name,
Christian Baldensberger being his real name.
Controversial Journalism
Earlier, Jean Hélène had served as the Le MondeLe Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
correspondent in Rwanda. His coverage of the Rwandan genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
during this period was biased in favour of the Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
s. In particular, during the early months when thousands of civilians were butchered, he characterized the killings as those of enemy combatants.
A French court ruling in May 1999 says:
- Considering that an examination of the press cuttings entered into evidence shows that during the first two months of the conflict Le Monde, through its correspondent, Jean Helene, highlighted the “civil war” aspect of the conflict...
Possibly this coloured the African perception of Jean Helene, and
Voltairenet reports that several African governments had considered him
to be an "agent of the French Secret Service".
Murder and Trial
On 21 October 2003, in a prevailing atmosphere of rabid anti-French sentiment during the Civil war in Côte d'IvoireCivil war in Côte d'Ivoire
The Ivorian Civil War was a conflict in Côte d'Ivoire that began on 19 September 2002. Although most of the fighting ended by late 2004, the country remains split in two, with a rebel-held north and a government-held south. Hostility increased and raids on foreign troops and civilians rose...
, Hélène had gone to the Abidjan police headquarters to interview some government opponents who had just been released from detention. Apparently he had an altercation with Sergeant Dago over parking, following which Dago went inside, grabbed an AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
and shot him dead
as he was walking from his car, talking on his mobile phone.
Sergeant Dago was immediately arrested and apparently confessed to the crime. Subsequently however, he changed his position claiming that he had come inside the building after talking to Helene when he heard the shots that killed him.
There was wide international condemnation of the event.
Amnesty international said:
- The fact that a sergeant can kill a journalist who posed no threat to him in cold blood shows the atmosphere of impunityImpunityImpunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
in which Côte d’Ivoire security forces have been operating.
After the event, Théodore Séry Dago became a hero and a Dago
support committee was formed.
In January 2004, a military court under judge
Ahmed Lanzéni Coulibaly considered ballistic evidence which indicated
that the bullet had been shot from Dago's service weapon, and
found him guilty of having
“deliberately killed" Helene. Dago was sentenced to 17 years in prison.