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1 | Gabon’s bloggers struggle to take hold | Mbola tolona mafotaka ny an'ny mpamaham-bolongan'i Gabon |
2 | This article was originally published on the blog of Committee to Protect Journalists on Oct 2, 2009. | Notsongaina tao amin'ny bolonan'ny Komity miaro ny mpanao gazety tamin'ny 2 Oktobra 2009 ity lahatsoratra ity. |
3 | Republished with permission. | Nierana ny famoahana azy etoana. |
4 | It's been a couple of weeks since I left Gabon, and a month since elections to pick a successor to Omar Bongo, who ruled Africa's fourth-largest oil producer for 41 years. | Tapabolana izay no lasa ka nandaozako an'i Gabon, iray volana kosa ny fifidianana ny mpandimby an'i Omar Bongo, izay nitondra ny firenena fahaefatra mpamokatra solika be indrindra eto Afrika nandritra ny 41 taona. |
5 | There are unresolved questions about the ballot count and the number of people killed in post-election violence. | Mbola tsy nivaha ny olan'ny fanisam-bato sy ny isan'ny olona maty noho ny gidraka taorian'ny fifidianana. |
6 | Riot Police confronts Journalists on august 7 in Rio during an opposition protest (Andriankoto Ratozamanana) | Mifanatrika amin'ny mpanao gazety ny polisy misahana ny rotaka tao Rio nandritra ny fihetsiketsehan'ny mpanohitra tamin'ny 7 aogositra (Andriankoto Ratozamanana) |
7 | Until this summer, I did not know much about Gabon, except for a random tidbit-that the nation of 1.4 million had a GDP matching Portugal. | Hatramin'ity fahavaratra ity dia tsy nahalala zavatra betsaka momba an'i Gabon aho, ankoatra ny heno kisandrasendra fa manana PIB mitovy amin'ny an'i Paortigaly ity firenena manana mponina 1,4 arivoarivo ity. |
8 | Things changed after July 3 when Lova Rakotomalala and I, both bloggers from Madagascar, received an e-mail from Alice Backer, a former French editor of Global Voices Lingua, about covering Gabon's presidential elections scheduled for August 30. | Niova izany fahafantarana izany taorian'ny 3 Jolay rehefa nahazo mailaka avy tamin'i Alice Backer, tonian'nyGlobal Voices Lingua teny frantsay teo aloha izaho sy i Lova Rakotomalala, samy mpamaham-bolongana avy eto Madagasikara, mba hitatitra ny fifidianana ho filoham-pirenena notontosaina tany Gabon tamin'ny 30 aogositra. |
9 | I accepted because I need fresh air. | Nanaiky aho satria nila rivo-baovao. |
10 | After all, as a citizen blogger of Global Voices teny Malagasy, I had already experienced covering the bitter political crisis tearing apart my Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. | Sady amin'ny maha-mpamaham-bolongana ahy ao amin'ny Global Voices teny Malagasy, dia efa nitati-baovao ny momba ny krizy politika nandrovitra ny nosin'ny Oseana Indiana dia i Madagasikara rahateo aho. |
11 | With crisis reporting platform Foko-ushahidi, which allowed ordinary citizens to send testimonies via SMS, real-time reporting on Twitter, and local Web sites such as Topmada, Lova, myself and other citizen journalists helped cover all sides of the unfolding crisis. | Nanampy tamin'ny alalan'ny fametrahana sehatra Foko-ushahidi, nahafahan'ny olo-tsotra nandefa SMS nijoroany vavolombelona, fitateram-baovao mivantana (eo noho eo) amin'ny alalan'ny Twitter, ary ny vohikala eto an-toerana tahaka an'i Topmada, i Lova, izaho ary ny mpamaham-bolongana hafa no nitatitra ny endriky ny krizy amin'ny lafiny rehetra. |
12 | Citizen media reports were even quoted by international media as the Malagasy media was divided into partisan political positions. | Misy aza ny fitateram- baovaon' olo-tsotra no notsongain' ny gazety iraisam-pirenena rehefa hita fa nisara-kevitra ho lasa mpanohana vondrona politika ny gazety malagasy. |
13 | Gabon, on the other hand, is not known as a “wired” country in tech speak. | Eo amin'ny lafiny ilany kosa dia voasokajy ho firenena “voageja” eo amin'ny lafiny teknolojia i Gabon. |
14 | Less than 6 percent of the population has access to the Internet, according to InternetWorldStats. | Latsaky ny 6 isanjaton'ny mponina no manam-pahafahana hijery aterineto, araka ny voalazan'ny InternetWorldStats. |
15 | While intense public outcry opposed our former president's closure of rival's TV station and eventually led to his toppling from power, government censorship of media appeared to be the accepted norm in Gabon for many years, according to press freedom organizations. | Raha nihora-panoherana ny nanakatonan'ny filohantsika teo aloha ny fahitalavitry ny mpanohitra azy ny olona ary anisan'ny nampianjera azy teo amin'ny fitondrana, efa maridrefy eken'ny gazety any Gabon hatramin'ny taona maro kosa ny sivana, araka ny lazain'ny fikambanana mpiaro ny fahalalahan-gazety maro. |
16 | Nevertheless, as I left the winter-season cool temperatures of Madagascar for the hot and humid air of Gabon's seaside capital of Libreville, just above the Equator, I knew the elections would be historic, if not for the unprecedented role of new media technologies. | Na izany aza, nandao ny fotoam-pahavaratr'i Madagasikara aho ka nankany amin'ny rivotra mafana sy mandon'ny morondranomasin'i Libreville renivohitr'i Gabon, ambony kelin'nyEkoatera indrindra, Efa fantatro fa hanana ny tantarany ity fifidianana ity, eny fa na dia ny anjara toerana sambany misy ny fampitam-baovao teknolojika fotsiny aza. |
17 | Twenty-three candidates were contesting the elections, many with appealing campaign Web sites such as Ali9, Mamboundou, AndreMbaObame or Moubamba. | 23 ny isan'ny nirotsaka hofidiana, maro no nanao fampielezan- kevitra tamin'ny alalan'ny vohikala toa an'i Ali9, Mamboundou, AndreMbaObame na i Moubamba. |
18 | Candidates were also aggressively campaigning on social networking sites. | Henjana dia henjana tokoa ny fampielezan-kevitra tamin'ny alalan'ny vohi-tserasera sosialy. |
19 | One of the candidates for instance, Franco-Gabonese journalist Bruno Ben Moumbamba, was among the most active on Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Twitter. | Navitrika dia navitrika tamin'ny fampiasana Facebook, Flickr, YouTube ary Twitter ohatra ny iray amin'ny mpifaninana, dia ilay mpanao gazety Frantsay-Gaboney Bruno Ben Moumbamba. |
20 | Ali Ben Bongo, the ruling party candidate, even distinguished his campaign by sending on two separate occasions a personal SMS message to the customers of Gabon's three main mobile carriers, Zain, Libertis, and Moov. | Niavaka tamin'ny alalan'ny fampiasana SMS ho an'ny tsirairay indroa miantoana tamin'ny alalan'ireo mpanao tolotr'antso am-pinday telo lehibe tany an-toerana dia ny Zain, Libertis, ary ny Moov kosa ny kandidàn'ny antoko eo amin'ny fitondrana Ali Ben Bongo. |
21 | In the many bars (commonly called “makis”) of downtown Libreville's Louis district, people discussed everything around the local beer “Regab” and braised fish dishes. | Any amin'ny bar (antsoina any hoe “makis”) afovoan-tanànan'i Libreville distrikan'i Louis, moa ny olona no miady hevitra amin'ny zavatra rehetra sady miara-misotrosotro ny labieran'ny ao an-toerana “Regab” sy tsaky endin-trondro. |
22 | With Bongo's monopoly of state media, most local radio stations oriented toward religious and entertainment programming, and a handful of partisan TV stations controlled by the elite in politics, business, and the clergy, most Gabonese turned to international media for objective news. | Koa satria moa ataon'i Bongo ampihimamba ny haino aman- jerim- panjakana, ary miompana amin'ny fivavahana na amin'ny fialam-boly ny ankamaroan'ny radio ao an-toerana, sady eo ampelatanan'ny sangan'olona amin'ny lafiny politika, fandraharahana ary fivavahana ny fahitalavitra, dia lasa mitodika any amin'ny haino aman-jery iraisam-pirenena no manara-baovao ny ankamaroan'ny Gaboney te-hihaino vaovao tsy mitongilana. |
23 | Unfortunately, the print and broadcast media's coverage of the elections was limited by censorship, intimidation, and violence against reporters. | Indrisy moa fa voafefin'ny sivana, fampitahorana, ary herisetra ny mpitati-baovao an-gazety sy amin'ny haino aman-jery manaraka ny fifidianana. |
24 | When I arrived in Libreville, I quickly detected that people were reluctant to freely express their views in public to someone they do not know. | Rehefa tonga tany Libreville aho dia tsapako avy hatrany fa sadaikatra ny olona any hanambara amim-pahalalahana ny heviny amin'ny olona tsy fantany. |
25 | Even the barber I went to for a haircut politely declined to share his views on the elections, when I put the question to him as the TV in his salon was blaring Africa 24's coverage of the polls. | Eny fa na dia ilay mpanety nanapaka ny voloko aza dia nandà tamim-panajana ny haneho ny heviny momba ny fifidianana, nefa nandritra ny fotoana nanontaniako azy dia mitatatata aok'izany ny fahitalavitra ao aminy eo amin'ny fantson'i Africa 24 mitatitra ny voka-pifidianana. |
26 | Bizarre. | Hafahafa. |
27 | At first, many young people I met did not seem very interested in the Internet. | Tamin'ny voalohany ny tanora maro nifanena tamiko dia tsy liana loatra tamin'ny aterineto. |
28 | In fact, the most educated told me they used the Web exclusively to check e-mail and visit chat or dating sites. | Ny zava-misy, ireo mba nandalim-pahaizana indrindra no niteny tamiko fa ny ampiasan'izy ireo ny serasera dia natokana hamakiana mailaka, hikarajiana ary mandany andro amin'ny vohikala fikaotiana olona. |
29 | Others appeared motivated by the idea of blogging, but wanted to be paid to do it. | Misy ireo liana ihany ny hamaham-bolongana saingy mitady karama amin'ny fanaovana izany. |
30 | Nevertheless, with help, a few people took their first steps in using the Web as social media, and a handful of new citizen voices slowly emerged. | Na izany aza, noho ny fifanampiana, dia misy ireo maningatsingana nanao ny dingana voalohany hampiasa ny aterineto ho fampitan-kafatra ara-tsosialy, ka mihamisongadina tsikelikely ny feon'ireo mpiserasera vaovao ireo. |
31 | Journalist and activist Gaston Asséko shared his experience on voting day on YouTube. | Nizara ny niainany nandritra androm-pifidianana ao amin'ny YouTube ny mpanao gazety sady mpikatroka Gaston Asséko. |
32 | Roger Edima Mavoungou Wilson, a communications professional, started a blog and is actively tweeting. | Roger Edima Mavoungou Wilson, matihanina amin'ny fifandraisana, kosa dia nanokatra bolongana ary mazoto mi-tweet (sioka). |
33 | Régis Ngoma, a local comedian, even started a YouTube channel with videos satirizing the elections. | Régis Ngoma, mpanao hatsikana ao an-toerana, aza moa dia nanokatra kaontyYouTube ihany koa ary namoaka lahatsary manebaka ny fifidianana. |
34 | Regardless, there were many difficulties in my reporting. | Raha tsy jerena kosa izany, dia tena nandia fotoan-tsarotra tokoa ny fanangonam-baovao nataoko. |
35 | I remember being unable to text after the mobile companies suspended SMS service during the elections. | Tsaroako tsara fa tsy afa-namoaka lahatsoratra aho rehefa notapahin'ny mpanao tolotr'antso ny SMS nandritra ny fifidianana. |
36 | As a result, a crisis reporting platform deployed by a Gabonese diaspora movement based in France called The Guardian Angels of Gabon on Ushahidi never took off. Nevertheless, social media facilitated the flow of information between the Gabonese diaspora and those living home. | Vokatr'izany, dia tsy afa-niainga mihitsy ny sehatra Ushahidi nampiasain'ny Gaboney ampielezana nonina tany Frantsa antsoina hoe Ny anjely mpiambin'i Gabon. Na izany aza dia nanamora ny fifampitam-baovao teo amin'izay tao an-toerana sy tany ampielezana ny seha-tserasera sosialy. |
37 | “#Gabon” even jumped to the top tag on francophone Twitter following the announcement of elections results, according to Twirus. | Nitsambikina ho eo amin'ny tampony aza ny tag “#Gabon” ho an'ny Twitter miteny frantsay nandritra ny namoahana ny valim-pifidianana, araka ny voalazan'ny Twirus. |
38 | Doubts persist over the results of the presidential elections and with a recount of the votes in progress, journalists are still under pressure. | Mbola mampisalasa ny valim-pifidianana ho filoham- pirenena rehefa nihanandroso ny fanisam-bato indray mandeha koa, mbola voateritery ihany ny mpanao gazety. |
39 | Just last weekend, local caricaturist and blogger Patrick Essono was detained for drawing a cartoon of two policemen. | Vao tamin'ny faran'ny herinandro teo aza moa dia notazonina noho ny nanoritany sariitatra-na polisy roa ny mpanao sariitatra sady mpamaham-bolongana Patrick Essono. |
40 | A day before, the editor of state daily L'Union, Albert Yangari, was detained for questioning after publishing interviews with residents of Port-Gentil that suggested more people had been killed in post-election violence than reported by the government. | Ny omalin'io moa dia notazonina ihany koa noho ny namoahany an-gazety ny fakana feo ireo mponina any Port-Gentil ny tonian'ny lahatsoratry ny gazetim-panjakana L'Union, Albert Yangari, satria nambaran' ireo olona ireo fa maro kokoa noho izay nolazain'ny governemanta ny olona matin'ny herisetra taorian'ny fifidianana. |
41 | This week, there were reports that the house of Jonas Moulenda, the journalist who carried out the interviews, was searched by security agents, and that he has received death threats. | Tamin'ity herinandro ity kosa indray dia maro no nilaza fa tadiavin'ny mpitandro ny filaminana ny tranon'ny mpanao gazetyJonas Moulenda, izay nanao ny fakana feo, ary efa nahazo fandrahonana ho faty izy. |