Let the transparency campaigner go!

A PWYP campaigner has been arrested in Gabon at the start of an EITI trip that calls for disclosure of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. Marc Ona had been granted a US visa to attend the New York event, but was prevented by police from boarding the airplane at Libreville airport after he had already cleared security and passport control. There is no legal basis or justification for this travel ban nor has Mr. Ona been notified in writing by the authorities.

Gabon is a member of the EITI International Board, a celebrated global initiative for disclosure of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. Civil society participation in the oversight of these public revenues is a key component of the multi-stakeholder nature of the EITI, and harassment of NGOs active in the process is contrary to Gabon’s obligations under the initiative.

“The international community and supporters of EITI should make clear to the Gabonese government that it must respect the rights of civil society campaigners to engage in a constructive dialogue on issues of public interest”, said Marc Ona.