be made to face the wrath of the censors over utterances made by responsible and accountable individuals.” The Public Relations Officer at the station, Simon Seisa confirmed the censorship but said it was merely normal editorial discretion of editors. • ALERT Date: May 4, 2007 Persons/Institutions: Tsaone Basimanebotlhe and Shingirai Madondo (Botswana Guardian), Patricia Maganu and Moreri Sejakgomo (Mmegi) and Chengerani Baraedi (The Voice) Violation: Beaten At least one journalist, Tsaone Basimanebotlhe of the Botswana Guardian has laid an assault charge at the Francistown police station against a woman who allegedly manhandled and prevented her from taking pictures of a suspected robber at the Francistown Magistrate court. Five journalists, including Basimanebotlhe, were attacked and prevented from carrying out their duties by a mob suspected to be related to some of the accused in a robbery case that the journalists were covering on May 4, 2007, in Francistown, Botswana. Basimanebotlhe told MISA Botswana that they were attending a packed court in which about ten suspects were arraigned for allegedly robbing old pensioners’ funds. The journalists had gone outside the courtroom awaiting the suspects in order to photograph them, when suddenly a group of people blocked their view and physically prevented them from taking pictures. The other journalists are Patricia Maganu of Mmegi, Moreri Sejakgomo of Mmegi, Shingirai Madondo of Botswana Guardian and Chengerani Baraedi of The Voice. • ALERT Date: February 21, 2007 Persons/Institutions: Panana Ramodikeng Violation: Beaten On February 21 2007 Botswana Guardian and Midweek Sun photographer, Panana Ramodikeng, was assaulted by a Botswana Police official Superintendent Kediagetse Megale, while covering a court case at Tlokweng Customary Court. In the case, the concerned official's wife accused his female junior of wrecking her marriage through involvement in a secret sexual relationship with her husband. Confirming the incident to MISA Botswana, Ramodikeng said the Superintendent lunged at her when she took a photograph of the accused female constable. She said he started chasing her around the courtyard, tripped her and proceeded to slap her on the cheek as she lay on the ground with her camera slung around her shoulder. Superintendent Megale then attempted to confiscate the camera but was stopped by a photographer from the Echo newspaper who managed to retrieve it. Another reporter from the Midweek Sun, Sarah Mophonkolo, confirmed the incident and further reported that it took place in full view of other Botswana Local Police officers. None of them aided the journalist. So This Is Democracy? 2007 -31- Media Institute of Southern Africa