SECTOR 1 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear. Freedom of expression is not fully guaranteed. Fear is always present when citizens envisage the full enjoyment of this right. The right to freedom of expression has been seen to deteriorate considerably over the last few years. The peaceful demonstration organized on 27 December 20141 by the trade union federations and confederations in the country to denounce what they considered to be the excesses of power and demand the observance of democratic freedoms, was violently broken up by the forces of law and order. This example, cited by one of the participants, prompted the panel to express reservations about the effectiveness of the right to freedom of expression. They stressed that the fear associated with the exercise of the right to express oneself is perceptible even in institutions such as the National Assembly. One panellist reported that in 2014 and 2014 magistrates had demonstrated for their rights, and that this had resulted in the proposal of a bill by the parliamentary majority for the withdrawal of magistrates’ right to strike. During the parliamentary debate devoted to consideration of this proposal a Member of Parliament had declared that his colleagues were not in favour of the bill but did not have the courage to say so publicly and the law was not passed. The feeling of the panel was that fear is felt even by members of the parliamentary majority, and even though they enjoyed immunity. Fear is evident in many citizens. They are “terrorized” by the idea of expressing themselves on sensitive issues, said one panellist. Even when reassured, citizens are often afraid of reprisals. According to the panel, the country is made up of two categories of citizens: a minority which dares to express itself, and a majority which never expresses its point of view publicly. In certain circumstances it is even risky to be close to a citizen who expresses his/ her political opinion. The example was cited of a businessman of no particular political persuasion who was nonetheless a frequent target of state persecution: accusations of arms dealing, all sorts of administrative hindrances and… controls by the tax authorities. All because his brother is a leader of the political opposition 1 On 27 December 2014, police used teargas to disperse the hundreds of Beninese workers who had responded to the appeal by several organisations for a peaceful protest march, which did not receive the authorisation of the authorities. The march was organized by six trade unions, among which were the CSTB (Confédération des syndicats des travailleurs du Bénin – Trade Union Confederation of Beninese Workers), the CSA Bénin (Confédération des syndicats autonomes du Bénin – Beninese Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions), the CGTB (Confédération générale des travailleurs du Bénin – General Workers Confederation of Benin), the CSPI (Centrale des syndicats du secteur privé et indépendant du Bénin – Private and Independent Sector Trade Union Federation of Benin) and FESYNTRA-Finances (Fédération des syndicats des travailleurs des finances – Finance Workers Trade Union Federation), which declared that they wished to protest against the violations of trade union freedoms and demand improved living and working conditions. Many were injured in the ranks of the demonstrators, among them two trade union leaders. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2014 65