Paris (AFP)

A team of journalists was prevented Saturday from covering the dismantling of a migrant camp in Calais like other colleagues before, affirms Monday the union of journalists SNJ-CGT, which denounces an "obstruction to the freedom of the press".

A team from the news site Le Média, "present in Calais (Pas-de-Calais) to cover the evacuations and the dismantling of the exile camps, was denied the right to access a vacant lot where a The operation of the gendarmerie was underway, ”the union explained in a statement.

Consequently, "the journalists present could not see anything of what was happening and were therefore prevented from carrying out their work, even after checking the press card", criticizes the organization.

Migrant aid associations "were also prevented from reaching the camp," she said.

"How to report on the evacuations and provide information on the context, if the gendarmerie denies journalists the right to observe, tell, photograph and film the events?" Asks the SNJ-CGT.

This case is not a first, "other journalists were also prevented from exercising their profession in Calais recently," recalls the union.

Journalists Louis Witter and Simon Hamy were denied access to evacuation operations on December 29 and 30 on five occasions in Grande-Synthe, Coquelles and in several places in Calais.

They then seized the administrative court of Lille in summary proceedings in order to force the prefecture of the Nord and Pas-de-Calais to authorize them access to the various sites, without success, their request having been rejected in early January.

During the hearing, the representatives of the prefectures considered that the measures deployed guaranteed the balance between security and freedom of the press.

For the sub-prefect of Dunkirk Hervé Tourmente, the main stake of the security perimeter was to "avoid any secondary accident", while weapons could be present in the camps.

Louis Witter had released a series of images, which went viral, showing in particular a man in a coveralls lacerating a tent.

The journalist denounces a situation of recurring obstruction for years, including for associations helping migrants.

"This obstruction to the freedom of the press and the freedom to inform is extremely serious," concludes the SNJ-CGT for its part.

© 2021 AFP