IFEX Digest | 20 - 29 August 2010

Africa

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Chad

Parliament adopts repressive media law (RSF)

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist released on bail after 24 days in detention (JED)

Liberia

Community radio station attacked (CEMESP)

Sierra Leone

Court detains journalist for four hours (MFWA)

Somalia

Radio station seized in Mogadishu (NUSOJ)
+ Journalist killed in Mogadishu fighting, Al-Shabaab takes control of radio station (RSF)

NUSOJ mourns as Mogadishu violence claims the life of veteran journalist (NUSOJ)
+ Journalist killed in Mogadishu crossfire (CPJ)
+ Radio station director killed while fixing transmitter on roof (IPI)

The Gambia

IFJ calls on Israel to review detention order against Gambian journalist (IFJ)

Togo

Newspaper banned indefinitely, fined for defaming president's brother; reporter assaulted in court (MFWA)
+ Photographer beaten up by gendarmes; heavy damages award against newspaper (RSF)
+ In Togo, judge bans newspaper over story critical of president's half-brother (CPJ)
+ News magazine's appeal hearing delayed, ban remains in place (RSF)

Several journalists threatened for expressing their opinion (MFWA)

President Gnassingbé launches defamation lawsuit against newspaper (MFWA)

Uganda

Constitutional Court nullifies law on sedition (HRNJ-Uganda)
+ In Uganda, CPJ welcomes ruling that strikes down criminal sedition (CPJ)

Court blocks media from publicising information about investigation into bomb blasts (HRNJ-Uganda)

TV journalist detained for four hours, released without charge (HRNJ-Uganda)

Americas

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Argentina

IAPA concerned over possible regulation of newsprint (IAPA)
+ IAPA decries official assault on independent media in Argentina (IAPA)
+ IAPA comes out against Argentine government involvement in newsprint production (IAPA)

Media worker injured in arson attack, radio station forced off air (FOPEA)
+ Arson attack forces Salta province radio station off the air, one injured (RSF)

Colombia

Human rights activist found dead (Freedom House)

Cuba

Another journalist freed, flown to Spain (CPJ)
+ Three more journalists released (WiPC)

Two more reporters freed, arrive in Madrid (CPJ)

Honduras

Journalist killed in San Pedro Sula (C-Libre)
+ Another journalist killed, ninth this year, motive not yet known (RSF)
+ Ninth journalist this year killed in Honduras (IPI)
+ Honduran radio reporter shot in latest journalist murder (CPJ)
+ IAPA condemns murder of Honduran journalist, calls for immediate action (IAPA)
+ Honduran president pledges to solve murders of journalists (IAPA)

Paraguay

IFJ backs launch of manifesto on media democracy (IFJ)

Peru

Government reinstates radio station's licence (IPYS)

IAPA welcomes return of Peru’s La Voz de Bagua radio (IAPA)

La Voz de Bagua allowed to resume broadcasting after 14 months off the air (RSF)

Venezuela

Alleged plotter of murder of Venezuelan journalist arrested in Colombia (CPJ)
+ Blow against impunity offset by continuing censorship of two dailies (RSF)

Supreme Court allows extradition request against Globovisión president to proceed (IPYS-Venezuela)

Asia & Pacific

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New Pacific region media body established (IFJ)

Bangladesh

Acting editor handed maximum six-month sentence for contempt of court (IPI)
+ Court passes jail sentences on newspaper editor and reporter (RSF)
+ Editor, journalist jailed for contempt in Bangladesh (CPJ)
+ Journalists imprisoned on contempt charges in Bangladesh (IFJ)

China

RSF urges Fujian authorities to grant full release to ailing blogger (RSF)

Private-sector companies in battle with journalists over information (RSF)

Journalist interrogated by police over controversial reporting on website (IFJ)

China restricts reporting on Philippines hostage tragedy (IFJ)

China bars all reporting on deadly explosion in Xinjiang (IFJ)

IFJ concerned at ban on reporting food safety issue (IFJ)

Indonesia

TV reporter slain while covering clash between villagers (SEAPA)
+ Arrests too slow after violent killing in Indonesia (IFJ)
+ Cameraman killed covering clash between villagers in Maluku Islands (RSF)
+ TV journalist killed covering clashes (CPJ)
+ AJI condemns mass violence resulting in the death of a journalist (AJI)
+ Government must step up investigation into journalist deaths (PFF)

Journalists hold protest rally over legislator's harassment of reporters (SEAPA)

Nepal

Writer receives death threat from underground group (Freedom Forum)
+ Death threat made against journalist in the Terai, Nepal (IFJ)

Journalist threatened in Morang (Freedom Forum)

Pakistan

AMARC and PPF appeal to authorities to allow emergency community radio stations in flood affected areas (AMARC)

Philippines

CPJ meets justice officials, urges anti-impunity policies (CPJ)

Trial date set for Mindanao massacre trial (CPJ)
+ Philippines massacre trials to start soon (IFJ)

Tibet (China)

IPA calls for release from prison of Tibetan author and editor Tragyal (IPA)

Europe & Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

Football player assaults newspaper editor (IRFS)

Supreme Court rejects bloggers' appeal, prison sentences upheld (IRFS)
+ Supreme Court upholds bloggers' conviction (ARTICLE 19)

Security guards who attacked journalists go unpunished (RSF)

Greece

Organisation claims responsibility for murder of journalist, threatens media (IPI)

Kazakhstan

Lawsuit against independent newspaper dismissed (Adil Soz)

Media organisations express concern over seizure of newspaper's assets (Adil Soz)
+ Kazakhstan's journalist organisations alarmed by seizure of property of "Central Asia Monitor" (CJES)

Russia

Newspaper facing legal action over reports of police brutality (GDF)

Journalist killed in Makhachkala (GDF)

Turkey

Reporter receives threatening message with photograph of assassinated journalist Hrant Dink (BIANET)

Diyarbakir mayor faces up to three years in jail for speech (BIANET)

Ukraine

Ukrainian corruption reporter still missing, feared dead (IPI)

Editor-in-chief of local newspaper "Novy Stil" missing in Kharkiv (CJES)

IFJ calls for safe return of missing journalist (IFJ)

Middle East & North Africa

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Bahrain

BCHR condemns attack on "Alwatan" newspaper president (BCHR)
+ Attempted murder of newspaper editor (RSF)
+ IFJ condemns violent assault on Bahrain editor (IFJ)
+ ANHRI denounces attempt to murder editor of AlWatan (ANHRI)

BCHR urges authorities to release activists and human rights defenders, respect right to free expression (BCHR)

Twenty-six organisations express grave concern for persecution of human rights defenders (CIHRS)

Unacceptable arrests of human rights activists (RSF)

Further arrests target human rights defenders and political opposition (BCHR)

Arrest of a BCHR administrative member forms part of campaign that targets activists and human rights defenders (BCHR)

Egypt

ANHRI condemns attack by security forces on protesters in Alexandria (ANHRI)

Iran

Human rights activist in danger of execution (Freedom House)

Regime continues to close newspapers (RSF)

Iraq

Journalist kidnapped and murdered (RSF)

Israel

IFJ calls on Israel to review detention order against Gambian journalist (IFJ)

Yemen

Dozens of journalists reportedly held on way to peace conference (IPI)

Security forces detain cartoonist who witnessed journalist's arrest (ANHRI)
+ Arbitrary detention of two journalists amid upsurge in violence (RSF)