(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced outrage after the bank accounts and other assets of the opposition newspaper “Timpul” were sequestered by court order on 9 February 2004. The move follows the filing of a lawsuit against the paper, although no hearing on the merits of the lawsuit has been held to date. The move violates […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced outrage after the bank accounts and other assets of the opposition newspaper “Timpul” were sequestered by court order on 9 February 2004. The move follows the filing of a lawsuit against the paper, although no hearing on the merits of the lawsuit has been held to date. The move violates both the presumption of innocence and the most elementary rights of the defence, as well as press freedom, the organisation said.
RSF also condemned the 6 February suspension of the television station Euro TV and the radio station Antena C, two opposition broadcast media, saying the suspensions appeared to be politically motivated.
On 6 February, journalists at “Timpul” learned that they were being sued for “defamation” by DAAC Hermès SA, a company that distributes Skoda cars, over a 16 January article by Alina Anghel suggesting that the company may have bribed officials. Shortly thereafter, the newspaper learned that its accounts were to be frozen pending the start of the trial on 18 February.
DAAC Hermès SA is demanding US$500,000 in damages and a ban on “Timpul” publishing articles about the company without the company’s prior approval. “Timpul” editor Constantan Tanase claimed that “political orders” were given for the lawsuit to be filed and accused the communist authorities of trying to force his newspaper to close.
In addition, Euro TV and Antena C have been temporarily closed on the orders of the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) on the grounds that they have no legal status. The suspensions are expected to remain in effect until the broadcasters manage to clear their status. Both broadcasters are accountable to Chisinau city hall. Chisinau Mayor Serafim Urecheanu is also vice-president of the opposition party Moldova Noastra (MNA).
Many other news media that are in the same legal situation have not been suspended, however. In fact, BCC President Ion Mihailo recognised in early February that half the broadcasters in the country have no legal status. As such, RSF urged Mihailo to immediately cancel the suspensions of Euro TV and Antena C.
