(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – Journalists from “Chaos in the City”, a Channel 13 television programme, have reported that journalist and director Juan Castro, executive producer Rubén Vivero and camera operator Cristian Sedam were detained on 1 March 2003 in Jordan. The team leaving Iraq and heading towards the Jordanian capital, Amman. According to PERIODISTAS, the team had […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – Journalists from “Chaos in the City”, a Channel 13 television programme, have reported that journalist and director Juan Castro, executive producer Rubén Vivero and camera operator Cristian Sedam were detained on 1 March 2003 in Jordan. The team leaving Iraq and heading towards the Jordanian capital, Amman. According to PERIODISTAS, the team had traveled to the area to document how civilians live with the fear of the military campaign being
organised by the United States government against the Iraqi regime.
During their detention, which lasted six hours, the Jordanian authorities seized their equipment and destroyed material that they had documented at the Iraqi border and en route to Baghdad. The Jordanian authorities claimed that the journalists had violated a law that prohibits the filming of military bases or troops in training.
The journalists were then transferred to Intelligence headquarters in Azraq and finally to a military base. Once there, the authorities took their statements. They were prohibited from communicating with anyone. They were told that it was necessary to obtain authorisation from the Jordanian Information Ministry before carrying out any journalism work in Jordan.
The Argentine embassy in Syria (Argentina does not have diplomatic representation directly in Jordan) negotiated on behalf of the journalists. As a result, Castro and his team were released and their equipment was returned. The journalists, evading the strict controls placed on the foreign press in the city, managed to work another day in Amman before leaving the country.
On the 6 March episode of “Chaos”, the journalists detained in Jordan admitted that they did not have a permit to film in the area. However, they said that they were assured by the Jordanian consulate in Buenos Aires before traveling to Jordan that no such visas or special permits would be necessary.
Recommended Action
Send letters of support to the journalists:
C/o PERIODISTAS Association
Fax: +5411 4300 6149
E-mail: periodistas@asociacionperiodistas.org
Productora Endemol
“Kaos en la Ciudad” Producer
Tel: +54 11 5218 9000
Fax: +54 11 5218 9015
E-mail: kaosenlaciudad@endemol.com.ar
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
