(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: 17 May 2000 For immediate release ARTICLE 19 CONDEMNS UK GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO GAG JOURNALISTS The UK government is violating international principles on freedom of expression in its increasing attempts to restrict freedom of expression in Britain. Sunday Times Northern Ireland editor, Liam Clarke, […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
17 May 2000
For immediate release
ARTICLE 19 CONDEMNS UK GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO GAG JOURNALISTS
The UK government is violating international principles on freedom of expression in its increasing attempts to restrict freedom of expression in Britain. Sunday Times Northern Ireland editor, Liam Clarke, is the second journalist this year to receive government threats over publication of articles on national security.
Clarke published articles in the Sunday Times last year, based on interviews with a former member of a covert British military intelligence unit which ran agents in Northern Ireland. The former soldier, who goes by the name of Martin Ingram alleged that the unit was complicit in murder and guilty of destroying the incriminating evidence gathered by police.
Clarke has been invited by the Metropolitan police Special Branch “to be interviewed” probably for contravening the Official Secrets Act, during which time he will be under arrest under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Guardian/Observer journalist Martin Bright is currently being prosecuted by the government for refusing to hand over notes on interviews with exiled former MI5 officer David Shayler.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said:
“International principles state that with regard to national security freedom of expression should only be restricted in very drastic circumstances where the expression is intended to incite violence. This is clearly not the case for either Liam Clarke or Martin Bright. It is shocking that a government which once promised to increase openness in Britain is now in fact doing its utmost to increase censorship”.
Notes to Editors:
1. International principles on freedom of expression are laid out in “The Johannesburg Principles: National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information”, available on the ARTICLE 19 website: www.ARTICLE19.org
