Journalist arrested in Lubumbashi
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Information and Tourism Didier Mumengi, RSF requested the release of Nyembo Kimuni, a journalist with the Lubumbashi private weekly “La Tribune”. RSF recalled that in a document dated 14 July 1992, the United Nations Human Rights Commission stressed that “detention as punishment for the expression of an […]
MISA expresses concern over upcoming trial of journalist
The following is a MISA statement in reference to the trial of journalist Rafael Marques, a case of landmark significance: STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE MEDIA INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (MISA) ON FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2000 The following statement appeals to the presiding magistrate over the trial of journalist, poet and Open Society – Angolan Chapter […]
Serbian journalist released but another TV station is closed
YUGOSLAVIA: AUTHORITIES RELEASE JAILED JOURNALIST, BUT CLOSE ANOTHER TV STATION New York, March 17, 2000 — Nebojsa Ristic, head of an independent television station in Serbia, was released from prison today after serving almost 11 months of a one-year sentence imposed last April, according to CPJ’s sources in Belgrade. Ristic was arrested in April, 1999, […]
Court hears accusations about bid to hire assassin to kill Samoan editor-publisher
On 16 March 2000, the “Samoa Observer” reported accusations made in court that a former Samoan government minister tried to hire an assassin to kill the paper’s award-winning editor-publisher. The former minister, Leafa Vitale, denied inciting a person by the name of Leutufia Ioane to shoot editor-publisher Savea Sano Malifa, the paper reported. In the […]
CPJ announces web publication of “Putin’s Media War: Independent Press Under Siege in Russia”
CPJ is pleased to announce the Web publication of “Putin’s Media War: Independent Press Under Siege in Russia,” an analysis by CPJ Europe program coordinator Emma Gray. Writing in advance of the March 26 presidential elections, Gray argues that because of acting president Vladimir Putin’s successful use of mass media to deceive the Russian public […]
Mugabe threatens to have opponents killed
On 16 March 2000, President Robert Mugabe reportedly threatened to kill all of those who oppose his rule. According to the “Daily News” newspaper, Mugabe said, “Those who try to cause disunity among our people must watch out because death will befall them.” Mugabe allegedly included white Zimbabweans in his attack saying that they had […]
Six years after a journalist’s assassination, her killers remain at large
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Italian Justice Minister Oliviero Diliberto, RSF expressed its concern following the conclusion of the trial of the presumed murderers of Ilaria Alpi, an Italian journalist who was assassinated in Somalia in 1994, along with her cameraman, Miran Hrovatin. On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of this murder, RSF […]
Radio programme cancelled, journalists removed from their posts
The National Peruvian Journalists Association (ANP) – Huaraz branch condemned the closure of the “La Noticia” radio programme broadcast on Radio Vision Alegría. The organisation also condemned the removal of journalists Gerardo Rocha Chacos and Edgar Palma Huerta, director of the radio Huascarán news bulletin and the editor of the “La Jornada” daily, respectively, because […]
RSF asks FARC to account for existence of plan to assassinate journalist
The following is a 14 March 2000 RSF press release: RSF asks the FARC to account for the existence of a plan to assassinate journalist Francisco Santos In a letter to Manuel Marulanda, the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC), Reporters sans frontières (RSF) declared its “profound […]
Cybercafés threatened with closure in Beijing
**Updates IFEX alerts of 7 and 3 March, 26 January 2000 and 3 September 1999** (RSF/IFEX) – In a 17 March 2000 letter to Beijing Mayor Liu Qi, RSF protested against threats by the municipality to close down cybercafés in the capital which do not monitor the web sites visited by their clientele. The decision […]
Closedown of independent Serb media is a warning, says ARTICLE 19
**Updates IFEX alerts of 16, 14, 13, 10, 9, 7, 6 and 3 March 2000** (ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 16 March 2000 ARTICLE 19 press release, followed by a list of actions taken by the Serbian authorities against the independent media since 1 March 2000, attached as an annex: London, 16 March […]
Journalist sentenced to one week in prison
In a 16 March 2000 letter to Nepalese Justice Minister Tarani Dattachaut, RSF protested the one-week jail sentence against Jagdish Bhattarai, editor of the local weekly “Nava Chetana” and correspondent for “Kantipur Daily” in Palpa. RSF asked the minister to personally intervene to secure the journalist’s immediate release. The organisation reminded him that, in a […]
Legal action could affect control of newspaper
The daily newspaper”El Comercio”, the country’s oldest and, according to public opinion, the most credible daily, is facing the threat of possible legal action aimed at taking over its control. According to the daily’s director, Alejandro Miro Quesada Cisneros, this would be an unwarranted legal move in favour of minority shareholders who support the government. […]
Television workers dismissed
A serious conflict has recently developed at Argentinaâs only public and state television station, Argentina Televisora Color, as a consequence of the firing of fifty-three journalists, cameramen, producers and editors of the stationâs news programme (out of a total of 104 workers). The workers have remained on the stationâs grounds since Saturday 4 March 2000 […]
Newspaper owner to leave Colombia because of threats
For the second time, Mireya Álvarez Ramírez will be leaving Colombia as the result of death threats. Álvarez Ramírez, the owner and director of the “La Palma de Facetas” newspaper which circulates in the La Palma-Cundinamarca region, has been warned to pay 10 million pesos (approx. US$5,000) within thirty days or she will be assassinated. […]
TV station’s transmission equipment stolen
(ANEM/IFEX) – The following is an ANEM press release: TV Pirot transmission equipment stolen BELGRADE, March 16, 2000 – The Association of Independent Electronic Media protests strongly at the break-in and theft of equipment at TV Pirot’s transmission facility. RTV Pirot Director Boban Nikolic said today that TV Pirot’s signal disappeared at about 8:00 am […]