State broadcasting employees dismissed
On 23 March 2000, the board of directors of the Swaziland Television Broadcasting Corporation (STBC) abruptly fired the thirty-one employees who went on strike in October 1999. The board’s decision to sack the employees superseded the findings of the one-man commission of inquiry, carried out by Rudolf Maziya, who concluded that the employees were not […]
Over thirty journalists arrested during demonstration
The IFJ is deeply concerned over the mass arrests of Belarus and foreign journalists during the 25 March 2000 demonstration in Minsk. According to IFJâs information, riot police units detained over thirty journalists during the opposition-staged festivities dedicated to the 82nd anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic in Minsk. Correspondents with Russian TV channels ORT, […]
EOHR appeals for genuine guarantees for general elections, is concerned about government?s control over media
Cairo 23/3/2000 An Appeal to the Members of the Parliament and the Shura Council for Real Guarantees for Sincere General Elections The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), is following with great concern the amendments expected to be added to law no. 73 for the year 1956 on the exercise of political rights, and presented […]
ANEM weekly summary on media repression
(ANEM/IFEX) – The following is an ANEM report on media repression in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for the week of 18 to 24 March 2000: ANEM’S WEEKLY REPORT ON MEDIA REPRESSION IN SERBIA MARCH 18 – 24, 2000 RISTIC: I WASN’T ALONE SOKO BANJA, March 18, 2000 – “There was a positive aspect to […]
ARTICLE 19 statement about regulation on incitement to hatred
The following is an ARTICLE 19 statement on the UNMIK Regulation 2000/4 of 9 February 2000 on incitement to hatred: STATEMENT ON UNMIK REGULATION NO. 2000/4 ON THE PROHIBITION AGAINST INCITING TO NATIONAL, RACIAL, RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC HATRED, DISCORD OR INTOLERANCE On 9 February 2000, the UN Interim Administrative Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) passed Regulation […]
Five of an independent daily’s journalists detained
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the minister of the interior, General Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein, RSF protested the detention of five journalists who work for the independent daily “As-Sahafa”. Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary general, asked the minister to use his position to “put an end to these kinds of incidents”. RSF reminded him that, […]
Journalist charged under Public Safety Act
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 24 March 2000 letter to Internal Affairs Minister Mohammed Nasim, RSF protested the detention of and charges filed against Mohiuddin Murad, a correspondent in Lakhipur (Noakhli district, south-west Bangladesh) with “Dainik Janakantha”. RSF asked the minister to do everything in his power to secure the release of the journalist. The organisation […]
Commercial union expresses concern over state broadcaster’s delay in airing advertisements
The Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) has expressed concern over the alleged reluctance of the state owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to air the CFU’s advertisements of a High Court ruling that compels war veterans to evacuate the private farms they have invaded since February 2000. David Hasluck, the CFU director, told MISA-Zimbabwe that ZBC refused […]
Journalist arrested, newspaper subject to legal harassment
In a 23 March 2000 letter to President Askar Akayev, CPJ expressed its deep concern over the recent arrest of veteran journalist Aziza Abdrasulova and the continued legal harassment of her newspaper, the Bishkek daily “Res Publika”. CPJ believes that the arrest is part of an intimidation campaign being mounted by the Kyrgyz government against […]
Marques trial lawyer walks out after being denied right to read appeal motion
The following is a 23 March 2000 CPJ press release: ANGOLA: MARQUES TRIAL LAWYER WALKS OUT AFTER BEING DENIED RIGHT TO READ APPEAL MOTION March 23, 2000 — The trial of Angolan free-lance journalist Rafael Marques, which resumed today in the Provincial Criminal Court of Luanda, was again adjourned to March 28 amid ominous signs […]
RSF condemns media pressure prior to elections
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 23 March 2000 RSF press release: Peru General election: 9 April 2000 RSF condemns pressure on television channels and the danger that the biggest Peruvian daily may come under government control Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) has drawn attention to the bias Peruvian television channels are showing towards President Alberto […]
French journalist deprived of necessary visa
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Zivadin Jovanovic, RSF protested the refusal of Serbian authorities to renew the visa and accreditation of French journalist Jean-Claude Galli. “This is yet another hindrance to freedom of information in Serbia”, declared Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary general. The organisation reminded the minister that in […]
Supreme Court reserves judgement on “Standard” journalists
On 20 March 2000, the Supreme Court reserved judgement on the application by “Standard” journalists, editor Mark Chavunduka, and chief reporter Ray Choto, who are challenging Section 50 of the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA). The full bench comprised of Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay and Justices Korsah, Mcnally, Muchechetere and Sandura heard defence lawyers […]
President criticises news media
The following is a 21 March 2000 IAPA press release: VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT’S REMARKS RAISE CONCERN MIAMI, Florida (Mar. 21) – The Inter American Press Association told Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez today that it was concerned about remarks he made criticizing news media in his country. The association made the protest in a letter to Chávez […]
French television crew prevented from filming
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Vice-Minister of the Interior Ahmed Saïd Tamimi, RSF protested the way in which Palestinian police took to task a crew from the French television station, France 2. Robert Ménard, RSF’s secretary general, called on the vice-minister to “ensure that foreign television crews are able to work freely in the […]
Donatien Nyembo Kimuni transferred to Kasapa central prison
**Updates IFEX alert of 20 March 2000** (JED/IFEX) – Donatien Nyembo Kimuni, a journalist with the weekly “La Tribune”, who was arrested on 13 March 2000 in Lubumbashi, was transferred on Wednesday 22 March at 3:00 p.m. (local time) to the Kasapa Central Prison in Lubumbashi. On Saturday 18 March at 9:00 a.m. (local time), […]