Media council act back on the government’s agenda
Legislation which, in its original draft form, gave the government powers to license journalists, has resurfaced, prompting media workers’ fears that such a law could be used to restrict the media in the run-up to general elections, scheduled for October. However, the government’s Acting Principle Secretary of Information and Broadcasting, Bwire Musalika, says media workers […]
Further details on Ken Saro-Wiwa hearing; health concerns; receives award
Sources: lawyers, press agencies, Amnesty, various **Further to IFEX CH alerts dated 8 and 6 February 1995** The trial against jailed Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa is due to begin on 21 February 1995, after its postponement on 6 February. Saro-Wiwa is charged with four counts under the Civil Disturbances Tribunal Decree of 1987. The charges […]
Retrial to begin for journalist Pedro Valdez Bernales
**Updates IFEX CH alerts dated 26 January 1995, 6 September and 26 July 1994** The retrial of journalist Pedro Valdez Bernales will begin on 16 February 1995 at 15:00 hours in the Castro Castro prison in Lima. The trial should last approximately five days. Recommended Action Send appeals to Peruvian authorities: asking that all the […]
Journalist Ruperto Armenta Gerrardo murdered
Ruperto Armenta Gerardo, editor of the Guasave-based weekly, “El Regional”, in the state of Sinaloa, was beaten to death by unidentified men, on 5 February 1995. Gerardo’s body was found inside a water canal near the town of Guasave. Although it is not known if his murder was related to his work as a journalist, […]
Two journalists attacked
Lasantha Wickrematunga, editor of the “Sunday Leader”, and his wife Raine, features editor at the same newspaper, were attacked near their home in a Colombo suburb by four masked men on 6 February. The assailants stopped the journalists’ car, pulled them out and beat them with clubs. Mr. Wickrematunga was hospitalised with cuts and bruises, […]
International press faces discrimination in covering Peru- Ecuador conflict
Since the beginning of aggressions along the Peru-Ecuador border, Peruvian authorities have obstructed the work the international press. The foreign press corps has been excluded from two press conferences given by Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. According to the Association for the Foreign Press in Peru (APEP), which represents 80 foreign correspondents accredited to report in […]
“Ozgur Ulke” ceases publication after ban
**Updates IFEX CH alert dated 3 February 1995** As reported by CPJ on 3 February 1995, the pro-Kurdish independent daily “Ozgur Ulke” was banned from publication by the courts on 2 February. CPJ now confirms that, when the ban was communicated to the printing and distribution companies, as well as the newspaper’s staff, “Ozgur Ulke” […]
Ken Saro-Wiwa’s trial further adjourned to 26 February; individual claims responsibility in murder of four Ogoni leaders
**Updates IFEX CH alert dated 20 January 1995; for background, see IFEX alerts of 11 January, 21, 2 December, 17 November, and various 1994** The trial against Nigerian writer and human rights campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa has been adjourned to 26 February 1995 in order to allow him more access to his lawyers. The case against […]
Edouard Mutsinzi, editor-in-chief of “Le Messager- Intumwa”, attacked in assassination attempt
On the evening of 29 January 1995, an attempt was made on the life of Edouard Mutsinzi, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Le Messager-Intumwa”. He was attacked in a bar in Nyamirambo (Kigali), while in the company of his wife, and several friends and journalists. A group of approximately five men armed with knives and fire […]
“Finance Magazine” offices set on fire
Source: Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA), Nairobi On 1 February, two armed men burst into the office of the “Finance Magazine”, owned by Githunguri Member of Parliament Njehu Gatabaki, doused it in petrol and set it ablaze. The reception area, a fax machine, a typewriter and some office furniture were […]
Detained journalist Hermes Rivera Guerrero on hunger strike
**Updates IFEX alert dated 16 November 1994** Dilcia de Rivera, the wife of detained journalist Hermes Rivera Guerrero, brought a letter from the journalist to the offices of IPYS. In it, Rivera indicates that he embarked on a hunger strike on 26 January, sewing his mouth closed with thread. His wife indicated to IPYS that […]
Christopher Lingle and “International Herald Tribune” found guilty
**Updates IFEX CH alert dated 22 November 1994** On 17 January, the Singapore High Court found guilty of contempt of court: American academic and former National University of Singapore professor Christopher Lingle; Richard McClean, publisher and chief executive of the “International Herald Tribune” (IHT) in Paris; and Michael Richardson, the Singapore- based Asia editor of […]
“Ozgur Ulke” banned from publication
**For Background, see IFEX CH alert dated 20 January, 1995** An Istanbul court decided on 2 February that “Ozgur Ulke” was the continuation of the now defunct “Ozgur Gundem”, and that therefore its publication violated the press law which states that “any publication that is clearly a continuation of a publication that was shut down […]
Voice of Taiwan broadcaster Hsu Jung-chi sentenced in two cases
**Updates IFEX CH alert dated 14 September 1994** CPJ confirms that on 1 October 1994, radio broadcaster Hsu Rong- chi (also reported as Hsu Jung-chi) was sentenced to eight months in prison for mobilizing thousands of taxi drivers to blockade the Finance Ministry in February in protest against high insurance premiums. On 29 October, Hsu […]
Six unlicensed radio stations raided in January
**For background, see IFEX alerts dated 1, 2 August, 14 September 1994 and 2 February 1995** On 16 January, four stations were simultaneously closed in different parts of the island. The four are Voice of Taiwan Nation, which broadcasted from a mountain-top Buddhist temple to the north of Taipei, the Kaohsiung station Voice of Sweet […]
Weekly “La Nation” suspended
The Algerian Ministry of Communications suspended the weekly “La Nation” “until further notice” on 31 January 1995. A faxed notice was sent to the newspaper’s printer. The week before, minister Mohammed Benamar Zerhouni had said that he “reserved the right to use all available measures…against” the newspaper, after it published a letter said to have […]