Weekly “Atilim” ordered shut down for one month
**For background to previous harassment of “Atilim”, see IFEX alerts dated 26, 21 and 19 March 1996** On 18 April 1996, a court ordered the leftist weekly “Atilim” closed for one month. A previous one-month closure order expired the same day. The latest order, issued under Article 8 of the Anti-Terror Law, is connected to […]
Three television journalists and staff arrested
On 17 April 1996, “Liberal” television station reporter Marisa Romeo, cameraman Jonias Cardoso and soundman Raimundo Marinho were arrested by police near Eldorado do Carajas, in the northern state of Para. The trio were covering a confrontation between police and landless peasants who were blocking a road. After having been singled out by the police, […]
“Novi List” ordered to pay backdated taxes; editor-in- chief of “Nacional” charged with publishing misleading information
On 28 March 1996, the independent daily “Novi List” was ordered to pay backdated taxes of 12.5 million francs (US$ 2.5 million), even though the newspaper had previously been exempt from it. The order came following an investigation by financial police which began on 23 January, several weeks after the publication of an article which […]
“The Free Press” publisher and editor arrested
**For background to other legal harassment of “The Free Press”, see IFEX alerts dated 23, 15 and 12 February 1996** On 17 April 1996, editor of the weekly “The Free Press”, Eben Quarcoo, and the newspaper’s publisher, Tommy Thompson, were arrested and released on 10 million cedis (US$ 6,700) bail each “for publishing falsehood likely […]
Journalist Nyenati Allison targeted; widespread looting targets media outlets; local coverage of conflict nonexistent
Liberian journalist Nyenati Allison, correspondent for the Associated Press (AP) news agency and the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) “Focus on Africa”, was targeted by both sides of the recent factional fighting in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. On 7 April 1996, one day after fighting erupted, Allison was chased into hiding by a group of fighters […]
Draft legislation could punish reporting of “false information”; call for powers to ban reporters who report on classified information
Draft legislation currently being debated by Namibian law makers could outlaw the deliberate or unintentional publication of “false information” on Parliament and its proceedings. The Privileges and Immunities of Parliament Bill, which has been passed by the National Assembly and is now being debated by the National Council, would also make it an offence for […]
Government suspends broadcasting licences of two radio stations; reporting of military news to be censored by government
On 9 April 1996, the Sri Lankan government temporarily withdrew the news broadcasting licence issued to two private radio stations following the broadcast of an incorrect news report by one of the stations. “Sirasa-FM”, the Sinhala-language station of the Colombo-based Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Network, announced in one of its news bulletins that the government […]
Daily “Evrensel” ordered shut down for ten days
**For background to previous closures of “Evrensel”, see IFEX alert dated 10 April 1996** On 18 April 1996, Istanbul State Security Court ordered the leftist daily “Evrensel” closed for ten days for publishing the statement of a terrorist organization, a violation of Article 7 of the Anti-Terror Law. The charge stems from an article published […]
Legislation invoked to prevent Chilean media from reporting on judicial investigation of murdered senator
On 16 April 1996, the minister of the Santiago Court of Appeal, judge Alfredo Pfeiffer, issued a prohibition order preventing coverage by the Chilean media of a judicial investigation of the 1991 murder of senator Jaime Guzman Errazuriz. Pfeiffer invoked Article 25 of Law 16.643, regarding the “abuse of publicity” (“Ley sobre Abusos de Publicidad”), […]
Journalist Chikeluba Kenechuku deported to Senegal
On 16 April 1996, Chikeluba Kenechuku, a journalist for the “Daily Observer” newspaper, was instructed by authorities to report to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) office, where some of his previously seized documents and personal effects were returned to him. Kenechuku was then driven by NIA agents to Immigration Headquarters in Banjul and handed over […]
Editors Chen Yanbin and Zhang Yafei enter their sixth year of imprisonment
**For background to cases, see IFEX alert dated 24 May 1995** Chen Yanbin and Zhang Yafei, editors of the underground magazine “Tielu” (“Iron Currents”), have entered their sixth year of imprisonment. In 1990, both were charged with incitement and making counter-revolutionary propaganda. Recommended Action Send appeals to authorities: expressing concern that Chen Yanbin and Zhang […]
Journalist Juan Jose Yantuche dies as a result of his injuries
On 11 April 1996, Juan Jose Yantuche, a reporter with the television program TV Noticias, died as a result of his injuries. Two weeks ago, the wounded body of Yantuche was found in his car at the end of a ravine in Zone 1 of the city of Mixco; he had been in a coma […]
Harassment of community radio station
On the night of 5 April 1996, one of the loudspeakers of “La Radio Contigo” was shot at by unknown individuals. The station is based in San Miguel Xaltepec, Puebla, just east of Mexico City. Two weeks ago, “La Radio Contigo” conducted a live interview for two hours with two of the four candidates for […]
Ruling to be handed down by court in regard to fired journalists from “Barricada”
**Updates IFEX alert dated 10 November 1994; for background, see IFEX press release dated 19 September 1994** According to the sixteen journalists from the daily “Barricada” who were dismissed in late 1994, a decision is to be handed down soon by a Labour Court judge in regard to their dismissal. They are hoping that the […]
“Koha” newspaper allowed to resume publishing
**Updates IFEX alert dated 11 April 1996** On 10 April 1996, the Prosecutor General’s Office allowed the Albanian-language weekly “Koha” to resume publishing. Furthermore, the Office reportedly told the manager of the printing press that he could proceed once again with printing “Koha” without submitting their material for approval beforehand. Recommended Action Send appeals to […]
Additional prison sentences imposed on journalists Win Tin and Myo Myint Nyein
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 10 January 1996 and 10 July 1995** On 28 March 1996, Win Tin, the former editor of the “Hanthawati” newspaper, and Myo Myint Nyein, editor-in-chief of the cultural magazine “What’s Happening”, were given additional sentences of five and seven years respectively. They were found guilty of smuggling letters to Professor Yozo […]