International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

(IFJ/IFEX) – In a 30 September 1998 letter to the Indonesian President, IFJ expressed concern at recent reports concerning the deaths of journalists in East Timor in 1975 According to the IFJ, five Australian-based media workers were killed in Balibo, East Timor on 16 October 1975. Recent reports have again raised the claim that these […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ on 22 September 1998 called on the Nigerian government to withdraw proposals to amend the country’s Constitution to establish a National Mass Media Council. In a letter to Nigerian leader General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ states that “The vague and general terms in which the functions […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Dear Colleagues, I am taking this opportunity to pass on some information in relation to the formation of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This came from a meeting held in Brussels this week [the week of 14 September 1998] and may be of interest to you. It relates to action which is needed […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – According to the IFJ’s information, on 13 September 1998 there was a serious incident of harassment of journalists working for RTVBiH while on assignment in Banja Luka. RTVBiH management, and the IFJ’s affiliate organisation, the Independent Union of Journalists of BiH, reported that three colleagues – Mladen Paunovic, Kemal Miminovic, and Brano Galvocevic […]

(IFJ/IFEX) The International Federation of Journalists is calling for applications for this European Commission Prize for print journalism that addresses democracy or human rights as vital aspects of development. There are two prizes of 10,000 ECU (USD 11,660) each to be awarded to the winners – one from the European Union and the other from […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Ethiopian journalists Goshu Moges, Biru Tsegaye, Anteneh Merid and Taye Belachew were all released in August 1998. Biru Tsegaye has been charged and will appear in court in October, but the other three were released without charge. **Updates IFEX alert of 22 January 1998** The four journalists were originally arrested on 16 January […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – According to IFJ, Theophilus George, managing director, Baba Galeh Jallow, editor-in-chief, and Demba Jawo, news editor, all of the “Daily Observer”, were arrested on Sunday 30 August. They were detained in connection with an article published in the “Daily Observer” about the discovery of armoured cars and an armoury behind a collapsed wall […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Three members of the World Television Network (WTN) crew, Michael Pohl, Michael Higgins and Jonathan Kolionio, have been released from detention. They were well treated but held incommunicado for 2 days. They were detained on the express orders of the Minister of Information. According to the IFJ, there are no more members of […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – According to IFJ, journalists with World Television News (WTN) have been detained by police and representatives from their embassies are being denied access to them. Photographers from Associated Press have been arrested and members of Reuters Television have been detained and beaten. In addition, the Minister of Information has confiscated film from reporters. […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – On 12 August, Maurizio Giuliano, an Italian journalist based in Belgium, was stopped by customs officials, and all his films, tapes and some notes were confiscated. Officials also took a list of IFJ member unions. The materials taken by officials include the following: one developed film strip, containing photographs of National League for […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – On 5 August 1998, the IFJ condemned the arrest of Zeke Gecaj, editor of “Bujku”, and President of the Alliance of Kosovo Journalists. Gecaj was stopped by police in Prishtina on the night of 4 August, and was questioned for one hour. He was instructed to return to the police station on 5 […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – According to the IFJ, Radio Index has had its signal jammed due to the proximity of two other broadcasters, Radio Bon-Ton and Radio Top FM. These two stations were told to change frequencies by the Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry to make way for Radio Interspeed. Not only do these moves place the two stations […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – According to Amnesty International, Shimelis Kamal, Berhane Negash and Teferi Mekonnen of “Nishan” newspaper, were arrested in Addis Ababa on 13 July 1998, on account of an article criticising the government for detaining and deporting Eritreans. The article reportedly warned against encouraging ethnic animosity. They were released after one day but rearrested the […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) learned with satisfaction that the four Algerian journalists who had been on a hunger strike since 2 July 1998, ended their protest on 23 July 1998. Their demand for rehousing in premises they consider secure will be assured by Algerian authorities. **Updates IFEX alert of 14 July […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Four journalists at the hotel Mazafran de Zeralda, a secured site located on the west coast of the country some twenty kilometres from Algiers, started a hunger strike on 2 July 1998. The action is being taken to protest the decision by authorities to transfer the journalists at the hotel to the Matarès […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ reports that journalist Touhami Madjouri, who was arrested on or around 16 June 1998, was released the following day. **Updates IFEX alert dated 17 June 1998** Background Information According to an alert issued by Reporters sans frontières, Madjouri, who works for the privately-owned Arab-language daily “El-Alam Essiassi”, was arrested after having […]