International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

(IFJ/IFEX) – “Financial Express” journalist Shivaji Sarkar was among a group of bus passengers returning from a pilgrimage who were beaten by army personnel in the hill region of Uttar Pradesh state on 23 June 1998. The passengers had earlier objected to an army vehicle blocking the road. The vehicle pulled up alongside the bus […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is the full text of an IFJ press release regarding the special award ceremony and debate which took place in European Parliament on 26 March 1998: “The Irish News” and the “News Letter”, two daily newspapers from the divided community in Northern Ireland who collaborated to promote tolerance and an end […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – In a 9 March 1998 press release, IFJ condemned the Serbian authorities for the attacks they have made on independent media who have been covering the actions of police in Kosovo. “They have learned nothing from the lunacy of censorship and propaganda during the Bosnia war,” says IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. “Attacks […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – IFJ has received the following information related to the 13 February death of Abay Hailu, editor of the “Wolafen.” Hailu was incarcerated on 22 February 1996 for alleged crimes in relation to articles relating to the threat of Islamic Fundamentalism. He was in prison for two years because he could not meet the […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ is concerned at recent attacks on the independent media in Belarus. According to the IFJ’s information, the State Committee for Press of Belarus has issued warnings to six independent newspapers, “Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta”, “Nasha Niva”, “Naviny”, “Narodnaya Volya”, “Pahonya” and “Svobodnye Novosti” for allegedly “calling for the seizure of power.” **For […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ is concerned at recent attacks on the independent media in Belarus. According to the IFJ’s information, the State Committee for Press of Belarus has issued warnings to six independent newspapers, “Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta”, “Nasha Niva”, “Naviny”, “Narodnaya Volya”, “Pahonya” and “Svobodnye Novosti” for allegedly “calling for the seizure of power.” **For […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ is concerned at recent attacks on the independent media in Belarus. According to the IFJ’s information, the State Committee for Press of Belarus has issued warnings to six independent newspapers, “Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta”, “Nasha Niva”, “Naviny”, “Narodnaya Volya”, “Pahonya” and “Svobodnye Novosti” for allegedly “calling for the seizure of power.” **For […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The IFJ is concerned at recent attacks on the independent media in Belarus. According to the IFJ’s information, the State Committee for Press of Belarus has issued warnings to six independent newspapers, “Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta”, “Nasha Niva”, “Naviny”, “Narodnaya Volya”, “Pahonya” and “Svobodnye Novosti” for allegedly “calling for the seizure of power.” **For […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – On 29 January 1998, Serbian police confiscated video tapes belonging to Duska Jurisic, a journalist with the Television of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Fifteen tapes were seized and included footage shot in Kosova and Prishtina and material concerning recent protests by Albanian students. The tapes, confiscated at the Macedonian border, included interviews with Mahmut […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – On 16 January 1998 four editorial staff members of the “Tobiya” newspaper, Biru Tsegaye, Goshu Mogas, Taye Belachew, and Anteneh Merid, were arrested in Ethiopia. Several hours after the arrests, the offices of “Tobiya” were burnt down. The fire destroyed office equipment as well as valuable databases and archive material. According to Aidan […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Yassir Ben Miloud, a columnist for the independent newspaper “El Watan”, who had been missing since 5 November 1997, reappeared late on 7 November. However, it is not known if he had been picked up and subsequently released or if he had disappeared voluntarily. Ben Miloud was not prepared to discuss it. **Updates […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – On 5 November 1997, Omar Belhouchet, publisher of the independent newspaper “El Watan”, was sentenced to one year in prison. However, the sentence was suspended pending his appeal. Belhouchet was sentenced because of critical statements he had made two years ago on the French TV channels TF1 and Canal+ about the wave of […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – At its meeting on 29 October 1997, the upper house of the Belarusian Parliament refused to confirm the draft amendments to the press law and sent the law back to the lower house. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 16 October, 2 July and 27 June 1997** An IFJ delegation met with President Alexander Lukashenko […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Journalists from sixteen countries participating in an IFJ/Council of Europe seminar in Minsk called on the upper house of the Belarusian Parliament and on President Alexander Lukashenko not to adopt amendments to the media law agreed by the lower house. **For background on amendments to press law, see IFEX alerts dated 16 October, […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Five editors and reporters from the International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC – 13) were dismissed from office on 22 September 1997. This coincided with an anti-government rally the day before that was allegedly censored from news reports in government-controlled media organs. The official version of events states that their removal was part of a […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – In the coming days, the Parliament of Belarus will debate proposed amendments to the Press Law. The amendments would increase the level of governmental control over the media through the power to ban publications and broadcasters, stop the importation and exportation of information “which may harm the political and economic interest of the […]