NDIMA

(NDIMA/IFEX) – “The Star” newspaper editor Magayu Magayu and managing director of Star Publishers Limited Francis Mathenge Wanderi were arraigned in a Nairobi court on 29 June 1998 and charged with publishing an “alarming” publication. The editors also face two other charges of failing to execute bonds for printing and publishing. They denied all the […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The Kinshasa satirical journal “Pot Pourri” has reported that two of its journalists have been apprehended by security agents. The paper’s editorial staff reported that both the director and editor of the publication, Achille Ekele Ngolmya and Guy Kassongo Kilmbwe respectively, “disappeared” on 15 June 1998. It suggested that their detention was connected […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – In a ministerial statement issued in Nairobi on 16 June 1998, Kenyan Finance Minister Simeon Nyachae accused “The Nation”, the country’s leading English-language daily, of a “witch-hunt”. Nyachae refuted some of the claims made in an editorial in the newspaper, saying that he has only two official cars and not a fleet of […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, the publishers and editors of a Nairobi weekly journal, “The Dispatch”, have been restrained from publishing defamatory words against two government Ministers, Musalia Mudavadi and Chrisanthus Okemo. The temporary injunction was issued by Judge Mbogholi Msagha following an application by the Ministers. Both suits were filed separately by Wetang’ula and […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, the High Court sitting in Nairobi has issued an order restraining the owners of “Finance” magazine from publishing, or permitting or causing to be published, an article which was published in the magazine’s 5 April 1998 issue. The Court described the article as “injurious falsehoods.” The civil suit (#828 of […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, an attempt by police detectives to have the chief editor and a director of “The Star” newspaper give statements at the Kasarani Police Station failed when the publication’s lawyers explained that the police affidavit was not in order. The lawyers also argued that an affidavit had already been filed in […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, Michel Ladi Luya, editor of the Kinshasa daily “Le Palmares”, has been released after being detained for three days. Ladi Luya said his arrest, on 11 April 1998, was in connection with “Le Palmares”‘s publication last week of a “Message to the People” by opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who was […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 31 March 1998 the High Court awarded Abraham Kipsang Kiptanui, former comptroller of State House, over 250,000 $US in damages for libel caused by an article published in “Target” magazine. Kiptanui had sued “Target” over an article published in the 16-31 January 1996 issue entitled “3 billion shilling deal off.” According to […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 31 March 1998 employees of “The Star” newspaper locked themselves in their offices in an effort to fend off a police raid. Six plainclothes police officers are said to have gone to the offices at around 17:30 and to have announced that they wanted to conduct a search. Since they did not […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 31 March 1998, Assistant Minister Fred Gumo was restrained from hitting Njehu Gatabaki, his parliamentary colleague and owner of “Finance” magazine, over an article which is currently appearing in the magazine. Gumo was literally pushed away by Sergeant-at-Arms J. K Kenie after threatening to beat up Gatabaki, the Member of Parliament for […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 30 March 1998, Kenya African National Union (KANU) Chairman, President Daniel Moi, told Attorney-General Amos Wako to instruct the Police Commissioner to crack down on “irresponsible publications.” Moi gave the directive after summoning Wako to the KANU Parliamentary Group meeting held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. KANU Parliamentary Group sources said […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 30 March 1998, Kenya African National Union (KANU) Chairman, President Daniel Moi, told Attorney-General Amos Wako to instruct the Police Commissioner to crack down on “irresponsible publications.” Moi gave the directive after summoning Wako to the KANU Parliamentary Group meeting held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. KANU Parliamentary Group sources said […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, on 25 March 1998, authorities in Burundi seized copies of a pro-opposition newspaper and closed down the offices of a second publication. Police seized copies of “L’Aube de la democratie” (The Dawn of Democracy), published in the capital by the mostly Hutu Frodebu party, for the first time in two […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, on 25 March 1998, authorities in Burundi seized copies of a pro-opposition newspaper and closed down the offices of a second publication. Police seized copies of “L’Aube de la democratie” (The Dawn of Democracy), published in the capital by the mostly Hutu Frodebu party, for the first time in two […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, on 27 March 1998, armed men abducted Alim Ismail Atabani, publisher and chairman of the Board of Directors of “Al-Rai al-Aam”, a private Sudanese newspaper. The men offered Atabani a lift as he was walking to the mosque, but when he got into the car a pistol was put to […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Following the decision by the Non-Governmental Organisation Bureau (NGOB) to deny NDIMA registration as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), NDIMA lawyers have lodged an appeal with the Minister of State in the Office of the President. **Updates IFEX alert of 5 March 1998** Background Information Almost two years after applying to the NGOB for […]