(CJFE/IFEX) – The following is a CJFE press release: 6 October 1999 Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) announce recipients of International Press Freedom Awards Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, journalists with the Harare-based Sunday Standard newspaper in Zimbabwe, appeared in Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court on 4 October 1999 on charges of publishing false information “likely […]
(CJFE/IFEX) – The following is a CJFE press release:
6 October 1999
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) announce recipients of
International Press Freedom Awards
Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, journalists with the Harare-based Sunday
Standard newspaper in Zimbabwe, appeared in Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court on 4
October 1999 on charges of publishing false information “likely to cause
fear and despondency” under the colonial Law and Order Maintenance Act of
1960. The hearing lasted only a few minutes; a further remand hearing was
set for 4 January 2000.
A panel of renowned Canadian journalists chose Chavunduka and Choto as joint
recipients of an International Press Freedom Award in early September. Also
chosen for the honour were Jesus Barraza, the editor of the weekly “Pulso”
who is living under death threats in Sonora, Mexico; and Zafaryab Ahmed, an
exiled Pakistani journalist currently living in the United States.
This is the second year that CJFE has granted the awards to recognise
journalists around the world who have suffered personally and professionally
in their pursuit of journalism and free expression.
Chavunduka and Choto received international attention following their
arrest, detention and torture at the hands of police and military in
Zimbabwe. Chavunduka, editor of the Standard, and Choto, a senior reporter
at the newspaper, were arrested on 12 and 19 January 1999 respectively,
after an article published in the Standard alleged that military officers
had been arrested to counter a coup plot.
Chavunduka and Choto were released on 21 January. They were subjected to
torture during their detention, which included beatings with fists, wooden
planks, and rubber sticks, particularly on the soles of their feet; electric
shocks all over their bodies including the genitals; and suffocation.
Both Chavunduka and Choto received medical treatment in England to help with
their physical and psychological recovery. They have launched a civil suit
against the police and the military for wrongful arrest and detention, and
have also laid criminal charges for assault and torture.
On receiving the news that he was recipient of the International Press
Freedom Award, Jesus Barraza of Mexico was overjoyed.
He also said the award serves two important purposes: “One, that those who
want to assassinate me know that we’re not alone; and two, that my Pulso
colleagues share the joy of knowing that our work is not in vain.”
Barraza has been under constant threat since he took over as editor of La
Prensa after his predecessor, Benjamin Flores, was shot and killed in July
1997. It is widely believed that Flores came under attack for publishing
articles dealing with corruption and the links between drug traffickers and
judicial and government officials.
Since Barraza left La Prensa to form Pulso, he has continued publishing
articles about drug trafficking and its impact on state politics.
He has received many death threats as a result. Last May, Barraza was
threatened by an envoy of drug trafficker Albino Quintero Meraz, whose
illegal activities were reported in Pulso. In early June, federal police
agents – “los judiciales” – attacked Barraza’s bodyguard and took his gun,
and then entered Pulso’s offices where they threatened to take away Barraza
because of published articles linking drug traffickers and state officials.
In July, Barraza wrote, “I am not exasperated by the pressure I am going
through, but I feel besieged psychologically.”
Barraza has appealed to international press freedom groups to maintain the
high profile of his case. “Denouncing our situation nationally and
internationally has been an important way to ease the tension caused by our
problems…. Little by little we have been able to make our colleagues aware
of the need to fight to defend freedom of expression. Amongst the many
favorable results of our modest campaign are solidarity and support from
many colleagues, and this has lessened the sense of defencelessness and
isolation.”
Zafaryab Ahmed suffered such extreme persecution and censorship in Pakistan
that he eventually sought exile in the United States. As an active print
journalist, most recently with the weekly news magazine Viewpoint, Ahmed
covered the increasing polarization of rich and poor in Pakistan, and the
resulting economic injustices and human rights abuses.
In 1995, Ahmed alerted the world to the murder of 12-year-old child activist
Iqbal Masih of the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, and was charged with
treason for harming business interests abroad. He was jailed for six weeks,
before being granted temporary bail.
The attack against Ahmed led to him being virtually blacklisted by
publications in Lahore, and therefore silenced as a journalist.
Ahmed applied to Colby College in Maine to be the first Oak Human Rights
fellow. He was selected, and extensive lobbying by the college and by Maine
members of Congress got Ahmed permanent bail, which enabled him to accept
the year-long fellowship. In June 1999, after a year of teaching and writing
at the college, Ahmed chose to apply for asylum in the United States. The
charges of treason against him still stand, and carry a possible death
sentence.
