(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is worried by the arrest of eight Palestinian journalists, cameramen and photographers, on Friday 18 December 1998, in Gaza and Ramallah. The journalists, who were covering demonstrations against British and American air strikes on Iraq, were held for several hours. Tapes were confiscated. Two of the journalists are reported to have been […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is worried by the arrest of eight Palestinian journalists,
cameramen and photographers, on Friday 18 December 1998, in Gaza and
Ramallah. The journalists, who were covering demonstrations against British
and American air strikes on Iraq, were held for several hours. Tapes were
confiscated. Two of the journalists are reported to have been beaten by the
police.
**Updates previous IFEX alert of 21 December 1998**
Furthermore, RSF is protesting the closure of the Associated Press news
agency offices in Gaza, which have been sealed, and of five Palestinian
private TV channels and two radio stations in Ramallah.
On 19 December, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate called for a strike
in protest of these blatant restrictions on coverage of political events.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
stopped and that journalists’ security and liberty to perform their jobs
are guaranteed in the Palestinian Authority area
Appeals To
President Yasser Arafat
Al-Muntada, Gaza
Palestinian Authority
Fax: +972 7 2873 744
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
