IPI condemns state harassment of journalists and media
(IPI/IFEX) – In a 29 October 2001 letter to Czech Republic Prime Minister Milos Zeman, IPI strongly condemned the recent state harassment of journalists and media in the Czech Republic. According to information gathered by IPI, the weekly magazine “Respekt” has been threatened with a joint lawsuit by the government, acting as a single entity, […]
CPJ denounces threat by prime minister to bankrupt independent weekly
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 October 2001 CPJ press release: CZECH REPUBLIC: CPJ denounces threat by prime minister to bankrupt independent weekly New York, October 24, 2001-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denounced Prime Minister Milos Zeman for threatening to bankrupt the independent Prague-based weekly Respekt with a series of debilitating lawsuits […]
IPI concerned over authorities’ decision to prosecute former editor
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI letter to Minister of Justice Jaroslav Bures: JUDR. Jaroslav Bures Minister of Justice The Ministry of Justice Vysehradska 16 128 10 Prague The Czech Republic Fax: 00420 2 249 15 140 Vienna, 7 September 2001 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, leading […]
Journalist declared not guilty under Czech Secrets Act
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Czech Journalist Not Guilty Under Czech Secrets Act The International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest journalists’ organization, and its regional group the European Federation of Journalists, has welcomed the court victory of Czech journalist Tomas Smrcek, who was declared not guilty under the Czech Secrets […]
AMARC denounces Czech authorities’ denial of right to communicate
(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is a 1 November 2000 AMARC press release: November 1, 2000: At their regional meeting in Hungary this October, the AMARC-Europe General Assembly denounced the recent actions of the Czech authorities in arresting protesters and denying their human rights, including the right to communicate. The arrests came while the International Monetary […]
CPJ protests prosecution of broadcast journalist
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ letter to Prime Minister Milos Zeman: 20 December 1999 His Excellency Milos Zeman Prime Minister Urad vlady Ceske Republiky nabrezi Edvarda Benese 4 118 01 Praha 1 The Czech Republic Fax: +4202 231 2358 Your Excellencies: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is greatly alarmed by the criminal […]
ARTICLE 19 concerned by draft press law
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 report: MEMORANDUM On the DRAFT CZECH PRESS LAW BY ARTICLE 19 The International Centre Against Censorship London September 1999 Introduction A Draft Press Law, designed to replace the Czechoslovak Press Law of 1966 and later amendments, is currently before the Czech Parliament. ARTICLE 19, The International […]
WPFC urges officials to abandon pursuit of proposed press law
(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a WPFC letter to the Czech President and Prime Minister, urging them to abandon pursuit of a proposed press law presented by the government to Parliament: **Updates IFEX alert of 14 June 1999** 21 June 1999 His Excellency Vaclav Havel President Prazsky brad 119 08 Praha 1 The Czech Republic […]
Czech press bill condemned by WAN
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 12 June 1999 WAN press release: Zürich, Switzerland, 12 June 1999 For immediate release Czech Press Bill Condemned by World Association of Newspapers The World Association of Newspapers has condemned a proposed Czech press law as “an attack on freedom of the press” and called on President Vaclav Havel […]
WAN urges investigation of Czech attack
(WAN/IFEX) – On 17 November 1998, WAN urged the Czech government to ensure an immediate and thorough investigation into the attack last week against Michal Klima, the managing director of the “Economia” newspaper. “While the reasons for the attack remain unclear, we are concerned that it may have been related to Mr Klima’s position as […]
Charges against owner of private TV production house changed on eve of amnesty
(RSF/IFEX) – On 2 February 1998, two 1997 defamation actions against Zdenek Zukal, owner and director of the private TV Studio ZZIP, were redesignated as “libellous accusations” (translated from the French, “accusations calomnieuses”) pursuant to Article 174.1 of the Czech Criminal Code. The charges were redesignated on the eve of the proclamation of a presidential […]
Owner/director of TV Studio ZZIP detained; released, but charges stand
(CPJ/IFEX) – On 8 January 1998, CPJ expressed concern about the 5 January detention by police in Olomouc of Zdenek Zukal, the owner and director of the private TV Studio ZZIP, on charges of criminal libel. Police summoned Zukal to headquarters in Olomouc on 5 January to question him about a news piece he had […]