Journalist beaten by security forces lodges formal complaint; government apologises for unjustified use of force
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Government Regrets Attack on Journalist in East Timor The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes a commitment by East Timor’s Government to ensure attacks on the media, such as a military police assault on a staff member of the East Timor Post at the weekend, do […]
Journalist and photographer detained, threatened by international peacekeepers; another photographer manhandled
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns the action of the police in arresting and beating Agostinho da Costa, a “Timor Post” journalist, on the night of 22 to 23 February 2008 as he was travelling to the location in Kaikoli, near Dili, where his daily is printed in order to help prepare the next issue. […]
Security forces beat, detain media worker overnight for breaking curfew
(SEAPA/IFEX) – The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is alarmed to learn that East Timor security forces detained and assaulted a layout artist with a local daily, who violated the night curfew imposed after a state of emergency was declared following attacks on the country’s top two leaders. On 23 February 2008, at 1:00 a.m. […]
Coroner says death of “Balibo Five” was premeditated war crime by Indonesian army
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders hails the work of New South Wales coroner Dorelle Pinch, who issued an inquest report on 16 November 2007 that establishes with great detail that the Indonesian army was responsible for the death of five British, Australian and New Zealander journalists in East Timor in 1975. The report clearly shows […]
Newspaper office attacked, media worker beaten
(SEAPA/IFEX) – On 4 August 2007, amid political tensions arising from the controversial formation of the new government, an unknown group of men attacked the office of a major newspaper, “Suara Timor Lorosa’e” (STL). STL managing director Francisco Belo Simoes Da Costa said most of the windows in the office have been destroyed. “It is […]
Australian government alleged to have covered up murders of “Balibo Five”
(RSF/IFEX) – As a Glebe Coroner’s Court inquest into the murders of cameraman Brian Peters and four other TV journalists in the East Timor town of Balibo on 16 October 1975 draws to a close, Reporters Without Borders has called on deputy state coroner Dorelle Pinch to use all possible national and international police and […]
“Balibo Five” inquest told one of the journalists killed may have violated neutrality; MEAA proposes safety training
(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 10 May 2007 MEAA media release: Alliance Calls For Safety Training Standard The Media Alliance has given evidence calling for greater uniform safety training for journalists at the NSW Coroner’s inquest into the deaths of five Australian-based newsmen at Balibo, East Timor, in 1975. Deputy state coroner Dorelle Pinch […]
“Balibo Five” inquest: former Australian prime minister suggests journalists acted irresponsibly
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has hailed the progress being made in the inquest into the 1975 deaths of cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalists in East Timor but deplored some of the comments made to the Coroners Court in Sydney on 8 May 2007 by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his defence […]
Inquest into deaths of “Balibo Five” points to high-level cover-up, former Australian PM to be summoned
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has hailed the resumption this week of an inquest into the murders of cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalists 32 years ago in East Timor, saying it hoped every aspect of their deaths would be clarified and insisting that it was not too late for those responsible to be […]
Journalist and cameraperson threatened by MP for covering inactivity of Parliament
(SEAPA/IFEX) – Amid rising political tensions in the run-off presidential election in East Timor, a member of the National Parliament has threatened a journalist and a cameraperson who were covering legislative activity in the building. On 17 April 2007, cameraperson Argentina Cardoso and Ricardina Amaral of National Television of Timor Leste (TVTL) were assigned to […]
Political party militants attack and injure journalist
(SEAPA/IFEX) – In a violence-marred presidential election campaign in Timor Leste (East Timor), militants from the incumbent party assaulted a journalist for taking their photographs while they were being searched at a security checkpoint, reports the Timor Lorosa’e Journalists Association (TLJA), a SEAPA partner based in the capital city, Dili. On 26 March 2007, Carlito […]
Warrant for arrest of former Indonesian army officer
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has hailed the warrant issued on 1 March 2007 by Sydney coroner Dorelle Pinch for the arrest of Yunus Yosfiah, the former Indonesian army officer who led the attack on the East Timor border town of Balibo on 16 October 1975 in which five journalists working for two Australian TV […]
Under government pressure, Balibo Five hearings to be held in secret
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at the pressure applied by the Australian federal government so that three hearings in a coroner’s enquiry into the death of Brian Peters and four others journalists in East Timor in 1975 are held in camera. “The secrecy now surrounding the hearings is the result of disquiet […]
Australian officials said to have lied, destroyed evidence about Indonesia’s premeditated murder of five journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – The testimony of former members of the Australian intelligence services, including George Brownbill and Ian Cunliffe, brought a major new development on the 11th and 12th days of a coroner’s enquiry into the deaths of five foreign journalists on 16 October 1975 in the East Timor border village of Balibo. Their testimony showed […]
Witnesses describe how Indonesian troops covered up murder of “Balibo Five”
(RSF/IFEX) – In two more days of testimony on 9 and 12 February 2007 to a coroner’s court in Glebe, Sydney, witnesses provided more details about the circumstances in which cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalist working for Australian TV stations died in the East Timor border village of Balibo on 16 October 1975. […]
More witnesses confirm that “Balibo Five” were murdered by Indonesian forces
(RSF/IFEX) – An inquest being held in the Sydney suburb of Glebe into the death of British cameraman Brian Peters, one of a group of five journalists working for Australian TV stations who were killed in the East Timorese town of Balibo in 1975, heard dramatic allegations on 7 and 8 February 2007 about the […]