RSF appeals to leaders on the occasion of the Iranian president’s visit to France
(RSF/IFEX) – In two letters addressed to Jacques Chirac and Lionel Jospin, RSF has stated its expectation that the subject of press freedom will be discussed with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami. RSF also asked that the Iranian president’s efforts with regard to press freedom and human rights be encouraged […]
Court to rule on broadcasting dispute
(PINA/IFEX) – On 16 October 1999, Réseau France-Outremer (RFO) President André-Michel Besse and New Caledonian Union Syndicale des Travailleurs Kanaks Exploités (USTKE) union leader Louis Kotra Uregei agreed to suspend disciplinary action against USTKE members within the broadcasting station, pending a court ruling, “Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes” reported. The daily newspaper said Besse and Uregei met […]
National TV and radio services back on the air
(PINA/IFEX) – New Caledonia’s Réseau France-Outremer (RFO) television and radio broadcasts resumed on the night of 9 October 1999 after six days of interruption due to union-led pickets, the newspaper “Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes” reported on 11 October. Since Monday 4 October, Union Syndicale des Travailleurs Kanaks Exploités (USTKE) members prevented anyone from entering the station’s […]
Unionists put New Caledonian TV and radio services off the air
(PINA/IFEX) – The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia’s national radio and television services remained off the air on 7 October 1999, three days after unionists forced a shutdown of services. The union members were protesting against sanctions imposed on technicians who prevented the 2 September broadcast of a current affairs programme featuring the leader […]
Journalists roughed up, arrested
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the minister of the interior, Jean-Pierre Chevènement, RSF has expressed its concern about the arrest of several journalists by law enforcement officers at the “7 d’or” television awards ceremony, held in Paris. The organisation demanded “an explanation regarding the behaviour of the police officers who roughed up and arrested […]
RSF criticises press-related clauses in new presumption of innocence legislation
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: France: Reporters sans frontières labels press-related clauses in new presumption of innocence legislation unnecessary and dangerous Reporters sans frontières is protesting the unnecessary and dangerous press-related clauses in the new presumption of innocence bill. French legislative clauses, notably Article 9 of the Civil Code, concerning the […]
French council rules New Caledonia TV programme must be shown
(PINA/IFEX) – French Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisual (Audiovisual Council) President Hervé Bourges said that the council ruled that a television programme in New Caledonia should be shown despite efforts by unionists to stop it, the newspaper “Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes” reported on 11 September 1999. It quoted Bourges as saying that the current affairs programme should […]
Confrontation with unionists over New Caledonia TV programme continues
(PINA/IFEX) – A confrontation over efforts by trade unionists to muzzle a television current affairs programme in New Caledonia continues, the daily newspaper “Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes” reported on 7 September 1999. It quoted Réseau France-Outremer (RFO) station director Alain Le Garrec as saying union members who blacked out the programme had been suspended and the […]
New Caledonian current affairs programme blacked out
(PINA/IFEX) – On 4 September 1999, the daily newspaper “Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes” reported that the French overseas radio and TV network Réseau France-Outremer (RFO) continued to be a target in trade union protests in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. It said that one of RFO’s current affairs programmes was forced off the air […]
Editor issues public plea after journalist injured covering union blockade
(PINA/IFEX) – On 26 August 1999, Réseau France-Outremer (RFO) New Caledonia editor-in-chief Francis Orny urged all business, trade union and political leaders in the French Pacific territory to “keep their troops under control” after an RFO cameraperson was injured during a confrontation between unionists and members of the public. RFO-television cameraperson Philippe Grenier was hit […]
French Polynesian president ends restrictions on journalists
(PINA/IFEX) – On 31 March 1999, French Polynesian President Gaston Flosse said he would open his news conferences to all journalists for the first time since 1994, the news magazine “Tahiti-Pacifique” reports. The April edition of “Tahiti-Pacifique” called it a major success for the pro-independence station “Radio Te Reo O Tefana” and a “quite noticeable […]
Three journalists attacked
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern further to the attack of three journalists from the television station Télé Bocal. According to RSF’s information, on 24 January 1999, Anne Mazauric, Bastien Mehl and Julien Teruel, reporters and cameramen with the television station Télé Bocal (local station broadcast in Paris’ twentieth district), were attacked while filming a […]
Other Ten political leaders notable for their attacks on free expression to attend twentieth Conference of Heads of State of Africa and France
(RSF/IFEX) – Further to the President of the Republic’s invitation, on Friday 27 November and Saturday 28 November 1998, close to fifty African heads of state, heads of government and foreign ministers will be in Paris to attend the twentieth Conference of Heads of State of Africa and France. Among them will be ten political […]
RSF writes to President Chirac on the eve of his trip to Mexico
(RSF/IFEX) – On 10 November 1998, RSF issued the following press release on the occasion of President Jacques Chirac’s upcoming trip to Mexico: **Updates IFEX alerts of 3 November, 30 October and 19 February 1998** Tuesday 10 November 1998 For immediate release Press Release Mexico Mexico is, along with Colombia, one of the most dangerous […]
RSF and Human Rights Watch appeal to French PM on the occasion of his official visit to China; special concern for Gao Yu’s health
(RSF/IFEX) – On 21 September 1998, RSF and Human Rights Watch sent the following joint letter to French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on the occasion of his official visit to China: **For background to Gao Yu’s detention, see IFEX alerts and press releases of 30, 22 June, 21, 6 April and 25 March 1998; 20 […]
On the occasion of the Cuban Vice-President’s visit to France, RSF calls on French authorities to push for the release of two jailed journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – Cuban Vice-President Carlos Lage is currently in Paris on a state visit (from 21 to 25 September). On this occasion, RSF is asking his French hosts — President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Senate head René Monory and Charles Josselin, Foreign Minister and Minister responsible for relations with the Francophonie — to […]