Articles by International Press Institute (IPI)
Proposed legislation would make broadcasting “slanderous and insulting matter” a crime
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is most concerned about proposed legislation that would make broadcasting “slanderous and insulting matter” a criminal offence in Greece. Under the legislation, proposed on 18 August 1998 by Justice Minister Evangelos Yannopoulos, existing slander and libel laws would be expanded to include a minimum two-year sentence for radio and television journalists, as […]
Authorities deny entry visa to journalist with German television station
(IPI/IFEX) – Halim Hosny, a journalist with the German television station ZDF, has been refused an entry visa by Yugoslav authorities. Hosny applied for a visa from the Yugoslav embassy in Vienna, Austria on 23 July 1998. Despite persistent efforts on his behalf, he has, to date, received no official response. An article from the […]
De facto banning of three newspapers
(IPI/IFEX) – On 10 July 1998, the Registrar-General rejected registration of the newspapers “The Star”, “Finance” and “The Post on Sunday” “under the provisions of the Books and Newspapers Act (cap 111)”. Although the Act is only a recording statute and does not concern acceptance or rejection of any publications, the denial of registration of […]
IPI statement on the death of Moshood K.O. Abiola
(IPI/IFEX) – Johann P. Fritz, the Director of the International Press Institute (IPI), demanded an immediate and objective examination by an international team of doctors into the circumstances and causes of the death of Chief Moshood Abiola. This would be the only way to remove completely any doubts and speculation with regard to his death, […]
Independent radio station Radio Kontakt shut down allegedly for not having a broadcasting licence
(IPI/IFEX) – Radio Kontakt, an independent radio station in Pristina, the capital of the southern Serbian province of Kosovo, was shut down on 1 July 1998, by Serbian policemen just two days after it started re-broadcasting news programmes from Radio B92, the principal independent radio station in Serbia. The station was reportedly closed because it […]
Open letter to General Abdulsalam Abubakar
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an open letter to Nigeria’s new head of state, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, from the International Press Institute (IPI). In the letter, IPI calls for the release of Chief Moshood K.O. Abiola, presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election and an IPI Board Member, as well as all other political […]
Four journalists hospitalised after being attacked
(IPI/IFEX) – On 16 June 1998, four journalists, including two photographers, were hospitalised with serious injuries after they were attacked at the additional District Court in Kollam, Kerala state, by activists of the ruling Marxist Communist Party (CPM). Police reportedly stayed away from the court premises until the attack was over. The hospitalised journalists are […]
Open appeal to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on broadcasting frequency allocation regulation
(IPI/IFEX) – The following statement was released during the International Press Institute World Congress in Moscow, 24-27 May, 1998: Recognising the importance of the free flow of social, political and economic information to the stability of any democracy, we the undersigned organisations call upon the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to address the […]