International Press Institute (IPI)

(IPI/IFEX) – The nightmarish statistics speak volumes: seven journalists killed in Colombia, four in Mexico, three in Guatemala, two in Brazil, two in Peru, one in El Salvador, and one in Argentina (the gruesome discovery of Jose Luis Cabezas’ charred, handcuffed body in January brought back hideous memories of the darkest days of the Argentinian […]

(IPI/IFEX) – Newton Kanhema, a senior reporter for “The Sunday Independent” and a citizen of Zimbabwe, has been ordered deported from South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs is trying to serve a letter of notice to Kanhema, which gives him 21 days to leave South Africa. Kanhema is currently on a four-month sabbatical at […]

(IPI/IFEX) – IPI reports that according to information they have received, Michael Foder (professional name: Michael Freeman), a Romanian freelance cameraman/producer working in Bucharest, was arrested and held for 24 hours without charge on 7 January 1998. According to IPI, Foder has been researching a programme involving a former politician, in which he intended to […]

(IPI/IFEX) – Ibrahim Karim Sei, editor of the privately-owned magazine the “Standard Times”, and Dorothy Awoonor-Gordon, acting editor of the “Concord Times”, were arrested on 21 November 1997 and are still in detention. Previously, on 12 November, national radio had announced the decision of the military authorities to suspend temporarily “Standard Times”. The editors had […]

On 4 July 1996, IPI expressed concerned at measures taken against Hassan Anwar, the designated correspondent in Nigeria for the Middle East News Agency (MENA). Anwar had reportedly received an official entry visa from the Nigerian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, after presenting documents designating him as the MENA correspondent in Abuja, Nigeria. Upon his arrival […]

IPI is concerned at statements directed against the Slovak media by Ivan Lexa, head of Slovakia’s intelligence service (SIS). In a 22 May 1996 report to Parliament, Lexa dismissed the findings of a committee headed by Ladislav Pittner, a member of the Christian Democratic Movement. The findings accused Lexa, the SIS and Interior Minister Ludovit […]

On 26 March 1996, the coalition government of Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar pushed through Parliament several amendments to Slovakia’s Penal Code. The amendments allow for imprisonment of people who are found to have organized anti-government rallies or spread false information about Slovakia abroad. This new legislation states that those who with “malicious intent circulate false […]

Source: “Center for Foreign Journalists Clearinghouse on the Central & East European Press” (CFJ) The Romanian Parliament is expected to pass amendments to the penal code in February or March that would constitute a serious threat to freedom of expression. The amendments would provide long prison terms for such offenses as “damaging the reputation of […]