(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed concern about the methods used by Zambian police following the arrest of three journalists from the independent bi-weekly newspaper “The Monitor”. The organisation has asked the authorities to drop the charges brought against the journalists, and to do everything in their power to ensure that such measures are no longer […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed concern about the methods used by Zambian police following the arrest of three journalists from the independent bi-weekly newspaper “The Monitor”. The organisation has asked the authorities to drop the charges brought against the journalists, and to do everything in their power to ensure that such measures are no longer employed against the independent media. “Journalists are not above the law, but nothing can justify their arrest by armed men,” RSF stated. The organisation noted that, according to the United Nations, “imprisonment as punishment for the peaceful expression of an opinion constitutes a serious violation of human rights.” RSF also called on the government to guarantee the protection of “The Monitor”‘s news editor, who is still in hiding.
According to RSF’s information, on 21 January 2003, editor-in-chief Arthur Simuchoba, his assistant Calvin Kaleyi and chief reporter Chali Nondo were arrested in Lusaka by armed police. The three journalists were released several hours later after being questioned about the newspaper’s publication, several months previously, of an article asserting that Harry Mwanawasa, the brother of President Levy Mwanawasa, was involved in a corruption case.
On 22 January, a fourth journalist from “The Monitor”, Douglas Hampande, turned himself into the police. He was questioned for two hours. News editor Mervin Syafunko has remained in hiding in order to avoid arrest. In an interview on local radio, he stated that he felt he was in danger.