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Communiqué Vol 18, No 37

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Eritrea

Abysmal ranking as world's worst place for journalists

Eritrea ranks last place on the latest Reporters Without Borders (RSF) index measuring the level of press freedom in 173 countries. Privately owned press have been banished by the authoritarian President Issaias Afeworki since 2001, and the few journalists who dare to criticise the regime are thrown in prison, says RSF. Four journalists have died in detention and, currently, at least 30 journalists and two media workers are believed to be in prison without trial.

Iran

Journalists forced to confess in show trials; detainees tortured

The media was excoriated in Iran last week in the farcical mass trial of opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, reports Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Authorities continue to detain journalists employed by foreign media and target bloggers.

Burma

Surge in political prisoners despite release of four journalists

Four Burmese journalists have been released from prison after Burma's military government announced on state-run television, on 17 September, that it will give amnesty to 7,114 prisoners. But there was no mention of the more than 2,200 political prisoners still languishing in prisons all over the country, reports Mizzima News. This came a day after Human Rights Watch released a report saying the junta has more than doubled the number of political prisoners in the past two years, including more than 100 in recent months.

Turkmenistan

EU trade agreements ignore media repression

As a gas-rich country, Turkmenistan has used this leverage to secure preferential trade agreements with the European Union. As it charms the international community with the promise of new pipelines, it maintains a culture of fear with absolutely no criticism of the government in the media, report Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The regime also refuses to let journalists go abroad, says RSF.

Azerbaijan

Bloggers assaulted and on trial for being "hooligans"

The trial of two young bloggers in Azerbaijan facing charges of "hooliganism" and "deliberate physical violence," in a hearing on 16 September, was marked by irregularities and the arrest of supporters, report the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

International

Irina Bokova from Bulgaria nominated to lead UNESCO

Bulgarian diplomat Irina Gueorguieva Bokova, 57, has become the first woman to be nominated to lead the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). On 22 September she beat Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni in a tight race that went through five rounds of voting.

Bahrain

Save free expression on the Internet and help journalists under threat

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is alarmed at the recent clampdown on the Internet by the government, which announced plans to block 1,040 websites. BCHR is also extremely concerned about the prosecution of journalists on charges of defamation, for reporting about government malpractice and corruption. Join BCHR and write to the authorities to support freedom of expression and the right to dissent.

International

Journalists and the environment: a new war

The work of investigative journalists and environmental activists poses a threat to many companies, organised crime groups, governments and various intermediaries that profit from misuse of the environment, says a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). As environmental concerns complicate lucrative plans, journalists are sometimes seen as enemies to be physically eliminated.