28 July 2010
IFEX Communiqué Vol 19 No. 30
Kosovo (Serbia)
More than two years after declaring independence, Kosovo urgently needs a free press to expose "the ills that are undermining" the country, says a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). "Kosovo: Still not too late for press freedom" says journalists in the new country are under threat from nationalist militants and financial pressures, and barred from accessing information, with every sphere of government attempting to control editorial decisions. RSF met with journalists and new bloggers trying to work within an ethical framework, despite the numerous political and criminal elements working against them.
Nepal
A community radio owner was gunned down as he rode his motorcycle in a district west of Kathmandu on 22 July, report the Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ, Freedom Forum and the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC). He is the third media owner to be killed in six months.
Iraq
A suicide bomber blew up a vehicle in front of the Arab satellite channel Al-Arabiya in Baghdad on 26 July, report the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The blast killed four of the news channel's support staff and injured several others, leaving a massive crater.
Liberia
Offering a bold example for the possibilities for press freedom, the Liberian government passed a freedom of information law last week, report the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).
Africa
The 15th African Union (AU) Summit took place last week in Kampala, Uganda, designating 2010 as the "Year of Peace and Security in Africa." The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and 36 other journalists' unions and associations took the opportunity to send a letter to the AU, urging government leaders to make the safety of African journalists a priority. Signatories to the letter include the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA).
Belarus
The Belarusian government is rigidly monitoring every element of Internet use and tightening its grip on independent news of any kind, report the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Authorities have established new legislation for extensive control over Internet content and access - and censorship at the highest level.
Turkey
Turkish Internet law permits authorities to block access to thousands of websites. After blocking access to YouTube in 2008, the Turkish government recently shut down 44 IP addresses that offered alternative ways to access the Google-owned video-sharing website, report the IPS Communication Foundation (BIANET) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). In response, two thousand people took to the street in protest against Internet restrictions.
International
The European Commission is calling on journalists committed to reporting human rights, democracy and development issues to apply for the 2010 Lorenzo Natali Prize. The Prize is open to print, online, TV and radio journalists working in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab World and the Middle East, and Europe.
Americas
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) announced on 20 July the winners of the annual awards encouraging excellence in journalism and the defense of freedom of expression throughout the Americas. This year, the Grand Prize for Press Freedom is being given to Guillermo Zuloaga, president of the Globovisión television network in Venezuela.
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