IFEX Digest | 2 - 8 May 2011

International

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Ugandan LGBT advocate to receive Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (Human Rights Watch)

WAN-IFRA marks World Press Freedom Day (WAN-IFRA)

World Press Freedom Day: No Frontiers, New Barriers (ARTICLE 19)

World Press Freedom Day: AMARC calls for communication rights for all (AMARC)

Marking World Press Freedom Day, RSF releases new "press freedom predators" list (RSF)

Shadow of 9/11 attacks hangs over journalism, says IFJ on World Press Freedom Day (IFJ)

MISA and partners celebrate 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration (MISA)
+ WPFD statement: "Media in Africa 20 Years On: Our Past, Present and Future" (MISA)

IPI releases "World Press Freedom Review 2010 - Focus on the Americas" (IPI)

Digital censorship threatens press freedom, new CPJ report shows (CPJ)

Middle East in decline as global press freedom hits low point, according to Freedom House report (Freedom House)

Africa

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Côte d'Ivoire

Local journalists prevented from covering Ouattara's visit to the Presidential palace (MFWA)

RSF interviews daily "Fraternité Matin"'s new managing editor (RSF)

Democratic Republic of Congo

JED calls on government to halt security services' interference in journalists' work (JED)

Eritrea

IFJ joins Federation of African Journalists' Press Freedom Day call for release of journalists (IFJ)
+ CJFE protests over harsh detention of journalists (CJFE)

Ethiopia

Officials censor UNESCO World Press Freedom Day event (CPJ)

EFJA cites international support as key to improving press freedom (EFJA)

Rwanda

Prosecutors seek 10-year sentence for exiled newspaper editor (RSF)

Somalia

NUSOJ urges Transitional Federal Government to accept UN recommendations to improve free expression situation (NUSOJ)

NUSOJ World Press Freedom Day statement (NUSOJ)

Editor found guilty of defaming transport minister (NUSOJ)
+ Somaliland issues arrest warrant for newspaper editor (NUSOJ)

Uganda

Radio journalist shot by anti-riot police while covering opposition march (HRNJ-Uganda)

Permanent secretary manhandles TV reporter,video camera damaged (HRNJ-Uganda)

HRNJ-Uganda Press Freedom Index, November 2010 - April 2011 (HRNJ-Uganda)

Zimbabwe

Independent newspaper's offices raided (MISA)
+ Journalist arrested, independent dailies harassed in return to bad old ways (RSF)

Americas

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IAPA and Chilean press association call for defense of press freedom during conference marking World Press Freedom Day (IAPA)
+ Sebastián Piñera signs Declaration of Chapultepec, commits his administration to the defense of press freedom (IAPA)

Brazil

Newspaper owner shot dead (CPJ)
+ IPI condemns murders of journalists in Peru, Brazil (IPI)
+ Newspaper owner and journalist shot dead (WiPC)

Colombia

IFJ backs silent march to denounce threats against journalists (IFJ)

Ecuador

Journalists face second legal action in connection with investigative book (Fundamedios)

Radio journalist sentenced to one year in prison for malicious slander (Fundamedios)
+ Provincial reporter jailed on defamation charges (CPJ)

Honduras

Radio Uno director ambushed by armed assailants (C-Libre)
+ Another attempted attack on opposition radio station journalist (RSF)
+ Radio director ambushed by gunmen (CPJ)

Mexico

ARTICLE 19/CENCOS 2010 report: "Violence and Press Freedom in Mexico: Still in the Line of Fire" (ARTICLE 19)

Peru

Critical journalist killed (IPYS)
+ IAPA concerned at murders of journalists in Peru, Brazil (IAPA)
+ Critical radio host shot to death (CPJ)
+ Journalist at odds with local authorities gunned down in northern city (RSF)
+ IFJ condemns "cold blooded" murder of journalist (IFJ)

Journalists resign after being pressured to stop criticising presidential candidate (IPYS)

United States

Court decision ordering new sentencing for Mumia Abu-Jamal a "small victory", says RSF (RSF)

WikiLeaks revelations about Al-Jazeera cameraman's detention in Guantanamo (RSF)

Asia & Pacific

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PINA president urges media to deal with new barriers and frontiers "the Pacific way" (PINA) Shooting the messenger, undermining democracy: SEAPA's statement on World Press Freedom Day (SEAPA) IFJ press freedom report on South Asia: "Free Speech in Peril" (IFJ)

Australia

BBC and APTN block satire of royal wedding (RSF)

Burma

RSF supports Free Burma VJs Campaign (RSF)

Press freedom still lacking despite some changes, Mizzima says (Mizzima News)
+ Government censors allow news of Osama bin Laden's death (Mizzima News)

China

IFJ urges action to find missing journalist (IFJ)
+ Two journalists missing, feared detained (CPJ)

Banned writer Liao Yiwu, Salman Rushdie exchange messages, solidarity (PEN American Center)

Indonesia

Journalists group urges government to stop impunity, killings, provide protection and benefits to media workers (AJI)

Malaysia

People must reclaim media, make their voices heard, says CIJ (CIJ)
+ IFJ backs journalist in appeal against sacking (IFJ)
+ Fired reporter says his newspaper was used for propaganda purposes (RSF)

Pakistan

President vows to pursue justice in journalist murders (CPJ)

Philippines

Industrial rights key to press freedom, says IFJ (IFJ)

Court demands explanation for critical remarks by journalist, victim's widow, in Ampatuan trial (CMFR)
+ Court bids to gag massacre trial scrutiny (CPJ)
+ Accused in Ampatuan Massacre asks court to dismiss charges against him (CMFR)
+ IFJ seeks withdrawal of contempt claim in massacre case (IFJ)

In defense of press freedom: CMFR statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (CMFR)

Singapore

UN rights body urged to press for fundamental freedoms (Human Rights Watch)

Sri Lanka

Authorities ban Lanka eNews (CPJ)
+ Authorities continue drive to stamp out news media supporting the opposition (RSF)

Thailand

Editor detained on lese majeste charges as opposition radio stations raided (CPJ)
+ Lèse-majesté charge used to crackdown on opposition media (RSF)

Human Rights Watch report documents government crackdown on 2010 Red Shirt protests (Human Rights Watch)

Vietnam

2011 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize recipient Bui Chat set free on conditions (IPA)
+ Independent publisher freed, but questioned again (RSF)

IPA condemns arrest of 2011 Freedom to Publish Prize recipient (IPA)
+ Detained for winning "Freedom to Publish Prize" (RSF)

Online commentator receives harsh sentence (CPJ)

Europe & Central Asia

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World Press Freedom Day also needed in Europe, deplores IFJ (IFJ) IPI warns of new press freedom offenders (IPI)

Armenia

Newspapers threatened by libel suits with sky-high damages awards (RSF)

Azerbaijan

One activist sentenced, another detained (Human Rights Watch)
+ Human rights defender sentenced to two months of pre-trial detention for interference in 2010 elections (IRFS)

Joint appeal to UNESCO director-general over Fatullayev case (IRFS)
+ IRFS letter to US president (IRFS)

Government claims to have complied with ECHR judgment on Fatullayev case (IRFS)

Belarus

Two newspapers threatened with closure (CPJ)
+ Two leading independent newspapers threatened with closure (RSF)

Bulgaria

Journalists denied entry to Bulgaria (CJFE)

Russia

Two suspects found guilty in Baburova murder (CPJ)

Turkey

Telecommunications authority bans 138 words from the Internet (BIANET)

BIANET 2010 Media Monitoring Report (BIANET)

United Kingdom

IFJ supports photojournalists' fight against arbitrary ban in London (IFJ)

BBC and APTN block satire of royal wedding (RSF)

Middle East & North Africa

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IFJ affiliates show solidarity with journalists on the frontline of "Arab Spring" (IFJ) Editor detained in Morocco; press violations continue across region (CPJ)
+ Al Jazeera journalist detained in Syria (IPI) From Tripoli to Manama, no let-up in abuses against news media (RSF)
+ RSF protests against crackdown on media in Syria (RSF)
+ CJFE troubled by disappearance of journalist Dorothy Parvaz (CJFE)
+ Amid severe repression of peaceful protests, Al-Jazeera journalist disappears (ANHRI)
+ EOHR calls for release of Syrian activist Hassan Abdel Azeem (EOHR)

Bahrain

Ex-members of parliament held without charge; activist reported tortured (Human Rights Watch)

BCHR statement: "Journalists in Bahrain - the murder of free speech and the siege of freedom" (BCHR)
+ Government sentences four demonstrators, expells journalists (ANHRI)

Egypt

Book considered "insulting" to religious beliefs (ANHRI)

Military trials usurp justice system (Human Rights Watch)

Giza criminal court adjourns trial of police officers charged with murder and attempted murder of demonstrators (EOHR)

Important commitment to ratify Rome Statute (Human Rights Watch)

Iran

PEN American Center mourns journalist's suicide (PEN American Center)
+ Authorities responsible for Siamak Pourzand's death, says RSF (RSF)
+ WiPC mourns the death of journalist and critic Siamak Pourzand (WiPC)

Iraq

One year since his murder, RSF pays tribute to Kurdish journalist Sardasht Osman (RSF)

Palestine

MADA announces free expression award recipients (MADA)
+ MADA hosts popular World Press Freedom Day event in Gaza (MADA)
+ MADA and Al-Quds Open University launch "The Knights of The Image" exhibition (MADA)

Hamas-Fatah reconciliation brings hopes for improved freedom of expression in the Palestine territories (MADA)

MADA releases first quarter report on World Press Freedom Day (MADA)

Saudi Arabia

Rights activist, bloggers arrested (Human Rights Watch)

United Arab Emirates

Civil society crackdown widens (Human Rights Watch)

Awards

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Ugandan LGBT advocate to receive Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (Human Rights Watch)

MADA announces free expression award recipients (MADA)
+ MADA hosts popular World Press Freedom Day event in Gaza (MADA)
+ MADA and Al-Quds Open University launch "The Knights of The Image" exhibition (MADA)