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IFEX Communiqué Vol 20, No 30

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EDITOR'S NOTE: There will be no edition of the "IFEX Communiqué" next week because of a Canadian civic holiday. We will return on 10 August 2011.

Ecuador

President Correa's critics sent to prison for criminal defamation, fined millions

In a 20 July ruling, an Ecuadorean judge sentenced a journalist and three newspaper executives to prison for three years with a $40 million fine for publishing a column that questioned the appropriateness of an army raid to rescue President Rafael Correa from a demonstration of striking policemen. The criminal conviction of Correa's critics is a major blow to press freedom, violating Ecuador's international human rights obligations, say the Andean Foundation for Media Observation & Study (Fundamedios), the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and other IFEX members.

Malawi

Journalists arrested and attacked, media censored


Severe fuel shortages, rising prices and high unemployment sparked two days of protests in Malawi last week - one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in sub-Saharan Africa in 2011. At least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded in clashes between riot police and demonstrators. Several reporters were beaten and detained by police, while the government banned radio stations from covering the demonstrations, report the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The Gambia

Critical activists and journalists detained under "bogus charges"


As Gambian President Yahya Jammeh marked the 17th anniversary of his rule on 22 July, seven activists and journalists were charged with treason and sedition for distributing t-shirts with the slogan, "Coalition for Change - The Gambia: End Dictatorship Now." The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), other IFEX members and rights groups are sounding the alarm over the use of undemocratic laws to punish journalists and government critics and the repression of free speech in the country.

Egypt

Military rulers ignore plural voices

In a major setback for free expression and media freedom, Egypt's military rulers have limited the participation of civil society organisations, targeted sources of funding for NGOs, banned international monitoring of elections and reinstated the Information Ministry, report the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and other IFEX members. Frustrated with this lack of progress for social justice and civil liberties, thousands of protesters marched through Cairo's Tahrir Square yet again on 23-24 July.

Mexico

Veteran reporter slain


The decapitated body of Mexican journalist Yolanda Ordaz de la Cruz was found on 26 July in Veracruz, report the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), ARTICLE 19 and other IFEX members. A journalist for more than 20 years, Ordaz de la Cruz reported on crime and security issues. IFEX members are calling on the state prosecutor to investigate the case and put in place mechanisms to protect her colleagues.

Afghanistan

Afghan project gives voice to women writers

Afghan women poets and writers have been given an international voice through the Afghan Women's Writing Project (AWWP), reports the latest issue of Sampsonia Way magazine, sponsored by the non-profit City of Asylum/Pittsburgh. Through a series of online writing workshops run remotely by American writers, Afghan women are able to publish their experiences in poems, essays and comments on the AWWP website.