Fears expressed that proposed Radio and Television Law may undermine freedom of expression

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 June 2004, executives of the Lima-based National Radio and Television Society (Sociedad Nacional de Radio y Televisión, SNRTV) condemned a proposed Radio and Television Law and said they would pursue all legal avenues available to them to prevent Congress from implementing the law.

Australian journalist expelled

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has protested the East Timor government's expulsion of Australian freelance journalist Julian King even though a court in Dili had cleared him of charges brought by the police.

Burmese journalist released from Malaysian prison

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On 24 June 2004, Burmese journalist Sein Mar was released from a Malaysian prison into the custody of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), according to the Center for Independent Journalists (CIJ) in Malaysia.

New concerns raised over cases of several imprisoned journalists as human rights "dialogue" with EU closes

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 28 June 2004 RSF press release:

CPJ condemns ongoing imprisonment of journalist

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 29 June 2004 letter to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, CPJ condemned the ongoing imprisonment of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, the editor and publisher of the tabloid weekly "Blitz", who was jailed on sedition charges. CPJ called for his immediate and unconditional release.

IPI concerned by government's deteriorating media relations

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is an IPI press release:

"Tribuna" newspaper under attack

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - On 22 May 2004, Martín Serrano Herrera, owner of "Tribuna" newspaper, was assaulted by three individuals he identified as members of the Veracruz state security forces. According to Serrano, some questions about the incident remain unanswered as a proper investigation has not been carried out.

RSF calls on British authorities to pursue investigation into French cameraman's disappearance following discovery of Lebanese interpreter's partial remains

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has hailed the "remarkable work" of the British military police in locating the partial remains of Hussein Osman, a Lebanese interpreter working for the British television news station ITN who went missing in Iraq on 22 March 2003.

State radio journalist assaulted by opposition supporters

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 27 June 2004, journalist Romelia Matute, of the state radio station Radio Nacional de Venezuela, was assaulted while she was reporting on events in the Alto Prado region of southeastern Caracas.

Journalist Ruslan Sharipov sentenced to two years community service in Bukhara

(RSF/IFEX) - On 23 June 2004, a district court in Khamzinski (Tashkent region) sentenced journalist Ruslan Sharipov to two years community service in the city of Bukhara, in central Uzbekistan, at the end of an in camera trial.

Radio station reopened

(MISA/IFEX) - On 31 May 2004, the High Court in Blantyre ordered the police to reopen the Malawi Institute of Journalism's (MIJ) 90.3 FM radio station, which was shut down on 23 May.

Journalist arrested

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - On 24 June 2004, at approximately 11:30 a.m. (local time), plainclothes security forces agents arrested journalist Rewati Sapkota at his residence in Chabahil. A reporter with the daily "Rajdhani", Sapkota was released after a few hours in detention. The agents took him to an unknown destination, saying only that it was for an "urgent discussion." They did not produce a warrant for his arrest. According to CEHURDES sources, the journalist was not allowed to inform his newspaper of his arrest.

Newspaper reporter assaulted and arrested

(MRA/IFEX) - On 25 June 2004, Gbenga Faturoti, a correspondent for the "Daily Independent" newspaper in Osun State, south-west Nigeria, was beaten to near unconsciousness by a group of policemen in Osogbo, the state capital. Faturoti was subsequently arrested and briefly detained.

CPJ condemns murder of journalist

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

Journalist released on bail after 20 days in detention

(JED/IFEX) - On 26 June 2004, after 20 days in detention, Gustave Kalenga Kabanda, managing editor of the Kinshasa-based weekly "La Flamme du Congo", was released by order of the Kinshasa/Gombe High Court's public prosecutor. The journalist posted bail of 20,000 Congolese francs (approx. US$53).

Court backs fight against media concentration

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 June 2004 IFJ media release:

Newspaper editor killed in bomb attack in Khulna

(RSF/IFEX) - The editor of a regional weekly in the southwestern city of Khulna has been killed in a bomb attack, less than six months after the murder of a BBC World Service local correspondent in the same city. An armed, far-left group claimed responsibility for the latest killing.

Delegation of media leaders calls for international plan of action to counter "politically-motivated" attacks on journalists

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 24 June 2004 IFJ press release:

Television programme cancelled

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - On 18 June 2004, Arnold Girón, host of "La voz del pueblo" programme, televised on Channel 45, filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commissioner's Office protesting the cancellation of his programme. According to Girón, on 9 June he received a letter from the station's management advising him of the programme's cancellation. The journalist had a contract specifying that any revenues gained from advertisements aired on the programme were to be divided equally between Girón and the station.

Planned amendments to media law include new penalties for unaccredited journalists

(MISA/IFEX) - The government plans to amend sections of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act 2002. The amendments to the Act appeared in a government gazette released on 18 June 2004.