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Alerts - 2007 - January-March

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Argentina

Controversial allocation of government advertising contracts in Oberá

(FOPEA /IFEX) - The following is a 22 March 2007 statement from FOPEA, an interim member of IFEX:

Kyrgyzstan

Parliament set to decriminalise libel; president withdraws objections to turning state broadcaster public

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 29 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Tanzania

ARTICLE 19 welcomes defamation proposals in media bill but urges reconsideration of regulatory moves

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 29 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Venezuela

Journalist in Ciudad Guayana prevented by hospital security guard from covering event

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 17 March 2007, "Nueva Prensa de Guayana" newspaper journalist María Elena Ramírez was prevented from entering the Vinicio Grillet de San Félix health centre, in Ciudad Guayana, to cover an activity by a group of health promoters. Ciudad Guayana is a city located in Bolívar state in southern Venezuela.

Uzbekistan

Journalist flees country following filing of criminal charges against her for "practising without a licence"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 March 2007 CPJ press release:

The Gambia

Intelligence agents arrest journalist and opposition activist as she gets off plane

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of freelance journalist and pro-democracy activist Fatou Jaw Manneh, who was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency on 28 March 2007 on her arrival at Banjul international airport.

Russia

Editor charged with "extremist activity" over critical articles, faces up to five years in prison

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Sri Lanka

Armed group threatens journalist in Kalpitiya area

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

The Gambia

"The Independent" newspaper still closed after one year; MFWA demands its reopening

(MFWA/IFEX) - One year ago, 28 March 2006, the Gambian government forcibly shut down the offices of "The Independent", a Banjul-based bi-weekly newspaper. At the time of the closure, no explanation was offered, neither has the newspaper been allowed to resume publication.

Vietnam

Priest who edited dissident newspaper gets eight years; four other dissidents also sentenced to prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders said it was shocked by the prison sentences imposed on 30 March 2007 by a people's court in the central city of Hue on Father Nguyen Van Ly and four other people who helped him produce a dissident publication called "Tu do Ngôn luan". The court found them guilty of "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."

Iran

Business journalist Ali Farahbakhsh gets three years in prison on "spying" charge; two more journalists arrested

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of freelance business journalist Ali Farahbakhsh, who was convicted of spying in a parody of a trial on 26 March 2007 and was sentenced to three years in prison and an exorbitant fine.

Guinea

Journalist attacked by presidential guard, party supporters

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 27 March 2007, a member of the Autonomous Presidential Security Battalion (BASP), the presidential guard of Guinean President Lansana Conté, attacked Abdallah Baldé, a reporter with the privately-owned Conakry-based newspaper "Guinée-News", for taking photographs of the first couple.

Bolivia

Newspaper journalist, photographer and driver held overnight by protesting peasants

(IPYS/IFEX) - On the night of 21 March 2007, journalist Wilma Pérez and photographer David Guzmán, both of "La Razón" newspaper, were detained by a group of peasants from Patacamaya who were blocking a section of the La Paz-Oruro highway to back their demand that work by ELFA electrical company be halted.

Vietnam

RSF urges judges not to pass jail sentence on Catholic priest who edits dissident newspaper and his two co-defendants

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Vietnamese judicial authorities not to impose prison sentences on Father Nguyen Van Ly, one of the editors of the dissident publication "Tu do Ngôn luan", and his two co-defendants, who are to be tried tomorrow in the central city of Hue on a charge of "hostile propaganda against government," punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

Thailand

Media tycoon sentenced to two years' imprisonment, his company fined, over television interview comments about official

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A media tycoon in Thailand has been sentenced to two years in prison for slandering a government official during a live television broadcast on 25 November 2005.

Sri Lanka

"Mawbima" and "Sunday Standard" newspapers closed by government pressure

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

Bangladesh

Journalist released on bail after week in jail

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Singapore

Media regulator's move to cover new media may limit free expression on Internet

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Singapore is reviewing the code that governs competition in the print and broadcast media markets to include new media.

Zimbabwe

In light of criminal charges, two journalists suspended, stripped of licence and pay; one allegedly in hiding

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Thailand

Coup leader calls for state of emergency in response to expression of dissent

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Thailand's coup leader, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, has asked the government he installed to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok "to maintain law and order" and stop anti-coup protests that have been gaining momentum over the past weeks.

Syria

Detained journalist charged in court with "weakening national sentiment"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the three charges that were formally brought against detained writer and journalist Michel Kilo in a criminal court in Damascus on 26 March 2007 for signing the "Beirut-Damascus, Damascus-Beirut" joint statement in May 2006. The charges, punishable by at least three years in prison, are "weakening national sentiment," "spreading false information" and inciting "religious and racial dissension."

Democratic Republic of Congo

Bemba-owned media ransacked, broadcasts suspended, staff go into hiding

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the fate of some 10 journalists and technicians working for three TV and radio stations owned by Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba - Canal Kin Télévision (CKTV), Canal Congo Television (CCTV) and Radio Liberté Kinshasa (Ralik) - who had to go into hiding after the three stations were forced to close on 21 March 2007.

Iraq

Eleven media workers still in jail after one month without charge

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 March 2007 CPJ letter to the Iraqi prime minister:

Uzbekistan

Journalist faces criminal proceedings for "practising without a licence"; government using new law to pressure journalists working with foreign media

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 28 March 2007 IPI press release:

Chile

Supreme Court decision to limit media's access to courtrooms condemned as unconstitutional

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is dismayed over a Supreme Court ruling made on 26 March 2007, supposedly aimed at regulating the work of journalists accredited to work in the country's courts.

Libya / Algeria

Heavy sentence sought on appeal in defamation case against two journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is dismayed by the heavy sentence sought on appeal against Ali Fodil and Naïla Berrahal, respectively managing editor and journalist on the Arabic-language daily "Ech-Chourouk", for allegedly defaming Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi.

Peru

Radio journalists, station owner in Tocache threatened with murder over critical coverage of coca growers' protests

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 27 March 2007, five journalists in the city of Tocache, located in a coca-growing area in central Peru, complained they had been threatened with murder several times since 16 March, for their reporting on the coca-growers' strike in the area, which began on 8 March.

Liberia

Court nullifies ban on newspaper for allegedly publishing pornography

(CEMESP/IFEX) - "The Independent" newspaper, which was banned by the government for publishing a sex photo of former presidential affairs minister, Willie Knuckles, has been ordered by the Supreme Court of Liberia to return to "status quo ante." The court's latest ruling is a result of a challenge by "The Independent" through its legal counsel, Attorney-at-Law Syema Syrenius Cephus, protesting the government of Liberia's order through the court's system.

Kyrgyzstan

NTS TV news presenter assaulted, injured in Bishkek

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 27 March 2007, at about 9:00 p.m. (local time), NTS TV channel news presenter Daniyar Isanov was assaulted by a group of unknown people in the capital city of Bishkek. He was taken by the four men to a river on the outskirts of the city and left there unconscious, after being hit from behind and assaulted. He regained consciousness at 5:00 a.m. the following day and was taken to hospital by a passing taxi. As a result of the attack, the journalist suffered a fractured nose and multiple bruises.

Venezuela

Minister warns newspaper journalist and editor that their reports may violate the law

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 19 March 2007, Minister for the Popular Economy Pedro Morejón sent letters to Luz Mely Reyes and Eleazar Días Rangel, journalist and director respectively of "Últimas Noticias" newspaper, warning them that they may have committed several criminal offences by publishing an investigation that alleged there were irregularities in the implementation of an agreement with Iran to construct industrial plants in Venezuela. The crimes, according to Morejón, would be "international conspiracy" and "campaigning to harm companies, institutions and individuals", as defined in article 144 of the criminal code and article 1195 of the civil law code. The minister said that the journalists and the newspaper would be held responsible for the consequences of these infractions.

Indonesia

AJI condemns threats, disruptions at trial of "Playboy" editor charged with indecency

(AJI/IFEX) - In response to the latest developments in the court case against "Playboy Indonesia" editor, Erwin Arnada, on trial since 7 December 2006, for distributing indecent pictures to the public and making money from them, AJI:

Venezuela

Journalist's home shot at in Zulia state

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 15 March 2007, unidentified individuals fired three shots at the home of "Reporte" newspaper columnist José Palmar, a priest. The shots hit the front wall of the home, located in the Sierra Maestra neighbourhood in Maracaibo, in the state of Zulia, which is located in the country's west.

Colombia

Journalist forced to flee Neiva region by death threats after reporting on alleged hospital corruption

(FLIP/IFEX) - Journalist Germán Hernández, director of "El Diario de Huila" newspaper's investigative journalism unit, has left the city of Neiva, located in Colombia's southwest, after receiving several death threats made to his cell phone. The threats were made from various pay telephone centres located near the newspaper's facilities. Seven such calls were received, the first of which was made on 27 February 2007. Hernández was told, "you son of a bitch of a toad, you're going to die." After two weeks of such calls, the journalist and the newspaper's managers decided he had to leave Neiva.

Nepal

Maoist youth cadre threatens journalist with death; bomb hurled at publication office

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES expresses grave concern over death threats issued to a journalist working in far western Nepal.

Nepal

Twelve journalists receive death threats from member of Maoist Young Communist League

(FNJ/IFEX) - A dozen local journalists from Itahari, an eastern city of Nepal, received death threats from Ritesh Shrestha of the Maoist's Young Communist League (YCL) on 26 March 2007.

Bangladesh

Journalist jailed for reporting on local mismanagement

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Russia

Journalists arrested, assaulted while covering demonstration

(CJES/IFEX) - Reporters from several Russian and foreign publications were beaten and detained in Nizhny Novgorod while covering the March of Dissent, organised by the joint opposition on 24 March 2007. Media reports say 12 to 20 journalists were exposed to violence.

Russia

Newspaper confiscated, journalists harassed ahead of demonstration

(PEN/IFEX) - The following is a 23 March 2007 statement by Norwegian PEN and two other organisations:

Afghanistan

RSF calls for Afghan government response to allegations that kidnapped fixer Adjmal Nasqhbandi is in custody; body of assassinated driver Sayed Agha still not returned to his family

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has reiterated its call for the release of "La Repubblica" correspondent Daniele Mastrogiacomo's Afghan fixer, Adjmal Nasqhbandi, who on 26 March 2007 began his fourth week in captivity in southern Afghanistan. Many appeals for his release have been issued in Afghanistan and Italy in recent days.

Venezuela

Journalist threatened for reporting on child pornography cases

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 17 and 18 March 2007, "La Verdad" newspaper news director José Gregorio Meza received threatening telephone calls for having reported on cases of child pornography in the city of Maracaibo, Zulia state, in the country's west. He was warned that he was being watched.

Ukraine

IFJ calls on president to withdraw honour for prosecutor in charge of failed investigation of journalist's death

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Peru

Municipal employees urge public to destroy radio station's facilities, force journalists out of city, over critical coverage

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 March 2006, Michael Ortiz Munares, the public relations manager for the municipality of Andahuaylas, urged the public to destroy Radio Panorama's transmitter. He made the suggestion when he was taking part in an inspection of San José mountain, where the transmitters of various radio stations are located. His call was broadcast by several stations. Andahuaylas is located in the Apurímac region, in Peru's southeast.

Jordan

Press law provision for imprisonment of journalists scrapped, replaced with exorbitant fines; other laws still allow for prison terms

(AAI/IFEX) - After four years of bickering, the Jordanian lower house of Parliament voted on 21 March 2007 to scrap the provision for the imprisonment of journalists in the Press Law, following the Upper House's insistence that the relevant article 38 be cancelled.

Sri Lanka

CAPSULE REPORT: In report to UN, FMM calls for urgent measures to halt deterioration of media freedom

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 24 March 2007 FMM press release:

Peru

Writer given suspended sentence, fined for plagiarising his own novel

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 March 2007, Judge Sonia Salvador Ludeña, of the Sixth Criminal Court of Lima (Sexto Juzgado Penal de Lima), sentenced the journalist and humourist Nicolás Yerovi to a suspended sentence of four years and a fine of 3.400 nuevos soles (approx. US$ 1,100), for plagiarizing his own novel.

Panama

President signs into law penal code amendments that threaten press freedom

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is deeply disappointed by Panamanian President Martín Torrijos' decision, on 21 March 2007, to endorse two articles in the newly-amended criminal code that violate press freedom.

Sudan

ARTICLE 19 urges UN to hold government to account for free speech violations

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 22 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Pakistan

Broadcasting licence withheld from Dawn TV as economic and legal pressures on the publishing group mount

(PPF/IFEX) - The Dawn Group of Newspapers, Pakistan's largest English language newspaper and magazine publishing house, is facing serious economic pressures as well as legal harassment by the government of Pakistan for it coverage of events and policies related to militancy and security in the country.

Iran

Three prominent women writers and journalists released on bail

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release of prominent women writers and journalists Shadi Sadr, Mahbubeh Abbasgholizadeh and Jila Baniyaghoub, but remains seriously concerned that all three are still facing undisclosed charges for organising a demonstration in Tehran on 4 March 2007. International PEN fears that these three journalists have been targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - to which Iran is a signatory - and calls for all charges against them to be dropped.

Yemen

Media law working group identifies priority areas for urgent action

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:

Iran

Writer and translator Nasser Zarafshan released

(WiPC/IFEX) - International PEN Writers in Prison Committee welcomes the release of writer, translator and barrister Nasser Zarafshan on 17 March 2007. It is believed that international pressure contributed to his release.

Somalia

Radio journalist and driver freed after being held for three days

(RSF/IFEX) - Radio Shabelle reporter Mohammed Bashir Sheik Abdirahman and his driver Osman Qoryoley were released on 24 March 2007 after being held for three days, Reporters Without Borders has learned from their employer. Abdirahman told his station they were "treated well" and that the "government troops guarding [them] gave [them] all [they] needed."

Zimbabwe

Government threatens foreign correspondents for "fabricating stories"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Somalia

Government shuts down Al-Jazeera bureau in Mogadishu

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Nepal

Maoists seize copies of newspaper, objecting to content

(FNJ/IFEX) - A group of Maoist-affiliated transportation workers seized copies of "Kantipur" daily in Koteshwor, Kathmandu on 22 March 2007.

Russia

Editor of "Forbes" ordered to pay damages over article on business owned by Moscow mayor's wife

(CJES/IFEX) - The Moscow Chertanovsky Court has ordered the editor of the Russian edition of "Forbes" magazine, Maksim Kashulinsky, to pay a company, Inteko, 109,165 rubles (approx. US$4,186) for "non-material damages done as a result of dissemination of untrue and defamatory information", reports NEWSRU.COM.

Colombia

Exiled radio journalist was twice the target of assassination attempts, believes guerrillas behind threats

(FLIP/IFEX) - "Yes, I was obliged to flee the country on 9 March, and I did so discretely," Darío Arizmendi, a news programme host on Caracol Radio, told FLIP on 20 March 2007. He also stated that he had survived two failed attempts on his life in the previous six months.

International

IAPA reviews state of freedom of the press in the hemisphere

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2007 IASPA press release:

Peru

Judge bursts into radio studio, interrupts programme to demand journalist reveal source's identity

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 19 March 2007, Judge José Córdova Escobar violently burst into Radio Antena 3's broadcasting booth and interrupted the broadcast of journalist Raúl Mendoza Paredes's programme "Antena Noticias". The judge wanted Mendoza to reveal the identity of a source who gave the journalist information that implicates him in a case currently before the courts of fraud and document forgery. The incident took place in Juanjuí, San Martín region, northeastern Peru.

Peru

Journalist in Amazonas threatened, home attacked, over comments on colleague murdered in Jaén

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 March 2007, two men on a motorbike threw a teargas canister against the front of the house of journalist Hermes Rivera, current public relations representative of the municipality of Cajaruro in Bagua Grande, region of Amazonas in northeastern Peru.

Bangladesh

Police accused of disguising journalist's murder as suicide

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the preliminary findings of the autopsy and police investigation into the death of Jamal Uddin, a reporter for the news agency Abas and local newspaper "Dainik Giri Darpan", in the southeastern district of Rangamati. The authorities are saying it was suicide, but Uddin's colleagues insist that the circumstances suggest it was murder.

Sri Lanka

Army said to be holding Tamil journalist who went missing five weeks ago

(RSF/IFEX) - Following the police chief's recent admission that the security forces have been involved in abductions, Reporters Without Borders has confirmed that the military participated in the arrest of journalist Subramaniam Ramachandran on 15 February 2007, north of Jaffna. Colleagues think he is now being held secretly at a military camp.

Guatemala

Indigenous people's radio station denied accreditation to cover US president's visit to their community

(AMARC/IFEX) - The week prior to US President George Bush's 12 March 2007 visit to Guatemala, the US State Department released its annual human rights report, in which it lamented the country's human rights situation, emphasizing its concern over the murders of women, corruption and the repression of community radio stations.

Nicaragua

President promises to waive licensing fees for community-based and other small media and to allocate government advertising contracts equitably

(AMARC/IFEX) - The following is a 15 March 2007 AMARC press release:

Rwanda

Congolese academic freed, but declared "persona non grata" and expelled

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the 21 March 2007 release of Congolese university professor Idesbald Byabuze Katabaruka but deplored the fact that he was then declared "persona non grata" by the state prosecutor and immediately escorted by two policemen and an immigration officer to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sri Lanka

"Mawbima" journalist freed after four months, no charges; FMM criticises government and media smear

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 22 March 2007 FMM press release:

Afghanistan

Afghan journalists call for government action on kidnapped Afghan guide

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced its support for the Afghan journalists' groups who are calling on Mullah Dadullah to free Adjmal Nasqhbandi, the guide and fixer of "La Repubblica" correspondent Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who was himself released by the Taliban in the southern province of Helmand on 19 March 2007.

Austria

ARTICLE 19 criticises excessive defamation cases, media concentration, weak access to information

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 22 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Philippines

Press prevented from interviewing detained politician alleged of purging communist rebels

(CMFR/IFEX) - Members of the press were prevented from interviewing detained Bayan Muna (Nation First) Representative Satur Ocampo by his police custodians, who claimed that media interviews would be risky for Ocampo, Inquirer.net reported on 21 March 2007. Ocampo and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) have protested the ban.

Russia

Editor charged with three crimes after publishing statement alleging sexual harassment by top official

(CJES/IFEX) - Gleb Ivanov, editor of the Astrakhan opposition weekly "Fakt i Kompromat", was charged with three crimes by the Astrakhan prosecutor's office and the interior affairs department for the Astrakhan region on 17 March 2007.

Burma

Literary magazine distribution suspended by censors over cover picture of banned writer

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a 21 March 2007statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Iran

WiPC concerned about health of journalist held in solitary confinement

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC is deeply concerned by the continued detention of journalist Ali Farahbakhsh, who has been held since 27 November 2006.

Russia

Prosecutor summons journalists for questioning over article about opposition event

(CJES/IFEX) - Tatyana Krasilnikova, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Kommersant-Nizhny Novgorod", was summoned to the Nizhny Novgorod prosecutor's office on 19 March 2007, for questioning about an article published by the newspaper, entitled "Nizhny Novgorod Mayor's Office disagrees with the Disagreeing Ones".

South Africa

Professor suspended, faces disciplinary action, for criticising university's decisions

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 20 March 2007 FXI media release:

Peru

Two journalists in Jaén receive death threats after reporting on public security problems and corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 21 March 2007, only four days after the murder of journalist Miguel Pérez Julca (see IFEX alert of 20 March 2007), journalists Juan Vásquez, correspondent for América Televisión television station, and Walter Altamirano, from Radio Acajú's programme "La Voz del Pueblo", who both live in the city of Jaén, received death threats warning them they would be the next to be murdered. The threats were made via text messages to their cell phones. Jaén is located in the Cajamarca region, in northwestern Peru.

Uruguay

Editor assaulted in Montevideo by suspected drug trafficker following death threats to editor and family

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF calls for protection for journalist César Casavieja, founder and editor of the weekly newspaper "Señal de alerta", who received death threats and was later assaulted after publishing a photo of a man suspected of drug-trafficking.

Malaysia

Media outlets harassed by authorities

(SEAPA/IFEX) - An official of Malaysia's Ministry of Internal Security admits he has occasionally contacted newspaper editors to remind them to adhere to provisions in the country's draconian 1984 Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

Palestine

Journalists hold strike to pressure authorities to locate kidnapped BBC correspondent

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Philippines

"Philippine Daily Inquirer" editors, columnist post bail on arrest over another libel suit by president's husband; "Bandera" tabloid sued over same article; suit against former solicitor general dismissed

(CMFR/IFEX) - The publisher and various editors of the "Philippine Daily Inquirer" were detained for an hour at a Manila police station on 20 March 2007, after posting a libel bond of P50,000 (approx. US$1,000). A Manila court issued had issued warrants for their arrest over a P22 million (approx. US$440,000) libel charge by Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Ukraine

State-run television station cancels popular public affairs talk show following broadcast featuring opposition leaders

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Thailand

Military government censors website, television channel supporting deposed premier

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Bahrain

Government allegedly spying on, harassing women activists to silence them; one receives anonymous threats following critical interview

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a statement from BCHR, an interim member of IFEX:

Belarus

Reporter for independent magazine jailed on spurious charge after witnessing police abuses

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Bahrain

Police interrogation of BCHR vice-president meant to silence furore over Bandargate scandal, says organisation

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a statement from BCHR, an interim member of IFEX:

Kyrgyzstan

Television reporter brutally beaten, sued, after critical reporting on railroad corruption

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Nigeria

Freedom of information bill awaits presidential approval

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Peru

Two television journalists abused by political party's activists for surreptitiously filming private political function

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 9 March 2007, journalists Marco Antonio Vásquez and Marco Sifuentes of the television programme "La Ventana Indiscreta" in Lima, were mistreated by several members of Partido Aprista Peruano (APRA, the government party), while they were recording a speech by former minister Carlos Arana during a ceremony in which he was paid tribute to by the political party in its headquarters in the district of Pueblo Libre, in Lima. Arana resigned from his position after being the target of accusations by the media.

Mauritania

Supporters of unsuccessful candidates threaten al-Jazeera staff

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned supporters of some candidates eliminated in the first round of presidential elections, who forced their way into the offices of al-Jazeera TV in Nouakchott and threatened staff.

Mexico

President promises to sign law decriminalising libel, consider stiffening penalties for crimes against journalists

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 9 March 2007 IAPA press release:

Guatemala

Police advisors take newspaper director and editor to court for revealing their identities

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 16 March 2007, the morning newspaper "elPeriódico" published an editorial reporting that brothers Henry Danilo Benítez Barrios and José Luis Benítez Barrios, former unpaid advisors to the National Police (Policía Nacional Civil, PNC), had filed a complaint against the newspaper's director, José Rubén Zamora, and its editor-in-chief, Ana Carolina Alpírez. The brothers are holding Zamora and Alpírez responsible for an alleged attempt on their lives which took place on 8 March, the same day on which the newspaper made public a report that had identified the Benítez brothers as the two hooded men who had participated in a September 2006 police operation in the Pavón prison, during which extrajudicial executions were committed.

Somalia

Security forces arrest radio journalist and driver

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders said it was baffled by the arrest of Radio Shabelle reporter Mohammed Bashir Sheik Abdirahman and his driver Osman Qoryoley on the morning of 21 March 2007 in Mogadishu and called on the transitional federal government to adhere to the undertakings to ensure respect for press freedom that it gave during a conference during the same week on media policy.

Liberia

Publisher in hiding seeks assistance following raid on his home

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 15 March 2007, Sam Dean, publisher of "The Independent", a Monrovia- based privately-owned newspaper currently facing a ban, alleged that his life is in danger due to continuous threats on his life by agents of the state security. He has therefore been in hiding.

China

Writer sentenced to six years in prison for critical articles

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Zimbabwe

Two dailies forced to close because of lack of funds: intelligence agency and media commission continue to disrupt independent news media outlets' operations

(RSF/IFEX) - Scheming by Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) is killing off the few remaining independent news media outlets while the government-controlled Media Information Commission (MIC) continues to use obligatory press accreditation as way to pressure journalists in an entirely unacceptable fashion, says Reporters Without Borders.

Afghanistan

Taliban release Italian reporter in exchange for five prisoners, fate of translator unknown

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Poland

Government proposes law censoring discussion of homosexuality in schools, academic institutions

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Ukraine

Prosecutor dismisses journalist's death threat complaint despite photographs, witnesses' testimony

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Burma

Journalist, forced into exile by death threats, arrives with family in United States

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Egypt

Previously-imprisoned blogger under watch, his laptop stolen, listed in government report with 16 others as "spreading false news"

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Iraq

Two journalists killed

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has learned of the death of two Iraqi journalists at the hands of armed groups in Baghdad, bringing to 155 the number of media staff killed in Iraq since the start of the conflict in March 2003.

Nepal

Militant armed group warns media against reporting during general strike in Banke district

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES is taken aback by news reports of some organizations vowing to stop reporting of news and publication of newspapers in some parts of the country.

Pakistan

Police raid on media outlets followed by bomb threat

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 15 March 2007 CPJ press release:

United States

Government withholds from public disclosure 9-11 suspect's description of alleged torture

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 15 March 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Tunisia

Journalist sentenced in absentia to 14 months in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 14-month prison sentence imposed in absentia on journalist Mohamed Fourati on 9 March 2007 by an appeal court in Gafsa (400 km south of Tunis) for two articles he wrote in 2002. One, published on the Aqlma online news website, was said to prove he belonged to an opposition group. The other was about fundraising for the family of a political prisoner.

Peru

Journalist assaulted, her footage and videocamera stolen, while investigating illegal fishing operations

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 14 March 2007, journalist Yolanda Mío Arteaga, vice-director of television station Canal 31's news programme "Primer Impacto", was assaulted and her video-camera stolen by alleged members of a mafia involved in illegal fishing. The assault took place moments after Mío filmed the search, by police, of premises owned by the mafia in the port of Chimbote, northwestern Peru.

Iraq

Iraqi news presenter, driver abducted in Baghdad

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Peru

Radio journalists threatened, broadcast signal interfered with, following reports on corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - During February 2007, journalists Freddy Cano and Luis Alberto Corzo of Radio Líder were threatened by telephone by persons urging them to stop using their programme to broadcast accusations about alleged administrative irregularities committed during the administration of the former president of Arequipa's regional government, Daniel Vera Ballón. The city of Arequipa is located in southwestern Peru.

Pakistan

Seven journalists injured in Lahore protests; government to punish police officers responsible for raids on newspaper offices, television stations

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has again condemned the use of violence by police against journalists after a total of seven Pakistani journalists were injured while covering protests in Lahore on 17 March 2007 against the dismissal of the Supreme Court president.

Colombia

News editor of Radio Caracol receives death threats, flees country

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is concerned about the plight of Darío Arizmendi Posada, news editor at Radio Caracol, who was forced to flee the country on 8 March 2007 after receiving death threats from an unidentified group. RSF notes that in 2006 seven journalists were driven out of their home region or obliged to go abroad after threats from paramilitary or other armed groups.

Peru

Radio reporter gunned down in Jaén in apparent contract killing over his work

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF expresses its deepest sympathy with the family and colleagues of Miguel Pérez Julca, a radio journalist gunned down on 16 March 2007 in Jaén, in the northwestern province of Cajamarca. Given the stories Pérez Julca was covering and the manner of his death, RSF hopes the police will thoroughly investigate the possibility that it was connected with his work.

Mexico

States urged to decriminalise press offences as federal Congress has; proposals made for constitutional amendments to protect press

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has hailed the decriminalization of "defamation" and "insult" that was passed by the federal Senate on 6 March 2007 and was already approved by the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados ) on 18 April 2006. However, these offences are still crimes in most Mexican states, which should now conform to the federal legislation, the organisation said.

Peru

Teachers' union leader assaults journalist in Ayacucho

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 10 March 2007, reporter Edwin Gómez, of "La Calle" newspaper and Radio Wari radio station, was assaulted by Yuri Revollar, secretary general of the Ayacucho Teachers' Union, when the journalist was attempting to photograph him during a public gathering. The incident took place in Ayacucho, in southern Peru.

Democratic Republic of Congo

JED appeals to military auditor general to intervene in unjust detention of two journalists

(JED/IFEX) - In a 14 March 2007 letter to Brigadier General Joseph Ponde Isambwa, the Kinshasa Military High Court's auditor general, JED expressed urgent concern over the prolonged detention of two journalists: Bosange Mbaka (aka "Che Guevara") of "Mambenga" magazine and Papy Ntembe Moroni, a cameraman for the privately-owned Canal Congo Télévision (CCTV). Both men are being held at Kinshasa's Central Penitentiary (Centre Pénitentiaire et de Rééducation de Kinshasa, CPRK).

Chad

Journalist convicted of defamation

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Iraq

CAPSULE REPORT: On fourth anniversary of Iraq conflict, press marks deadliest toll

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 15 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Nepal

Newspaper distribution hindered

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 15 March 2007, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) cadres threatened newspaper distributors at Rautahat, a central district of Nepal, warning them not to sell Nepali language newspapers in the region.

Cuba

Spring just as sombre for independent press four years after "Black Spring" crackdown

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abbreviated version of a 15 March 2007 RSF alert:

Bulgaria

Political party campaign of harassment continues with new draft media law and protest march

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 15 March 2007 media release of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Afghanistan

Abducted Italian journalist's Afghani driver reportedly murdered, new demands made by captors

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Pakistan

Police raid television news offices in Islamabad

(PPF/IFEX) - On March 16, 2007, police entered the Geo News office building in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, shattered glass and started shelling within office premises. Geo Television is part of the Jang Group, Pakistan's largest media group.

Thailand

Foreigner caught defacing king's pictures throws spotlight on "lèse majesté" law

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The case of a Swiss national charged with "lèse majesté" in Thailand has thrown an international spotlight on the restrictive law that makes it a crime to insult or belittle the monarchy.

Senegal

Newspaper director, reporter given suspended prison terms and heavy fine for "defamation"; presidential lawyer sues two others

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 15 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Zimbabwe

Brutally assaulted journalists, opposition politicians, activists freed from police custody

(MISA/IFEX) - On 14 March 2007, journalists Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tendai Musiyu were released from police custody along with opposition Movement for Democratic (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other human rights activists. Their release comes after two nights in custody and severe assault at the hands of the Zimbabwean police.

Somalia

Arrested journalist held without charge, denied legal access

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2007 CPJ press release:

South Africa

Concerns over parliamentary processing of media bill without consultation with stakeholders

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2007 FXI press release:

Russia

Klebnikov murder trial delayed as defendant goes missing

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Zimbabwe

Editor suspended over article on corruption implicating top ruling politicians

(MISA/IFEX) - On 12 March 2007, firebrand journalist Sunsley Chamunorwa, renowned for his hard-hitting editorials and commentaries at the helm of the weekly "Financial Gazette", was suspended over a story reportedly involving the business interests of a powerful ruling Zanu-PF official.

Argentina

Political motivation suspected in cancellation of radio programme by Santa Cruz provincial station

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced concern that the 5 March 2007decision by LU14 Radio Provincia, a public radio station in the southern province of Santa Cruz, to eliminate the programme "La Ronda", which follows the cancellation of another programme by the same station in July 2006, was taken as a result of pressure from the provincial government.

South Africa

Disciplinary hearing of critical academic creates climate of fear in university, warns FXI

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 15 March 2006 FXI media release:

Ukraine

Independent newspaper closed, property seized, following "defamation" conviction; journalists harassed

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Colombia

After president's attack on editor, former intelligence director accuses president of smearing opponents to cover up own complicity with paramilitary groups

(RSF/IFEX) - President Alvaro Uribe's comments in an interview on Caracol Radio on 23 February 2007, accusing Carlos Lozano, the editor of the communist weekly "Voz", of links with the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia,. FARC), have been condemned by RSF, which said they had endangered Lozano.

Panama

RSF urges president to veto two proposed amendments to criminal code that endanger free expression

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2007 RSF letter to the president of Panama:

Mexico

Landmark bill decriminalising libel passed by Senate, needs only president's signature to become law

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 7 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Mauritania

Presidential election campaign being covered fairly by public media, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 13 March 2007 RSF press release:

Peru

Two journalists assaulted by protesting coca growers displeased with media coverage

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 10 March 2007, journalist Julio Aguirre Domínguez, of Radio Concierto radio station, was assaulted by a group of coca producers protesting against the eradication of their crop. The protest began on 8 March.

Venezuela

Ruling party National Assembly member prevents journalist from interviewing doctor about hospital crisis

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 7 February 2007, ruling party National Assembly member Berkis Solís stopped journalist Paola Lessey from completing an interview with a representative of the Regional Medical Doctors' Association, Mirlenys Sánchez, when she was asking the latter about accusations of unpaid salaries and damages to the infrastructure of the Guaiparo Hospital in Ciudad Guayana, in south-eastern Venezuela.

Venezuela

Municipal official assaults radio journalist following critical report

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 3 February 2007, Radio Única 102.7 journalist Miguel Bellorín was assaulted by Horangel Pérez, a municipal official, when he was interviewing two citizens near the municipal building of Upata, a town in southern Venezuela.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Police raid public radio station in Butembo, interrupting programmes and roughing up two journalists

(JED/IFEX) - Journalist in Danger (JED) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the raid on the public radio station (RTNC) in Butembo by a group of police officers, thereby interrupting a programme about insecurity in the city.

Rwanda

Two American journalists briefly detained by police; Rwandan journalist also detained before escaping

(JED/IFEX) - Reporter Kevin Whitelaw and photographer Kevin Horan of "US News and World Report", an American weekly published in Washington D.C., and Jean-Léonard Rugambage, a journalist with the weekly newspaper "Umuco" published in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, were detained by police on 6 March 2007 while covering a hearing of a gacaca (popular court) at Nyamiyaga, 25 km south of Kigali.

Iran

Two more journalists arrested; RSF calls for release of four journalists held in Kurdish northwest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of a total of four journalists held in Iran's Kurdish northwest after the arrests of Kia Jahani on 24 February 2007 in Marivan and Aso Salah on 8 March in Sanandaj. Two others arrested earlier, Adnan Hassanpour and Kaveh Javanmard, are still being held without being allowed visits.

Malta

Journalists attacked, injured, threatened by protestors

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

China

Repression of free expression increases as People's Congress closes

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Pakistan

Government censors TV coverage of police violence and withdraws advertising from newspaper

(RSF/IFEX) ? Reporters Without Borders has condemned two cases of direct government intervention aimed at influencing the content of independent media - the censorship of TV coverage of demonstrations in support of the newly-dismissed Supreme Court president and the withdrawal of state advertising from the leading independent daily newspaper "Dawn".

Sri Lanka

CPJ urges government to ensure newsprint delivery to Jaffna without interference

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 13 March 2007 CPJ letter to the Sri Lankan minister of mass media and information:

International / United States

Labour movement honours IFJ with human rights award for defending media workers' rights

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Bangladesh

Journalists face arbitrary arrest, harassment and criminal defamation suits after anti-corruption drive

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of three imprisoned journalists. The security forces have in recent days arrested the publisher of the national daily "Janakantha" and two local journalists. Both police and the army have been making use of emergency laws.

Indonesia

Police prevent television journalist from filming questioning of suspects

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A broadcast journalist was prevented from filming police as they questioned suspects in the East Java city of Kertosono on 5 March 2007, according to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), a SEAPA founding member in Indonesia.

Kazakhstan

Journalist found guilty of "distributing false information" in article critical of judge, fined

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 12 March 2007, the city court of Taraz in southern Kazakhstan found Galina Vybornova, a journalist for "Express K" newspaper, guilty of distributing false information, aimed at insulting the honor and dignity of Judge Bolat Berikov, under article 129 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan. Vybornova was fined 218,400 tenge (approx. US$1,700) and obliged to stay in the country by the court, despite the documentary evidence she submitted to substantiate the content of her article.

Sri Lanka

Government seals bank accounts of critical newspaper, its owner

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 13 March 2007 FMM press release:

Turkey

IFJ denounces military's "media blacklist", denial of press accreditation to critical journalists

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 13 March 2007 media release of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Kazakhstan

Adil Soz calls for information minister's resignation following lawsuit against television channel, harassment of journalists

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - Adil Soz International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech and the Union of Kazakh Journalists call on the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov to dismiss Information Minister Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, following a scandal involving Era TV.

Uganda

Journalists roughed up during trial of suspected rebels; IFJ calls for end to police harassment

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 13 March 2007 IFJ media release:

South Korea

Riot police club journalists covering protest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has written to Korean police chief Gen. Lee Taek-Soon to call for an investigation into the use of violence by riot police against 10 journalists covering a protest in Seoul on 10 March 2007 and the punishment of those responsible.

Central African Republic

Private press group executive jailed after criticizing official media body

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 13 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Egypt

Appeals court upholds blogger's conviction for "insulting Islam and president"

(HRinfo/IFEX) - On 12 March 2007, the Alexandria Appeals Court affirmed the first degree court's sentence of four years' imprisonment for Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Suliman Amer for "insulting Islam and the president of Egypt".

Burma

Court dismisses libel suit of democracy activist victimised by junta's manipulation of media

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On 9 March 2007, a Burmese court dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a democracy activist against 123 editors and publishers from 30 Rangoon-based newspapers, reports Mizzima.com, a SEAPA partner based in New Delhi, India.

United States

Mediation fails to free blogger held for "contempt of court"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Nepal

Armed group warns media against using vehicles to cover strike, transport newspapers

(FNJ/IFEX) - Madhesi Tiger Nepal (MTN), a hitherto unheard-of armed group, issued a press release on 13 March 2007, threatening the media, human rights activists and others with physical reprisals.

Malaysia

Authorities harass opposition publication over alleged transgressions of licence

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A major opposition publication in Malaysia was warned that "strict action" would be taken against it should it fail to abide by its permit conditions, according to Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA partner in Malaysia.

Mali

Radio station targeted over critical broadcasts as elections approach

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Egypt

Judge seeks to have HRinfo's website, 20 others blocked for "tarnishing government and president's reputation"

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo condemns Judge Abdel Fattah Mourad for taking on a case calling for the Egyptian government to block 21 Egyptian websites and blogs, as reported by the "Rozal Youssef" newspaper on 2 March 2007.

Brazil

Policeman convicted of journalist's 1998 murder rearrested

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 28 February 2007, police officer Monzart Castro Brasil, convicted of the murder of a journalist, was rearrested. He had been convicted and sentenced in September 2003 to 18 years in prison for the murder of Manoel Leal de Oliveira, the editor and founder of the daily newspaper "A Região". The murder took place in 1998 in the state of Bahía, in the country's northeast. However, in December 2003, Judge Aliomar Silva Brito freed the policeman, after accepting a writ of habeas corpus requesting his liberty pending the outcome of his appeal. The order for his re-capture was issued by Itabuna District Judge Marco Antônio Santos Bandeira.

Afghanistan

Taliban reportedly threaten to kill Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo

(RSF/IFEX) - More and more people in Italy are demonstrating their support for calls for the release of "La Repubblica" journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, whose kidnappers issued a second message with demands on 10 March 2007.

Morocco

Regional correspondent receives death threats

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has said it is very concerned about death threats made against Azzedin Gaiz, 44, correspondent in Khénifra, some 280 kilometres south-east of Rabat, for the national daily "Yawmiyat Ennass".

Burma

Arrested protesters released, but face life imprisonment if demonstrations repeated

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The military junta has released all nine demonstrators arrested for participating in a 22 February 2007 protest against the regime for its failing to address soaring inflation and other issues of the day, the New Delhi-based online daily Mizzima.com reported on 27 February.

Burma

CORRECTION: Police briefly detain three journalists covering protest

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Please note an error in the SEAPA/IFEX alert dated 26 February 2007. In paragraph three, it was mistakenly noted that one of the protesters arrested was a person by the name of Myint Shwe. SEAPA's source has since clarified that this person was not among the protesters arrested that day. SEAPA apologises for the error. A corrected version follows:

Somalia

Four reporters assaulted by soldiers; another detained by pro-government forces

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2007 IFJ press release:

Zimbabwe

Two AP journalists arrested, detained; whereabouts of one unknown

(MISA/IFEX) - On 12 March 2007, the High Court ordered the police to allow lawyers access to their clients, including two detained journalists, as well as opposition leaders and human rights activists.

Mexico

Congress and IACHR urged to intercede in Oaxaca crisis

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2007 RSF letter:

Bangladesh

Missing journalist Jamal Uddin found murdered

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Philippines

Vehicle of critical radio station bombed, following regular threats

(CMFR/IFEX) - An unidentified individual on a motorcycle bombed the service vehicle of dxCC (828kHz), a radio station of the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), while it was parked in front of the station in Cagayan de Oro city, Misamis Oriental, on 13 March 2007, at around 2:45 a.m. (local time). Cagayan de Oro is in northern Mindanao, the Philippines' second largest island.

Palestine

Second journalist kidnapped in Gaza in two months

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern after British journalist Alan Johnston, who has been the BBC's correspondent in Gaza for more than three years, was kidnapped by gunmen near his office on the afternoon of 12 March 2007 as he was returning from the Erez Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Iran

RSF calls for the release of jailed journalists, dissidents

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of 25 women journalists and feminist activists held in Tehran's Evin prison, who, on the eve of International Women's Day, began a hunger strike to protest against their continued detention.

Nepal

Two journalists stoned by protestors; two others assaulted while distributing newspapers; editor attacked, motorbike damaged

(FNJ/IFEX) - Journalists Santosh Yadav of "Rajdhani Daily" and Anil Adhikari of "The Blast" newspaper were attacked by Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) protestors on 9 March 2007 in Sunsari, an eastern district of Nepal. Yadav sustained serious injuries to his forehead when the MPRF activists hurled stones at them.

Nepal

Radio journalists receive death threats from politician in Banke District

(FNJ/IFEX) - Station manager Tula Adhikary and news staff Roshan Puri and Rakesh Mishra of Bageshwori FM, a radio station broadcast from Nepalgunj, were threatened by Ram Kumar Dixit, president of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party - Banke district, for disseminating news about a protest organised by the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF). Claiming that their reporting will exacerbate communal divisions, Dixit threatened the journalists to stop reporting or their life would be in danger, in a statement made on 9 March in Banke district, in mid-western Nepal.

The Gambia

Government company launches libel suit against newspaper

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Maldives

ARTICLE 19 recommends amendments to draft broadcasting bill to better protect free expression

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 9 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Thailand

iTV saga underscores continuing instability in country's media environment, says SEAPA

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 9 March 2007 SEAPA press release:

Sri Lanka

Report of international press freedom mission highlights dire situation for media

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Sri Lanka

Defence official's comments severely undermine media freedom, says FMM

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 23 February 2007 FMM press release:

Nepal

Staff of newspaper publishing house attacked, threatened by members of political group

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - Kantipur Publications's vehicle was attacked and vandalized by MPRF (Madhesi People's Rights Forum) cadres on 8 March 2007 in Duhabi Bazaar, Sunsari, an eastern district of Nepal.

Eritrea

RSF urges Eritrean diaspora to intercede on behalf of imprisoned journalists on 2,000th day since "Black Tuesday"

(RSF/IFEX) - With the number of days since Eritrea's "Black Tuesday" of 18 September 2001 about to reach 2,000, Reporters Without Borders has urged the Eritrean diaspora to demand an explanation from the government in Asmara for the disappearance of at least 14 journalists in the country's prisons, four of whom are feared dead.

Burma

Retiree arrested for posting satirical criticism against state-run newspapers

(SEAPA/IFEX) - According to Mizzima News, an online publication of the SEAPA Burma member organisation of the same name, on 7 March 2007, the Burmese military junta arrested a retired sailor, Thein Zan, in Thingangyun, Rangoon, for writing and posting on his fence a satirical piece entitled "Is that so, Maung Karlu?" which criticised state-run newspapers for publishing false news.

Mali

Court orders four-month suspended sentences for two editors

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 5 March 2007, the Bamako Commune II County Court sentenced managing editor Diaby Makoro Camara, and editor-in-chief Oumar Bouaré, of "Kabako", a privately-owned, monthly newspaper, to a four-month suspended sentence for defaming Mariamantia Diarra, Minister of Planning and the Interior.

Afghanistan

Taliban confirms it is holding Italian journalist and two Afghan guides, accuses them of spying

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo and his two Afghan guides, who went missing on 4 March 2007 in southern Afghanistan and have been captured by the Taliban.

Ukraine

Journalist in Mykolaiv sues local authorities after being insulted, threatened and forced to resign

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Egypt

Court disregards defence's request for witnesses in trial of Al-Jazeera journalist

(HRinfo/IFEX) - On 7 March 2007, the Nozha Misdemeanour Court held the third hearing on the case against Howayda Taha, a producer with Al-Jazeera television.

Guatemala

Journalist assaulted by armed man, fears for her life in wake of death threats against other journalists

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 3 March 2007, at 10:00 p.m. (local time), journalist Susana Morazán, announcer for the 11:00 p.m. news programme for Canal 3 Telediario television station, was assaulted while she was getting gas at a self-serve station located on Roosevelt Road in zone 11 of Guatemala City, the capital.

China / International

WAN rejects Chinese request to withdraw award to imprisoned journalist Shi Tao

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is an 8 March 2007 WAN press release:

Mongolia

Journalists refused access to foreign-owned orphanages; one manhandled by security guard, threatened by staff

(Globe International/IFEX) - On 4 and 5 March, 2007, foreign-owned orphanages Mother Terza and Uguumur, operating in the capital city Ulaanbaatar, violated the right of access to information of Mongolian National Broadcaster (MNB) journalist Mr. J. Altangerel and commercial television TV5 journalist Ms. D. Dorjmaa.

Turkey

Court blocks access to YouTube because of videos "insulting" Ataturk

(RSF/IFEX) - On 7 March 2007, an Istanbul court ordered Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to the US video-sharing website Youtube ( http://www.youtube.com ) because of content deemed insulting to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish state. After the site agreed to remove the offending videos, the same court lifted the order (but it was still blocked at 3:15 p.m. GMT on 8 March).

Mongolia

Police prevent media from photographing helicopter crash site; MP speaks ill of journalists

(Globe International/IFEX) - On 27 February 2007, Member of Parliament Ts. Bataa insulted journalists at the press conference regarding the crash of an Mi-8 helicopter. On the day before the press conference, police staff prohibited journalists from photographing the helicopter that crashed in Bornuur Soum, Tuv Aimag, almost 100 kilometres northwest of the capital city Ulaanbaatar.

Ghana

Irate soccer fans stone, injure journalists; seize and damage photographer's camera

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 28 February 2007, fans of Ashantigold Sporting Club, a soccer club in Obuasi, a mining town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, attacked journalists after a league game in which the club lost to Hearts of Oak, an Accra-based team.

Palestine / Israel

Journalists hit by Israeli stun grenades, tear-gassed in the West Bank

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Philippines

Arrest warrants issued for five journalists, one detained overnight, over criminal libel case

(CMFR/IFEX) - Four editors, including one who was arrested and spent a night in a police station, and a staff writer of a Philippine online magazine, posted P10,500 (approx. US$210) bail bond each at the Pasig city police station on 8 March 2007 over a P100 million (approx. US$2.06 million) libel suit filed by Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson in 2005. Singson is now a candidate for the senate under the Arroyo administration ticket. Ilocos Sur is a province north of Manila.

Vietnam

Authorities refuse to renew BBC correspondent's visa

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced dismay at the news that the Vietnamese government has decided not to renew BBC World Service correspondent Bill Hayton's press visa. Hayton will have to leave the country by 15 March 2007.

Bangladesh

Soldiers raid offices of outspoken newspaper, arrest and detain editor for "tarnishing country's image abroad"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Iran

Twenty-two journalists detained, three still in prison, as authorities attempt to silence women's voices in Tehran

(CJFE/IFEX) - CJFE calls upon the government of Iran to immediately release three journalists detained after a 4 March 2007 demonstration.

Mexico

CAPSULE REPORT: ARTICLE 19 mission reviews country's freedom of expression situation

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 2 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Guatemala

Government passes law undermining community radio stations

(AMARC/IFEX) - On 6 March 2007, AMARC-Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC-ALC) presented a complaint before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) against the government of Guatemala for what it considers "a serious and uninformed decision" that threatens freedom of expression, indigenous cultural rights, and peasant communities throughout the country. AMARC also believes that the decision "frustrates and undermines the efforts made through the Dialogue Roundtable supported by the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and the Inter-American Commission On Human Rights (IACHR)" aimed at modifying national legislation so that it would recognise the rights of community radio stations.

Thailand

Government repeals suspension of sole private television station

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On 7 March 2007, the military-installed government reversed its earlier decision to suspend broadcast of Thailand's sole private station, which was declared bankrupt and due to be taken over by the state, allowing it to continue on-air pending legal settlement of the takeover and liquidation of the station's assets.

International

CAPSULE REPORT: Violence against women journalists increasing, reports RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 6 March 2007 RSF press release:

Swaziland

Court dismisses education minister's defamation suit against "Times of Swaziland"

(MISA/IFEX) - On March 7, 2007 the High Court of Swaziland dismissed a E750,000 (approx. US$100,000) lawsuit against the "Times of Swaziland" newspaper filed by the Minister for Education, Themba Msibi. The case was dismissed on grounds that the wrong parties were cited in the particulars of claim.

International

INSI report on killed journalists "a wake-up call for media and governments," says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 7 March 2007 IFJ media release:

International

"Women's voices must be heard", concludes ARTICLE 19 in publication celebrating women's journalism

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:

Liberia

Editor receives death threats

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 7 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Azerbaijan

Editor receives death threat after report on colleague's murder

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 7 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Swaziland

King's aide forbids media questioning during press conference

(MISA/IFEX) - On February 23, 2007, one of King Mswati III's right-hand men heavily censored the media during a press conference which the King gave on his return from a European trip. This latest incident comes in the wake of several appeals by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Swaziland, to Swazi traditional authorities to desist from attempts to censor and intimidate journalists.

Nigeria

Outspoken anti-corruption campaigner violently attacked, target of death threats

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 7 March 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Swaziland

Member of Parliament sues "Swazi Observer" for defamation

(MISA/IFEX) - The semi-private newspaper, the "Swazi Observer", has been sued for E1 million (approx. US$143,000) by a Member of Parliament for alleged defamation.

United States

Judge drops contempt of court proceedings against two "San Francisco Chronicle" reporters

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has welcomed federal judge Jeffrey White's decision on 1 March 2007 to cancel contempt of court findings and sanctions against "San Francisco Chronicle" reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada for refusing to reveal their sources of leaks in 2004 about an investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes. They had been found in contempt of court in 2005 and faced up to 18 months in prison.

The Gambia

Two journalists arrested

(MFWA/IFEX) - Two journalists in the Gambia, Modou Sonko, head of the lithographic section of "Daily Observer", a pro-government Banjul-based newspaper, and Isaac Success, production assistant with "Daily Express", a privately-owned newspaper, were on 3 March 2007 arrested by personnel from the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Afghanistan

Italian reporter goes missing; the Taliban says it has seized "a spy posing as a journalist"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 6 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Broadcaster's offices raided, signal interrupted by police

(JED/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a JED alert:

Russia

Murdered journalist was about to expose surreptitious weapons supply to Syria and Iran, says CJES

(CJES/IFEX) - Ivan Safronov, a journalist with the newspaper "Kommersant", died under unknown circumstances after falling out of his apartment window in Moscow on March 2, 2007, "Kommersant" reported on March 6.

Kenya

New Tabloid editor, unable to pay libel damages ordered by court, jailed for one year

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the one-year prison sentence imposed on 6 March 2007 on Mburu Muchoki, the editor of the tabloid weekly "The Independent", for libelling the justice minister and called on the government to amend the laws so that judges in future can pass fairer sentences for press offences.

Iraq

Slain editor Mohan al-Zaher had criticised government spending; another, Jamal al-Zubaidi, had been wounded in previous shooting attack

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Syria

New charge brought against writer Michel Kilo under military law

(RSF/IFEX) - Detained journalist and writer Michel Kilo was taken before a military prosecutor in Damascus on 6 March 2007 and accused of inciting fellow inmates in Adra prison, near Damascus, to sign the "Beirut-Damascus, Damascus-Beirut" joint statement, which he himself signed in May 2006 and for which he is being prosecuted by a criminal court.

Afghanistan

Journalist freed after being held for one year on baseless accusation

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the release of radio journalist Abdul Qudoos after nearly a year in detention. He was set free after a court in the eastern province of Parwan decided on 31 January 2007 to drop the charges of attempted murder that had been brought against him.

Zimbabwe

Two journalists fined for practicing journalism illegally; two more charged for "criminal abuse of duty"; two others convicted under AIPPA

(MISA/IFEX) - Zimbabwean E-TV reporter Peter Moyo, who is based in South Africa, has been fined Z$40,000 (approx. US$160) under the controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) for practising journalism in Zimbabwe without accreditation.

Vietnam

Two lawyers and cyber-dissidents arrested for "hostile propaganda"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has urged Hanoi-based diplomats to seek the release of Nguyen Van Dai and Thi Cong Nhan, both lawyers and cyber-dissidents, who were arrested at their homes this morning. Like Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest and dissident who has been under house arrest since 19 February 2007, they are accused of "hostile propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."

Nepal

Interim constitution could better guarantee free expression, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Swaziland

Pastor prays for journalists' death for writing unfavourable reports about him

(MISA/IFEX) - On March 2, 2007, controversial church pastor Justice Dlamini threatened two journalists with death through divine intervention.

United States

Declassified information reveals detained Al-Jazeera cameraman force-fed during hunger strike

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Russia

Critical journalist dies in mysterious fall

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Paraguay

President Duarte affirms commitment to press freedom, signs Declaration of Chapultepec

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is an abridged translation of a 22 February 2007 IAPA press release:

Libya

On Libyan Arab Jamahiriya's 30th anniversary, still no word of journalist arrested in 1973

(RSF/IFEX) - As Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi inaugurated festivities on 2 March 2007 marking the 30 anniversary of his proclamation of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Reporters Without Borders pointed out that there is still no news of Abdullah Ali Al-Sanussi Al-Darrat, a journalist who was arrested 34 years ago.

Zimbabwe

Government admits to jamming radio station

(MISA/IFEX) - The Zimbabwe government has admitted that it is jamming the Voice of America's Studio 7 broadcasts into the country, claiming its actions are aimed at protecting Zimbabwe's sovereignty.

Colombia

IFJ accuses President Uribe of "reckless and life-threatening" attack on newspaper editor

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 March 2007 IFJ media release:

Iraq

Editor shot to death after botched abduction; missing editor found dead with gunshot wounds

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Ukraine

Prosecutor says death of key figure in Gongadze murder case unrelated, calls it "suicide" despite expert's testimony otherwise

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Peru

Ayacucho-based journalist still being harassed and threatened five months after escaping dynamite attack

(RSF/IFEX) - Elías Navarro Palomino, the editor of the local weekly "Línea Roja" and correspondent of the national daily "La República", has told RSF he is still being threatened five months after he was the target of dynamite explosion. In the latest incident, two strangers came looking for him at his home in the southern city of Ayacucho at night and questioned neighbours about him.

Guatemala

Journalists receive death threats over coverage of murders of Salvadorean politicians and policemen alleged to be their murderers

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 28 February 2007, journalists Haroldo Sánchez, director of the television news channel Guatevisión, and journalist Samanta Guerrero, who works for Radio Punto radio station, each received death threats, delivered by several different means, aimed at intimidating them into halting their coverage of news related to the murders of three Salvadorean National Assembly members and of the four Guatemalan policemen charged with the crime.

Ireland

Journalist arrested, two others investigated, for publishing "classified information"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2007 CPJ press release:

United States / Afghanistan

US troops threaten and censor journalists after killing of civilians

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for an explanation from the US Army for threats and censorship against Afghan journalists, including two Associated Press (AP) correspondents, who were reporting on civilian deaths in a shooting by US Special Forces on the road between Kabul and Jalalabad in the east.

Somalia

High Court hands down heavy prison sentences to four journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the heavy prison sentences passed on 4 March 2007 by a High Court in Hargeisa, the capital of the northern breakaway state of Somaliland, on the publisher of the privately-owned daily "Haatuf" and three of its journalists for allegedly defaming the government, the president and his family.

Azerbaijan

Two years on, journalist's murderers still at large; colleagues skeptical of "confession" from detained former Interior Ministry officer

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Tunisia

Mohammed Abbou Day: IFEX-TMG delegation blocked and intimidated at prison gates

(IFEX-TMG) - The following is a 1 March 2007 IFEX-TMG press release:

Yemen

Renewed concern about online censorship after authorities block access to opposition site

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about growing political censorship of the Internet in Yemen after the authorities blocked access to the opposition website http://www.al-shora.net on 24 February 2007. The site regularly carries articles about corruption, human rights and the need for political and cultural reforms. Several websites and chat forums were temporarily blocked during last September's presidential elections.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Publisher severely beaten in "phantom minister" case

(JED/IFEX) - Faustin Bela Mako, assistant secretary responsible for communications for the Lubumbashi section of the National Union of Congolese Federalists (UNAFEC, a political party in the coalition that contributed to the election of President Joseph Kabila), was severely beaten on 2 March 2007 by some 10 individuals identified by witnesses as being close to Gabriel Kyungu wa Kumwanza, president of UNAFEC/Katanga and a provincial member of Parliament. The incident took place at the Kasapa bus stop in Lubumbashi, in the southeastern province of Katanga.

Ukraine

Journalist receives death threats

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Yemen

Editors face criminal prosecution over critical reporting

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 2 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Rwanda

Imprisoned Congolese university professor's health in danger; RSF calls for his release

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Congolese university professor Idesbald Byabuze Katabaruka because of the tenuous nature of the charges against him and the risk that detention poses to his frail health. He has been held since 16 February 2007 in the Rwandan capital of Kigali in connection with a 2005 report critical of President Paul Kagame, which he says he did not write. On 23 February, a court ordered him held for 30 days pending trial.

Gabon

Critical tabloid suspended for three months

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 2 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Thailand

Interim government vows to block launch of satellite television station

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called on Thailand's military-installed interim government, the Council for National Security (CNS), and in particular Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, not to repeat the errors of the past by trying to censor the media and above all control television broadcasting.

Thailand

Independent television station faces bankruptcy and government takeover

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Nepal

Strike organisers threaten to burn journalist's home over incriminating photographs; protesters threaten another over lack of coverage

(FNJ/IFEX) - Journalist Roshan Neupane was threatened by a group of people organizing a strike on 28 February 2007 in Nawalpur, Sarlahi, the central terai district of Nepal.

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

Warrant for arrest of former Indonesian army officer

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the warrant issued on 1 March 2007 by Sydney coroner Dorelle Pinch for the arrest of Yunus Yosfiah, the former Indonesian army officer who led the attack on the East Timor border town of Balibo on 16 October 1975 in which five journalists working for two Australian TV stations were killed.

Cuba

Independent journalist sentenced to 22 months in prison after being held 19 months without trial

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced surprise at the 22-month prison sentence which Roberto de Jesús Guerra Pérez, a correspondent of the Miami-based Payolibre and Nueva Prensa Cubana websites and the US government-funded Radio Martí, received on 27 February 2007 from a Havana court on a charge of "disturbing the peace," and said it hoped the 19 months he has already spent in detention will be deducted from the time he has to serve.

Peru

Radio journalist fired, his programme cancelled, for refusing to cease critical reporting on Loreto municipality's administration

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 17 February 2007, journalist Daniel Arriola Apuela's programme "Punto Clave", broadcast by Radio Nauta radio station, was cancelled by station owner Nino Soria Arévalo, after the journalist refused to cease criticizing the work of the mayor and of various other municipal officials of Loreto, a rural municipality located northeast Peru.

Indonesia

Deaths of two television journalists and injury of a third covering ferry fire probe "a bitter reminder" about risks, says SEAPA

(SEAPA/IFEX) - SEAPA is saddened over the deaths of broadcast journalists Suherman, 31, and Muhammad Guntur, 36, who were killed on 25 February 2007, in Jakarta, Indonesia, while covering an investigation into a ferry fire that cost some 50 lives.

Russia

Interim Chechen president's claims that Berezovsky behind Politkovskaya and Litvinenko murders undermine search for truth, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - Chechnya's new interim president has accused Boris Berezovsky of being behind the murders of Anna Politkovskaya and Alexander Litvinenko. However, "Novaya Gazeta" says the allegations are baseless and are designed to draw the investigators away from the real instigators.

Germany

Constitutional Court ruling favours journalists' right to protect their sources

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed a 27 February 2007 ruling by the German constitutional court that a federal police raid in September 2005 on the offices of "Cicero", a political magazine that had published details from a leaked police report about Al-Qaeda, and the copying of data from its computers were "unconstitutional."

Pakistan

IFJ mission calls for government action on "crisis of safety"

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 February 2007 IFJ media release:

Côte d'Ivoire

Stories critical of president trigger charges against four journalists

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Nigeria

Bill will imprison those who speak out, show, or organise support for lesbian and gay rights

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch press release:

United States

Imprisoned Al-Jazeera cameraman allegedly on hunger strike; health deteriorating

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Egypt

Journalists fined, their prison sentences dropped, for "insulting president"

(HRinfo/IFEX) - The following is a 28 February 2007 HRinfo press release:

Malaysia

Authorities ban films, books, television talk show; film director appeals ban

(SEAPA/IFEX) - SEAPA is concerned over a series of actions by Malaysian authorities against broadcast, print and electronic media, which point to increasing intolerance for free expression and differing viewpoints.

Bahrain

Blogger sued for libel for criticising minister; "Leaflet Detainees" released, given royal pardon

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a 26 February 2007 statement from BCHR, an interim member of IFEX:

Bahrain

BCHR president and other government critics facing security charges and possible prison terms

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is an abridged statement from BCHR, an interim member of IFEX:

Cambodia

Human rights groups march from Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat for free expression

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2007 SEAPA press release:

Tunisia

French media censored in Tunisia because of articles by journalist Taoufik Ben Brik

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the action of the Tunisian authorities in banning issues of two French publications, the daily "Le Monde" and the weekly "Le Nouvel Observateur", and blocking the website of a third, the daily "Libération", because of articles by Tunisian journalist Taoufik Ben Brik critical of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Turkey

Authorities harass critical television station, probe finances of staff and programme guests

(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is a 26 February 2007 Freedom House press release:

Sri Lanka

Weekly newspaper executive arrested under anti-terror law

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Sri Lankan security forces' improper use of the anti-terror law to arrest people working for the media. Dushantha Basnayake, financial director of Standard Newspapers Private Limited (SNPL), which publishes the Sinhalese-language weekly "Mawbima", was arrested in the capital, Colombo, on 26 February 2007.

Israel

IDF detains TV director, attacks journalists during Nablus raid

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Liberia

Newspaper's licence revoked, premises sealed

(CEMESP/IFEX) - On 27 February 2007, the government of Liberia revoked the operational license of "The Independent" newspaper in Monrovia for one year.

Iraq

As arrests, harassment and violence increase, RSF calls for protection and respect for work of journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is deeply concerned by repeated violations of journalists' rights in Iraq, where they have been frequently targeted with impunity by sectarian militia, Iraqi security forces and the US army.

Nepal

Students attack journalists covering college event

(FNJ/IFEX) - Deepak Gyawali, secretary of the FNJ Rupandehi chapter and a correspondent of "Samaya" weekly and "Rajdhani" daily, and Chopraj Sharma, a reporter of the "Tilottama Daily" newspaper, were attacked by a group of students affliated to the Nepal Magar Association in Butwal, a western town of Nepal, at around 10 a.m. (local time) on 27 February 2007.

Bangladesh

Two television stations off-air, newspaper's operations reduced, after fatal fire

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 February 2007 CPJ press release:

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

Under government pressure, Balibo Five hearings to be held in secret

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at the pressure applied by the Australian federal government so that three hearings in a coroner's enquiry into the death of Brian Peters and four others journalists in East Timor in 1975 are held in camera.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist sentenced to three months in prison, heavy fines in defamation case

(JED/IFEX) - On 26 February 2007, the Kalamu Peace Court in the city of Boma, in Bas-Congo province sentenced Popol Ntula Vita, a reporter with the Kinshasa-based weekly "La Cite Africaine", to three months in prison without parole and a fine of US$6,450 in damages.

Iraq

Iraqi editor reported missing in Baghdad

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Pakistan

International fact-finding mission tells government it must solve security crisis confronting journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 26 February 2007 RSF press release:

Pakistan

Journalist, companion safe after spending 50 days in captivity

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has welcomed the news that journalist Sohail Qalandar, of "The Daily Express" newspaper, and his companion Muhammad Niaz are safe and sound in Peshawar after reportedly managing to escape from their kidnappers on the night of 20 February 2007. They spent 50 days in captivity in the tribal areas of northwestern Pakistan.

Paraguay

Press freedom uncertain until journalist's disappearance is solved, impunity in murders ended, and "damages awards industry" curbed, warns IAPA

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 23 February 2007 IAPA press release:

Bulgaria

Offices of two newspapers invaded by MP, leader and supporters of political party, editor threatened with assault over critical coverage

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a letter to Bulgarian authorities by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Russia

Independent newspaper and staff ordered to pay "damages" to powerful businessman, face other pressure tactics

(CJES/IFEX) - Andrei Mikhailov, founder of "Khronograf Togliatti", the only independent publication in Togliatti, a city in the Samara region, has reported that serious pressure is being exerted on the newspaper.

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

Australian officials said to have lied, destroyed evidence about Indonesia's premeditated murder of five journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - The testimony of former members of the Australian intelligence services, including George Brownbill and Ian Cunliffe, brought a major new development on the 11th and 12th days of a coroner's enquiry into the deaths of five foreign journalists on 16 October 1975 in the East Timor border village of Balibo.

Azerbaijan

Independent journalists barred from former minister's trial

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the exclusion on 25 February 2007 of many representatives of the independent and opposition press from the second hearing in the trial of former health minister Ali Insanov. Although it was open to the public, only journalists from TV stations and pro-governmental media outlets such as "525 Gazet", "Iki Shahil", "Yeni Azerbaycan" and the news agency APA were allowed into the courtroom.

China

Former newspaper president's sentence reduced by one year

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has welcomed the news that the sentence of Yu Huafeng, the former president of the "Nanfang Dushi Bao" newspaper, has been reduced by one year. It comes nine days after the release of the newspaper's former managing editor, Li Minying. Both were convicted on corruption charges. Yu's lawyer said he did not know why his client's sentence was reduced.

Iraq

Sweeping martial law decree in Baghdad restricts basic freedoms of speech and association, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 23 February 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Iraq

Two journalists killed

(RSF/IFEX) - Hussein Al Zubaydi, a journalist with the weekly "al-Ahali", was killed by gunmen in unclear circumstances in Baghdad on 19 February 2007, while the bullet-riddled body of Abderrazak Hashim Al-Khakani, a journalist with radio Jumhuriyat Al Iraq, was discovered in a Baghdad morgue on 20 February. He had been kidnapped a week earlier in the east Baghdad neighbourhood of al-Jihad.

The Gambia

Police break silence on missing journalist, deny arresting him

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 21 February 2007, for the first time during the eight-month disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of the pro-government Banjul-based newspaper "Daily Observer", the Gambia Police Force officially denied ever arresting him.

Philippines

Journalists from 14 countries protest inaction on crimes against journalists; IFJ reiterates call to president

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 February 2007 IFJ media release:

Malaysia

Government bans independent documentary for "political incorrectness" and "distortion of history"

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Malaysian government has banned an independent documentary about the lives of former Malay Muslim members of the now defunct Communist Party of Malaya.

Burma

Police briefly detain three journalists covering protest

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Burmese police briefly detained three local journalists covering a protest on 22 February 2007 in Rangoon, according to reports from Mizzima News, a New Delhi-based online daily run by exiled journalists.

Zimbabwe

State-controlled broadcaster censors president's comments

(MISA/IFEX) - On 20 February 2007, the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) censored President Robert Mugabe's interview on the eve of his 83rd birthday, deleting his comments on the simmering leadership succession crisis in the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).

Nepal

Media workers prevented from distributing newspapers, camera seized; television journalist brutally attacked, camera damaged

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 24 February 2007, cadres of Tharu Kalyankari Sabha (TKS), a political group demanding a separate Tharu state, physically prevented Dharma Pal Raut, marketing manager of the newspaper "Rajbiraj Today", and Shiva Narayan Shah, its publisher and one of its reporters, from distributing newspapers in Kalyanpur, Saptari, an eastern district in Nepal.

Cuba

"Chicago Tribune" and "El Universal" newspapers' correspondents told to leave, BBC correspondent denied visa

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned Cuba's 22 February 2007 decision not to renew the visas of American Gary Marx, correspondent for the "Chicago Tribune" newspaper, and Spaniard Cesar Gonzáles-Calero, correspondent for the Mexico City-based "El Universal" newspaper. Their accreditation has been withdrawn and they have been told to leave the country. As well, BBC correspondent Stephen Gibbs has been refused an entry visa.

Mexico

IACHR urges safety measures to protect community radio stations

(AMARC/IFEX) - In light of the increasing threats and attacks on community radio stations in Mexico, on 16 February 2007, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IAHCR), of the Organisation of American States (OAS), urged the Mexican government to take every measure necessary to ensure the safety of community radio workers and to protect their right to life and to freedom of expression. These stations are members of AMARC.

Eritrea

Three public media journalists released from detention but kept under surveillance

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has learned that three Eritrean state media journalists were recently released after being held for several weeks at police station No. 5 in the capital, Asmara, but a fourth is still being held.

Egypt

CAPSULE REPORT: RSF urges President Mubarak to respect his commitment to reform laws governing press offences

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2007 RSF press release:

Bulgaria

Journalist threatened with acid attack

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders was shocked to learn that two men walked up to journalist Maria Nikolayeva's office, in the offices of the weekly "Politika" on 9 February 2007 and threatened to throw acid in her face if she continued to write about a real estate development project in Strandzha national park, Bulgaria's largest protected area.

Rwanda

University professor who publishes newspaper arrested

(JED/IFEX) - On 23 February 2007, the Gikondo local court in Kigali ordered the 30-day detention of Bukavu Catholic University (CUB) professor Idesbald Byabuze, who is also director of the newspaper "Mashariki News", published in Bukavu, South-Kivu province's main city, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Peru

Prison warden threatens to kill reporter, punches her in face

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 20 February 2007, the warden of the El Milagro prison, José Cabanillas Noriega, threatened to kill Karla Gómez Otoya, a reporter with the newspaper "Correo de Trujillo". He also punched her in the face. The incident took place in the city of Trujillo in northwestern Peru.

Colombia

Unidentified gunmen fire shots outside newspaper's offices, wounding three, following death threats against its director

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Burma

Organisers of literacy event arrested by military intelligence officers, detained without charge

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Senegal

Authorities urged to maintain order after government supporters attack 15 journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the attack by pro-government demonstrators on about 15 journalists who were following a convoy of supporters of opposition presidential candidate Idrissa Seck, of the Rewmi party and the And Liguey Senegal coalition, in the Dakar district of Mermoz on 21 February 2007.

Panama

Draft bill threatening freedom of expression one step away from becoming law

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Namibia

MPs criticise media as "unpatriotic", "disrespectful" of politicians

(MISA/IFEX) - The Namibian chapter MISA strongly condemns the attacks on the media by some members of Parliament during the First Session of the Fourth Parliament at National Assembly in Windhoek on 21 February 2007.

Russia

Detained journalist sent to psychiatric hospital, denied family visits

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Croatia

Crime-investigating television journalist gets death threats

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a letter by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate, to Croatian authorities:

Benin

Three journalists and executive of private media group sentenced to prison, heavy damages, fines

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Liberia

Publisher wanted by police over publication of sensitive photographs

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 20 February 2007, the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Liberian Police declared Sam Dean, publisher of the privately-owned Monrovia-based newspaper "Independent", wanted for publishing pornographic materials.

Indonesia

Newspaper investigated for alleged defamation; journalist asked to testify against colleague

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia has written to the Kupang municipal police in East Nusa Tenggara province to express concern over an investigation into the newspaper "Harian Kursor" for alleged defamation and maltreatment of a broadcast correspondent.

Peru

Former mayor assaults radio reporter during interview, falsely accuses reporter of assault

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 15 February 2007, journalist Efraín Chunga Lovón, host of the programme "Panorama Noticias", was assaulted by Víctor del Castillo Alarcón, former mayor of the district of Santiago, in Cusco, when the journalist was interviewing him in the radio station, in order to air the interview later on his programme, which is broadcast by Radio Salcantay.

Belarus

Two independent newspapers threatened with closure for not having registered premises

(RSF/IFEX) - "Vitebsky Kurier", an independent biweekly based in the northeastern city of Vitebsk, appealed to the commercial Supreme Court on 20 February 2007 against an order issued by a lower court on 12 January under which it should be evicted from its premises on 23 February, Reporters Without Borders has learned from Zanna Popova, the head of the company that publishes the newspaper.

Egypt

Young blogger sentenced to four years in prison for "disparaging religion" and "defaming the president"

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo condemns the harsh sentence announced by Moharram Beik Misdemeanor Court in Alexandria against the secular blogger, Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman, popularly known as Kareem Amer. Amer was sentenced for four years in prison on charges of disparaging religion and defaming the Egyptian president.

Russia

Journalist legally persecuted, his working material seized, in defamation lawsuit by regional governor

(CJES/IFEX) - Bailiffs seized the property of Georgy Borodyansky, a reporter for the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta", in Omsk on 14 February 2007, the radio station Ekho Moskvy reported. The seizure was made on the orders of the Omsk Kuibyshevsky District Court, which ruled in favour of the lawsuit filed by Omsk region's governor, Leonid Polezhayev, against "Novaya Gazeta" and Borodyansky in mid-January.

Pakistan / Afghanistan

Afghan media laws to be tightened further; Pakistan government bans broadcasting of various Afghan television stations

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Un journaliste libéré après 35 jours de détention à Kinshasa

(JED/IFEX) - Rigobert Kwakala Kash, éditeur-directeur responsable du bihebdomadaire "Le Moniteur", paraissant à Kinshasa, capitale de la République démocratique du Congo, a été libéré, vendredi 16 février 2007, après 35 jours de détention au CPRK (Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa). Le journaliste a déclaré à JED avoir payé une caution de 30 000 FC (environ 60$US) pour sa liberté provisoire.

Vietnam

Three priests who edit free speech magazine arrested: one jailed, two under house arrest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest and one of the editors of the underground magazine "Tu do Ngôn luan" ("Free Speech"), who was arrested on 19 February 2007 during an "administrative check" at the archdiocesan building where he lives in the city of Hue (Center). Two others editors of "Tu do Ngôn luan", Father Chan Tin and Father Phan Van Loi, were also put under house arrest.

South Africa

FXI argues before Constitutional Court on student's right to wear nose-stud as freedom of expression

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 19 February 2007 FXI media release:

Mozambique

Supreme Court rules public right to information justifies live coverage of journalist Cardoso's murder trial

(MISA/IFEX) - The Mozambican chapter of MISA welcomes the decision by the Supreme Court to reject the appeals made by the six men who were found guilty in January 2003 of the murder of the country's top investigative reporter, Carlos Cardoso.

South Africa

Court clears university professor of defamation; "a victory for increasingly threatened academic freedom", says FXI

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2007 FXI statement:

Guinea

Presidential guards bar journalists from meeting

(MFWA/IFEX) - Journalists from five international media organizations and a local counterpart were on 20 February 2007 chased out of a meeting by the Battalion Autonome de la Securite Presidentielle (BASP), guards of General Lansana Conte.

Uganda

Private television station shut down

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2007 IFJ media release:

Indonesia

Eighteen imprisoned for peacefully advocating independence of Papua

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

South Africa

FXI lodges complaint over broadcasting corporation's inaction on blacklisting report

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2007 FXI press release:

Philippines

Journalist, editors, publisher of newspaper targeted in new libel lawsuit by president's husband

(CMFR/IFEX) - Fifty-two journalists are now facing libel charges from Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, husband of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Arroyo sued seven staff members of the "Philippine Daily Inquirer", including the publisher and several editors, and demanded P11 million (approx US$220,000) in damages, on 20 February 2007, adding these seven to 45 others he has sued (see IFEX alerts of 30, 12 and 8 January 2007, 15 December, 14 November, and 17 October 2006 and others).

International / Afghanistan

Afghan editor killed; 2007 "already a devastating year of bloodshed for journalism", says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 February 2007 IFJ media release:

Guinea

Two radio station employees released; RSF calls for lifting of state of siege after week-long news blackout

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Guinean authorities to lift the state of siege that was proclaimed on 12 February 2007, which has had the effect of imposing a complete news blackout by preventing newspapers and radio stations from working and by blocking Internet access.

Algeria

Dubious charges used to silence outspoken human rights lawyers; government bans conference on issue of disappeared

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 20 February 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Sri Lanka

Defence ministry website misrepresents FMM's position on three abducted journalists

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 16 February 2007 FMM letter to Sri Lankan Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa:

Peru

Journalist threatened anew, accused of defamation for criticizing police work

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 19 February 2007, "Radio Calor" radio station journalist Aldo Meza Torres was warned that he would be beaten if he continued criticizing the work of Casma's police, headed by Major Marino Giménez Carrera. The threat was made by telephone while Meza was broadcasting the programme "Rompiendo Esquemas". Meza stated that he has criticized the police because of administrative irregularities and abuse of authority. The town of Casma is located in the Ancash region, northwestern Peru.

Peru

Radio journalist in Camaná beaten, receives death threat

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 13 January 2007, journalist Alfredo del Carpio Linares, of radio station "Armonía de Camaná", was beaten by three people near the station. According to the journalist, the assault stems from the dissatisfaction of a group of citizens with the station's editorial line regarding an intercity transport problem in the town of Camaná, southwestern Peru.

Paraguay

Lives of two journalists under threat; television programme pulled at senator's behest

(SPP/IFEX) - The SPP has expressed its extreme concern for the safety of Javier Núñez, correspondent for the daily newspaper "Ultima Hora" and Canal 9 television station in the city of Coronel Oviedo, capital of the department of Caaguazú. Vernicio Scherer, currently in prison and accused of car theft and trafficking in stolen cars, has threatened to kill Núñez and "his people" when he is eventually released from prison. The threat was made after Núñez reported on a search of Scherer's auto wrecking shop conducted by the prosecutor's office, during which parts from more than 80 stolen vehicles were found.

Ukraine

Television editor assaulted, warned against covering labour dispute at another station

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Morocco

Police arrest Swedish freelance photographer in capital of Western Sahara

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arrest of Swedish freelance photographer Lars Björk on 19 February 2007 in El Aaiún, the capital of Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara, after he took photos of a demonstration by young Sahrawis waving the flag of the pro-independence Polisario Front.

Iraq

U.S. soldiers carry out armed raid on Iraqi journalists' union

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Ghana

Police boss assures journalists of protection

(MFWA/IFEX) - Ghana's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, assured Ghanaian journalists on 17 February 2007 that the police service would give them the necessary protection to enable them to discharge their constitutional mandate of demanding accountability from public office holders.

Iran

Websites blocked under a decree passed in November 2006

(RSF/IFEX) - Regulations adopted on 27 November 2006 with the aim of facilitating control of the Internet have been openly used for the first time by the Iranian authorities to justify blocking access to the conservative online publication http://www.Baztab.com, said Reporters Without Borders.

South Korea

Magazine editor fired and 16 other journalists disciplined in self-censorship conflict

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Sri Lanka

FMM strongly condemns minister for advocating violent repression of democratic dissent

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 19 February 2007 joint press release by FMM and other organisations:

Russia

Critical, independent website severely hacked, made inoperable, accused by official of "fanning ethnic tension"

(CJES/IFEX) - The independent website http://www.ingushetia.ru has stopped operating as a result of a powerful attack by hackers on 15 February 2007.

Sri Lanka

Missing Tamil journalist had received death threats

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep concern about the disappearance on the evening of 15 February 2007 of Subramaniam Ramachandran, a correspondent for the Tamil dailies "Thinakural" and "Valampuri" in the Vadamaradchi region north of Jaffna. The organisation said it was worried about the cruel lack of protection for media personnel in this region.

China

Journalist Ching Cheong finally allowed New Year family visit

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has welcomed the news that imprisoned "Straits Times" correspondent Ching Cheong was able to receive a visit from his wife, Mary Lau Man-Yee, for the Chinese New Year. Lau, who is also a journalist, had initially been told on 14 February 2007 by the authorities of Guangdong prison, where he is being held, that she would not be allowed to see him.

Cuba

CPJ concerned about the health of jailed independent journalist

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Philippines

Newspaper editor gunned down in Mindanao; first Filipino journalist killed this year

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the murder of Hernani Pastolero, the editor of the "Lightning Courier" weekly, who was gunned down on the southern island of Mindanao on 19 February 2007 while a UN delegation was in the country to investigate the wave of murders of journalists that began in 2001.

Colombia

Telesur correspondent, facing new arrest warrant and paramilitary death threats, goes into hiding

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has categorised as "confusing" the manner in which a new warrant was issued on 7 February 2007 for the arrest of Freddy Muñoz, the Colombian correspondent of the pan-Latin American television station Telesur, who was freed on 9 January after being held for 50 days.

The Gambia

MFWA calls for justice for tortured journalist now in exile

(MFWA/IFEX) - The following is a 16 February 2007 MFWA press release:

Peru

Television journalist receives death threats after denouncing corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 16 February 2007, in Huaraz, northwestern Peru, journalist Edwin Ocrospoma Reynaga, a reporter for the news programme "Día a Día" on the television station AMR TV, declared that he had been receiving anonymous death threats by telephone since 12 February.

Sierra Leone

Angry youth close down radio station

(MFWA/IFEX) - Some members of a youth association, the Kabala Town Youth in Koinadugu District, a northern province of Sierra Leone, about 200 kilometres from the capital, Freetown, besieged the premises of Radio Bintumani, the community radio station, and closed it down on 11 February 2007.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Public prosecutor seeks 12-month prison sentence and heavy damage payment from journalist in Boma

(JED/IFEX) - On 16 February 2007, the public prosecutor of the Kalamu Peace Court in the city of Boma, in Bas-Congo province, called for a 12-month prison sentence and payment of US$12,500 in damages by Popul Ntula Vita, the local correspondent for the weekly "La Cité Africaine", based in the provincial capital, Matadi. The court is now deliberating on the case and must, in accordance with the law, reach a verdict within a week.

Mozambique

Court upholds conviction of journalist Carlos Cardoso's killers

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Kenya

ARTICLE 19 calls for review of draft freedom of information policy

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 16 February 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Somalia

Radio journalist shot dead

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

International

CAPSULE REPORT: Uzbekistan ranks worst in region's generally disturbing free expression environment, says Adil Soz

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - The following is a 16 February 2007 Adil Soz report:

Israel

Public service broadcasting law outdated, offers few guarantees in public interest, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:

Turkey

CAPSULE REPORT: More restrictive laws, increased prosecution of journalists in 2006, shows BIANET report

(BIANET/IFEX) - The following is an abbreviated version of a 16 February 2007 BIANET press release:

Belarus

Decree obliges Internet cafe owners to report customers visiting illegal websites to police, record navigations

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned a decree adopted by the council of ministers which forces owners of cybercafés and Internet clubs to report Internet users looking at illegal websites to the police.

Venezuela

Heavy fine on opposition daily "Tal Cual" appears politically-motivated, warns RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned, as an apparent "political punishment", a fine imposed by a juvenile court against opposition daily "Tal Cual" for publishing a comic letter.

Sri Lanka

Journalist reported missing in Jaffna

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

Philippines

"Daily Tribune" publisher and columnists charged with "incitement to sedition"

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) is proceeding to charge the publisher and two columnists of "The Daily Tribune" newspaper with incitement to sedition, rejecting their 10 April 2006 motion to dismiss the charges filed by the police.

United States

Two journalists avoid prison after source turns self in; "no victory for press freedom", says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced relief that Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada, of the daily "San Francisco Chronicle", threatened with imprisonment by a federal court for refusing to reveal their source of information in a sports drugs scandal, are unlikely to go to jail after all.

International

New media increases freedom but holds dangers, conference told

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a 15 February 2007 press release:

Sri Lanka

President rewards political party with broadcast licences for election support, criticises newspaper over coverage

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 14 February 2007 FMM press release:

Saudi Arabia

Government bans 22 critics from travel, orders three journalists to stop publishing articles

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 14 February 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

China

Positive implementation of new rules for foreign media, but much remains to be done, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - The Chinese authorities are on the whole respecting the new regulations for foreign journalists that took effect nearly 50 days ago although the Foreign Ministry has clearly not given provincial officials enough information about the changes and there have been at least five cases of correspondents being prevented from meeting dissidents, Reporters Without Borders said on 15 February 2007.

Uzbekistan

Third charge levelled against imprisoned journalist; confiscated documents included interviews with witnesses of 2005 Andijan massacre

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 14 February 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Japan

Ruling politicians pressured public television to censor programme on wartime sex slavery, court finds

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 February 2007 IFJ media release:

Colombia

Photojournalist injured, television cameraman assaulted by police in Barrancabermeja

(FLIP/IFEX) - "Vanguardia Liberal" photojournalist José David Martínez was handcuffed and assaulted by police officers while he was trying to cover a failed attack on a public employee, and then falsely accused by the police of interference with the scene of the crime. When Enlace Televisión station cameraman John Jairo Herrera tried to film the assault on Martínez, he too was assaulted.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Military court decides to detain fourth suspect in trial of journalist Franck Ngyke's killers

(JED/IFEX) - The Kinshasa/Matete Military Court, which is hearing a criminal case in the murder of journalist Franck Ngyke and his wife, Hélène Mpaka, decided on 14 February 2007 to detain Paulin Kusungila again. Kusungila is the uncle of Joel Muganda, the principal defendant in the murder of the Ngyke couple.

Sudan

Two editors detained briefly, newspaper closed temporarily, after interview with religious militants

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Guinea

Private radio stations no longer broadcasting; martial law declared

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 13 February 2007 IFJ media release:

Switzerland

European court's ruling in Stoll case will be crucial for press freedom, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 14 February 2007 RSF press release:

Egypt

Detention of hundreds from largest opposition group shows government intolerant of criticism, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch press release:

Jordan

Government security personnel assault journalist, break arm

(AAI/IFEX) - On 31 January 2007, Khaled Al Khawaja, a journalist, was subjected to beating by the hands of the Jordanian General Security while he was covering activities in the Ain Basha region. Khawaja has a diploma in media and has worked as a journalist for "Al Ra'ai" newspaper for four years.

Peru

Government union official threatens journalist with death following critical article

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 6 February 2007, journalist Hugo Gonzáles Henostroza, of the newspaper "YA", accused Abelardo Cabello Tinoco, secretary of the Ancash regional government workers' union, of having threatened him with death. The threat took place when the reporter was covering an activity in the regional government's headquarters.

China

Journalist Ching Cheong refused Chinese New Year visits with family, must undergo one month of "reeducation"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the refusal of the prison authorities to let imprisoned "Straits Times" correspondent Ching Cheong receive a family visit for the Chinese New Year. They took this decision after showing goodwill by transferring him from Beijing to the southern city of Guangzhou, near Hong Kong where his wife, Mary Lau Man-yee, lives.

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

Witnesses describe how Indonesian troops covered up murder of "Balibo Five"

(RSF/IFEX) - In two more days of testimony on 9 and 12 February 2007 to a coroner's court in Glebe, Sydney, witnesses provided more details about the circumstances in which cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalist working for Australian TV stations died in the East Timor border village of Balibo on 16 October 1975.

Rwanda

CAPSULE REPORT: RSF concerned about growing government hostility towards independent press

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 13 February 2007 RSF press release:

Lesotho

Previously-harassed journalist receives death threats; others threatened, harassed, accused of "causing confusion"

(MISA/IFEX) - On 13 February 2007, MISA confirmed that several journalists in Lesotho are being inundated with anonymous threatening calls, and accusations that they are at the forefront of a campaign to cause confusion in the country and within the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD). The targeted journalists, Thabo Thakalekoala and Adam Lekhoada of Harvest FM radio station, Molika of People's Choice (PC) FM radio station, and Malehloka Lalitapole of PC FM radio station, are also accused of promoting negative perceptions about some members of the government of Lesotho.

Zimbabwe

On same day threatening letter received, army official announces visit to newspaper; cartoonist unphased by controversy

(CRN/IFEX) - Zimbabwe's dwindling independent media was shaken by the delivery of an envelope containing a bullet, a cartoon and handwritten threat to the acting editor of "The Standard", the only remaining independent Sunday paper serving the South African nation of 12 million.

Jordan

Following critical article, minister sues journalist, editor for defamation, insult and publishing false news

(AAI/IFEX) - On 27 January 2007, the Jordanian minister of foreign affairs, Abul Elah Alkhateeb, brought a lawsuit against "Al Hilal" weekly newspaper for defamation and insult after it published news that contained criticism of the minister's performance.

Ghana

Vigilantes guarding disputed land attack television journalist and driver, vandalise vehicle

(MFWA/IFEX) - Henry Addo, an investigative reporter of Metropolitan Television Station, an independent television station in Accra, was violently attacked by members of the vigilante "land guards" group on 17 January 2007, in the Accra suburb of Chorkor.

The Gambia

Two journalists fired allegedly over article on president, reinstated after minister's plea

(MFWA/IFEX) - Two journalists, Lamin Dibba and Ebrima Jaw Manneh, of the "Daily Observer", a Banjul-based pro-government daily newspaper, were dismissed by the newspaper's management on 7 February 2007.

Rwanda

Journalists Dominique Makeli and Tatiana Mukakibibi imprisoned for over 10 years without trial

(JED/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 13 February 2007 JED press release:

Panama

Press freedom threatened by three articles of proposed criminal code amendment

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has urged parliament not to back a proposal for criminal law modification, which passed its first reading on 7 February 2007, three articles of which pose a very serious threat to freedom of expression and the press.

Colombia

CAPSULE REPORT: Press worked in a "climate of terror" in 2006, says FLIP report

(FLIP/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 9 February 2007 FLIP press release:

Ghana

Newspaper editors receive death threats

(MFWA/IFEX) - Egbert Faibille, managing editor of "The Ghanaian Observer", a tri-weekly, Accra-based privately-owned newspaper, has reported to security authorities that he has been the recipient of frequent death threats.

Djibouti

Court rules that prosecution's case is incomplete in libel suit against opposition weekly, RSF urges authorities to drop charges

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the authorities to abandon a libel prosecution against the opposition weekly "Le Renouveau" after a court ruled on 11 February 2007 that the prosecution case was incomplete.

Turkmenistan

CPJ condemns restrictions on press coverage of presidential vote

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Guatemala

Journalist receives death threat from mayor in Huehuetenango following critical coverage

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 12 February 2007, the board of directors and members of the Huehuetenango Press Association (Asociación de Prensa de Huehuetenango, APEHUE) issued a press release condemning the acts of intimidation and the violation of the rights of freedom of expression and thought that were committed against journalist Carlos Alfredo Morales, of San Antonio Huista. APEHUE questioned the conduct of San Antonio Huista's mayor, Bernardo Adalberto Jiménez López, who raided Morales's home on the night of 9 February, tried to assault him and threatened to kill him.

Ghana

Newspaper, editor fined for defaming minister

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 9 February 2007, an Accra High Court ordered Militant Publications, publishers of "The Insight", a tri-weekly independent newspaper, and its acting editor, Peter Kojo Apisawu, to pay a fine of 120 million cedis (approx. US$13,043) for defaming Ghana's minister for water resources, works and housing, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang.

Chechnya (Russia)

Court finds newspaper guilty of defaming Chechen prime minister

(CJES/IFEX) - Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov has won a defamation lawsuit against the "Kommersant" newspaper, Ekho Moskvy radio reported on 7 February 2007.

Rwanda

Newspaper editor brutally beaten following publication of articles critical of government

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

Uzbekistan

CJES correspondent sentenced to three months in prison for "illegal transportation of information material"

(CJES/IFEX) - A CJES correspondent has been sentenced to three months in prison on spurious criminal charges.

China

Newspaper's former director freed on completing half of six-year sentence

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the release of Li Minying, the former director of the newspaper "Nanfang Dushi Bao", three years before completing a six-year sentence for alleged corruption. He was arrested in January 2004 at the same time as the newspaper's manager, Yu Huafeng, who is serving an eight-year sentence. The newspaper's news editor, Cheng Yizhong, was also detained in 2004 but later released.

Guyana

Daily "Stabroek News" suffers total boycott by state advertisers

(RSF/IFEX) - Guyana's leading daily, "The Stabroek News", has learned it is now under a total effective boycott by state advertisers after the Government Information Agency (GINA) on 6 February 2007 cancelled advertising space booked in the paper for the Guyana Revenue Authority. Since November 2006, this was the only body still placing advertising in "The Stabroek News". Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) and Guyana Power and Light - two public companies under private management - have also decided not to advertise with the paper. The management of the two companies, while denying having acted on the orders of GINA, did not offer any explanation. The government itself referred only to "accounting reasons" before refusing to respond to protests from the Guyana Press Association.

Argentina

Journalist receives anonymous death threat after reporting on police assault in Entre Ríos province

(FOPEA /IFEX) - The following is a 9 February 2007 FOPEA press release:

Guinea

Presidential guards storm radio station, arresting two employees

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has sharply criticised the abrupt closing of independent radio station FM Liberté by presidential guards on 12 February 2007. Guards arrested two station employees and looted the broadcasting centre.

Ghana

Journalist killed, two media workers wounded in shooting attack

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 9 February 2007, two unknown assailants shot and killed news editor, Samuel Enin, from Ash FM, a local radio station based in Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana. Enin was also the Ashanti Regional chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA).

Russia

Sakharov prize winner detained under spurious allegations

(CJES/IFEX) - "Novaya Gazeta" reported on February 8, 2007 that Vladimir Chugunov, a journalist with the paper, was arrested on January 21 and detained for several days. Chugunov also publishes and writes for the newspaper "Chugunka", a publication based in the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region, where he lives. Chugunov's brother told "Novaya Gazeta" that the journalist's house had been searched without a warrant and that law enforcement agents had confiscated manuscripts and a batch of copies of "Chugunka".

Brazil

Freelance photographer gunned down in Rio de Janeiro

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced dismay on learning that freelance photographer Robson Barbosa Bezerra was gunned down on the evening of 8 February 2007 as he was returning home in Rio de Janeiro. The organisation expressed its condolences to the family and urged the police to investigate the possibility that he was killed in connection with his work.

Malaysia

Chinese media merger harms competition at home and abroad

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is concerned about a proposed tripartite merger of three media groups in Malaysia and Hong Kong, all owned by Malaysian tycoon Tiong Hiew King, which will create the largest Chinese publication group outside of China and Taiwan.

Sri Lanka

Government's silencing of voices opposed to journalists' abduction and arrest "unacceptable", says FMM

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2007 FMM press release:

Tunisia

Journalist released without charge, alleges detention part of government's harassment campaign against critics

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Mongolia

Intelligence official interferes with public radio station, questions director

(Globe International/IFEX) - On 18 January 2007, Mr. N. Enkhsaihan, chief of the Intelligence Office of Bayan-Ulgii aimag, requested that the obituary of one of the local residents be read out on the local public radio in the Mongolian language. However, Mr. R. Suragan, the director of the station, insisted that the condolences be conveyed only in the Kazakh (ethnic group) language. Following the incident, on 23 January, the chief of the Intelligence Office summoned the radio director to his office to clear up the case.

Paraguay

Local investigation now centred on possibility missing journalist was kidnapped; CPJ urges intensification of investigation

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2007 CPJ letter to the Paraguayan president:

Mexico

Reporter harassed by two Oaxaca state employees for articles on highway project

(CENCOS/IFEX) - Reporter Nadia Altamirano, of the Oaxaca state-based newspaper "El Imparcial", was the target of intimidating comments by two presumed employees of the Oaxaca state government, who told her not to continue publishing "big newspaper articles" warning of the possible risk of landslides on the Cerro del Fortín mountain due to roadwork being done to broaden the highway there.

Mongolia

Newspaper threatened with lawsuit for allegedly defaming president; MP and minister verbally attack journalists

(Globe International/IFEX) - On 24 January 2007, the presidential press office issued a statement concerning articles in the newspaper "Udriin Sonin" that allegedly defamed the president. The press office warned the newspaper not to infringe upon the president's immunity and reputation, demanded apologies and threatened to file a lawsuit in case of non-compliance with its demands. Meanwhile, on 11 January, Member of Parliament Ts. Bataa insulted journalists at a parliamentary session and proposed prohibiting journalists from entering the State House.

Colombia

Several radio stations and a weekly forbidden by San Andrés judge to report on reopening of investigation into alleged corruption

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 5 February 2007, a criminal court judge in San Andrés, the capital of the San Andrés y Providencia department, ordered several local media outlets to not report on a court order reopening an investigation into alleged corruption. The gag order applies to five radio stations - RCN Radio, Caracol Radio, La Voz de Las Islas, Radio Leda Internacional, Radio Impacto Estéreo - and the weekly "The Archipiélago Press".

United Kingdom

Parliamentary committee approves bill exempting members from Freedom of Information Act

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2007 IPI press release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

JED denounces court's stalling tactics in trial of journalist Franck Ngyke's killers

(JED/IFEX) - Seven months after the start of the trial of the alleged killers of journalist Franck Ngyke Kangundu and his wife, Hélène Mpaka, the Kinshasa/Matete Military Court gives the unfortunate impression of taking pleasure in endlessly postponing hearings, with the effect of dragging things out, undoubtedly with the expectation that the case will be forgotten.

Nigeria

Environment of fear and intimidation may limit free expression ahead of elections, says ARTICLE 19 report

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

China

RSF condemns plans to put the press on a "penalty points" system

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced dismay about a new scheme proposed by the Chinese Communist Party Propaganda Department to put newspapers on a "penalty points" system.

Saudi Arabia

Discussion forum host's whereabouts unknown after his arrest by secret police in round-up of reform advocates

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist beaten by soldiers

(JED/IFEX) - Nelson Ntamba, a journalist with Radio Communitaire Muanda (RCM), broadcast from Muanda, a city situated in the south province of Bas-Congo, in south-western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was severely beaten on 2 February 2007. He was assaulted by Michel Mbuyi, a commander with the territory administration office where the General Staff of the Congolese National Army set up after fighting began between government forces and followers of the political religious movement, Bundu dia kongo (BDK).

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

More witnesses confirm that "Balibo Five" were murdered by Indonesian forces

(RSF/IFEX) - An inquest being held in the Sydney suburb of Glebe into the death of British cameraman Brian Peters, one of a group of five journalists working for Australian TV stations who were killed in the East Timorese town of Balibo in 1975, heard dramatic allegations on 7 and 8 February 2007 about the multiple murders.

Malaysia

Crucial environmental information denied to public, warns ARTICLE 19 and Center for Independent Journalism in report

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:

Eritrea

Writer and journalist Fessehaye Yohannes has reportedly died in detention

(RSF/IFEX) - Credible Eritrean sources in Asmara and abroad have told Reporters Without Borders that poet and playwright Fessehaye "Joshua" Yohannes, who was a journalist with the now-banned weekly "Setit", died in detention on 11 January 2007.

Tunisia

Satellite TV station's director arrested after visiting dissident journalist's home

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Tahar Ben Hassine, the head of the satellite TV station Al-Hiwar Attounsi and editor of the Perspectives Tunisiennes website, who was arrested on 7 February 2007 in Tunis after visiting freelance journalist Taoufik Ben Brik.

Iran

Conservative daily banned; journalist freed on bail; another acquitted

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the closure of the conservative daily "Siassat Rouz" since 3 February 2007 on the orders of the Press Monitoring Commission because of an article deemed to be an insult to Iran's Sunni minority.

Serbia

ANEM denounces politician's "hate speech" directed at makers of award-winning documentary

(ANEM/IFEX) - The following is a 7 February 2007 ANEM statement:

France

IFJ challenges threats to press freedom in cartoons case

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 7 February 2007 IFJ press release:

France

Satirical magazine faces criminal charges for republishing controversial prophet cartoons

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 7 February 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Iran

CAPSULE REPORT: Government seeks to silence activists, journalists by banning them from foreign travel

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch press release:

Somalia

Somaliland daily's imprisoned executives transferred to provincial jail

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has reiterated its appeal to the authorities in the northern breakaway state of Somaliland to release three newspaper journalists who have been held for several weeks and have just been moved from the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa to a provincial prison.

United States

Federal court rejects request for release of freelance video journalist; RSF reiterates call for a federal "shield law"

(RSF/IFEX) - On 6 February 2007, as freelance video journalist and blogger Josh Wolf spent his 171st day in a federal prison in Dublin, California, RSF reiterated its call for this 24-year-old blogger's release and appealed again to the US Congress to give federal recognition to the right of journalists to protect their sources.

Sri Lanka

Army accuses three journalists of "terrorism"

(RSF/IFEX) - Army spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe produced evidence at a press conference in Colombo on 6 February 2007 implicating three journalists and trade union activists in planning terrorist acts. Nihal Serasinghe, Lalith Seneviratne and Sisira Priyankara were also accused of collusion with the Tamil Tigers and one officer said they had already carried out attacks that had not resulted in casualties.

Djibouti

Police arrest brother and cousin of opposition weekly's managing editor

(RSF/IFEX) - After being sought by police for five days, Houssein Ahmed Farah was arrested on 7 February 2007 and taken to the criminal investigation department, Reporters Without Borders has learned from his brother, Daher Ahmed Farah, managing editor of the privately-owned weekly "Le Renouveau" and head of the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MRD), an opposition party.

Sierra Leone

Mutual hostility between newspaper executives leads to one arrest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the mutual hostility between Sylvia Blyden, a government ally and publisher of the privately-owned daily "Awareness Times", and Philip Neville, the executive editor of the privately-owned daily "Standard Times", which led to Neville's arrest in Freetown on 6 February 2007, on a charge of libelling Blyden.

Venezuela

National Assembly member proposes creation of commission to monitor media

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 1 February 2007, government party National Assembly Member Luis Tascón proposed the creation of a commission that would investigate and monitor the media. According to Tascón, his proposal seeks to thwart an existing plan, backed by the US Department of State, to destabilize the government by misrepresenting the impact of measures recently announced by the government about the nationalization of strategic enterprises, the increase in the price of gasoline and the assignment of special powers to Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez.

Colombia

Court rules "El Heraldo" newspaper can publish information on allegations of company's paramilitary links and municipal corruption

(FLIP/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 5 February 2007 FLIP report:

China

New evidence in trial of imprisoned cyber-dissident Yang Zili justifies review of case, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced support for a request for a review of cyber-dissident Yang Zili's trial, which his wife, Lu Kun, has made on the grounds of new evidence that shows that he was convicted on trumped-up charges. The Beijing intermediate court turned down her request, but she filed a new request to the Supreme Court and is still awaiting its decision. Yang has been in prison since 2001.

International

Forty-five writers from 22 countries receive Hellman/Hammet grants, recognising courage in face of political persecution

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 6 February 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Turkey / Cyprus

Cartoonist-columnist for previously-harassed newspaper assaulted by nationalists

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 6 February 2007 media release of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Brazil

Following threats over his reporting, journalist and his family assaulted and robbed

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 4 February 2007, Domingues Júnior, a presenter for the television channel Rede TV Rondônia, was assaulted by five men upon arriving home with his family in the city of Porto Velho, northern Brasil. The assailants, who were armed with guns, bound him and hit him in the head; they then tied up his wife and children. The assailants then fled, taking with them various items belonging to the journalist and his family, including watches, cell phones, credit cards, a motorcycle and a car. The journalist's wife called the police after the incident.

Guyana

State-owned companies follow government's withdrawal of advertising for newspaper

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 6 February 2007 IPI press release:

Argentina

Radio programme cancelled following broadcasts criticising local mayor

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 January 2007, journalist Walter Anestiades denounced the decision by the managers of the radio station FM Centro to cancel his programme, "Mejor hablar de ciertas cosas", because of the pressure exerted upon the station by the mayor of the locality of Oberá, Edwaldo Rindfleisch, whose administration was criticized on the programme. The journalist and his team found the doors to the broadcasting studio locked and were unable to broadcast the programme. Oberá is situated in the province of Misiones in north-eastern Argentina.

Brazil

Newspaper forbidden on pain of fine to publish articles on, photographs of governor's son under investigation for electoral crime

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 25 January 2007, the Regional Electoral Tribunal (TRE) of Mato Grosso do Sul state, in western Brazil, prohibited the newspaper "Correio do Estado" from publishing any articles or photographs of André Puccinelli Jr., son of the region's governor, André Puccinelli, on pain of being fined US$25,000 per day.

Sri Lanka

Two more journalists with trade union monthly kidnapped

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to give unequivocal orders for three journalists and trade union activists, kidnapped in Colombo on 5 February 2007, to be found and released unharmed.

Guatemala

Assassination of journalist attempted following death threat over article

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 3 February 2007, an attempt was made on the life of journalist Winder Jordán Madrid, news director for Radio Sultana radio station and also a correspondent for "Nuestro Diario", the country's largest newspaper. Radio Sultana is located in the municipality of Gualán, Zacapa department. Two unidentified armed individuals, at least one of them male, riding a motorcycle machine-gunned his car just as Jordán was about to get into it; he ducked behind some trees. The incident took place outside his parents' home.

Brazil

Magazine ordered to pay hefty civil damages for articles alleging criminal activity by pair of bishops

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 30 January 2007, Judge Francisco Peçanha Martins of the Superior Court of Justice upheld the ruling against "Época" magazine, published by Editora Globo, which awarded damages of US$205,000 to bishops Estevam and Sônia Hernandes, of the Renascer em Cristo church.

International

From violence in Iraq to impunity in Russia, CPJ recounts a dangerous year in its report, "Attacks on the Press"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Djibouti

Police raids and arrests mark authorities' renewed harassment of opposition weekly

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the government's renewed harassment of the staff of the privately-owned weekly "Le Renouveau", including its managing editor, Daher Ahmed Farah. The newspaper is the mouthpiece of one of Djibouti's main opposition parties, the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MRD).

Iraq

RSF calls for effective protection for journalists after a newspaper reporter is kidnapped and a photographer is killed

(RSF/IFEX) - After learning of the kidnapping of "Al-Dawa" reporter Karim Sabri Sharar Al-Rubai and the murder of freelance photographer Munjid Al-Tumaimi, Reporters Without Borders has appealed again to the Iraqi authorities to take concrete measures to protect media personnel.

Nepal

Two journalists in Nawalparasi threatened with bodily harm; another in Birgunj set upon by police while covering protest

(FNJ/IFEX) - Journalists Hari Sharma and Tika Ram Gaire, secretary and past president of FNJ-Nawalparasi chapter, respectively, were threatened by cadres of the Madhesi Janatantrik Forum (MJF) on 4 February 2007 in Nawalparasi, a western district of Nepal.

China

Writers prevented from attending conference on literature and free expression

(WiPC/IFEX) - The following is a 5 February 2007 WiPC press release:

Fiji

"Fiji Times" photographer assaulted and briefly detained by soldiers

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Nepal

Newsprint shortage forces newspapers in Jhapa to suspend publication; newspapers seized and threatened by political groups

(FNJ/IFEX) - Five daily newspapers and seven weeklies being published from Jhapa, an eastern district of Nepal, decided to suspend their publication from 5 February 2007.

Vietnam

Free expression advocate Nguyen Van Dai detained and harassed by police

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Vietnamese authorities to stop harassing a group of democrats after Nguyen Van Dai, a pro-democracy lawyer who defends imprisoned cyber-dissidents, was detained and questioned by police on 3-4 February 2007 along with five other activists.

Sri Lanka

Former journalist abducted from his home

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

Cuba

Journalist detained, begins hunger strike; another arrested, questioned, his equipment seized; editor protests police raid on her home; trial of another detained journalist postponed

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns the detention of journalist Ramón Velázquez Toranso of the independent news agency Libertad, who has been held in the provincial prison in the eastern province of Las Tunas since his arrest on 23 January 2007. Velázquez Toranso initiated a hunger strike on 30 January.

Argentina

President sharply criticises five Buenos Aires media outlets and their journalists over recent erroneous articles

(FOPEA /IFEX) - The following is a 23 January 2007 statement from FOPEA, an interim member of IFEX:

Nepal

Five journalists covering peace rally badly beaten by political militants; FNJ protests recent violence

(FNJ/IFEX) - Cadres of the Madhesi Janatantrik Forum (MJF) attacked five journalists on 4 February 2007, at 10:00 a.m (local time) in the Tanki Sinwary area of Biratnagar, an eastern town in Nepal.

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

Coroner's Court announces reopening of investigation into the deaths of "Balibo Five" in East Timor

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the reopening of the investigation into the death of TV cameraman Brian Peters, a member of a group of five journalists of Australian, New Zealand and British nationality who were killed by Indonesian soldiers and paramilitaries in East Timor in October 1975.

Paraguay

Prime suspects still not questioned in journalist's disappearance and "probable murder" one year ago after writing on drug and weapons seizure

(RSF/IFEX) - One the eve of the first anniversary of local radio journalist Enrique Galeano's disappearance and probable murder on 4 February 2006 in Yby Yaú, in the southern department of Concepción, RSF has voiced outrage at the cynicism and inaction displayed by the authorities in this case.

Iraq

Journalists Marwan Ghazal and Reem Zaeed still missing one year after abduction

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

Colombia

Liberal politician alleged to be mastermind of journalist's murder still free five years later

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 1 February 2002, Orlando Sierra, sub-director of "La Patria" newspaper, which is based in to the city of Manizales, was murdered. Five years later, the masterminds of the crime are still free.

Tajikistan

Freedom of expression situation improved in 2006, but problems persist, says media group

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - The following is a 1 February 2007 statement by the National Association of Independent Mass Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), an Adil Soz partner:

Russia

President Putin pledges to protect journalists in wake of outcry over journalist Politkovskaya's murder

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Croatia

Two burglaries at journalist's home likely linked to earlier death threats, says SEEMO

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a letter by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate to the Croatian authorities:

Kazakhstan

Reporter and cameraman detained, videotape seized

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 31 January 2007, at about 9:00 p.m. (local time), Channel 31 reporter Timur Djumazhanov and cameraman Nurlan Dosmagambetov were detained by security guards working for the commercial bank Nurbank in Almaty. They were taken to the Medeu District Interior Department and their camera was seized.

Nepal

Two journalists beaten by police; several newspapers suspend publication over security concerns

(FNJ/IFEX) - Photojournalists Nitesh Mathema, with the daily "Bypass", and Ram Saraf, with the "Annapurna Post", were beaten by officers of the Armed Police Force on 2 February 2007.

Palestine

Second attack on Fatah-affiliated radio station in four months

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 2 February 2007 armed attack on Al Aamal, a Gaza City-based radio station operated by the Workers Union, which is linked to President Mahmoud Abbas's party, Fatah.

Chad

Community radio journalist held by gendarmes in southern town

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of journalist and human rights activist Marcel Ngargoto, who has been held by gendarmes in the southern town of Moissala since 31 January 2007. Ngargoto works for Radio Brakoss, a Moissala-based community radio. He is also secretary-general of the organisation Human Rights Without Borders (DHSF).

Zimbabwe

Media commission yet to renew weekly's licence, one month after expiry

(MISA/IFEX) - The government-controlled Media and Information Commission (MIC) has still to license the "Financial Gazette" weekly, almost a month after the expiry of its two-year operating licence under the controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

Zimbabwe

Journalist receives bullet and warning note in envelope

(MISA/IFEX) - On 31 January 2007, Bill Saidi - the acting editor of the privately-owned "The Standard" - received a brown envelope containing a bullet and a threatening message warning him to "watch out".

Sudan

Newspaper banned indefinitely for reporting on murdered editor

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 February 2007 CPJ press release:

Brazil

Murder of journalist in Rio de Janeiro state still unpunished, IAPA asks president to order speed-up of investigation

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 IAPA press release:

International

CAPSULE REPORT: Dictatorships come to grips with Web 2.0, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an RSF report:

International

RSF issues its 2007 annual press freedom survey

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

Ethiopia

Journalist sent back to prison over libel case dating back to 2002

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Ethiopian Supreme Court's decision on 26 January 2007 to reject an appeal by journalist Abraham Reta of the privately-owned weekly "Addis Admas" and send him back to prison to complete the one-year sentence he received in April 2006 for allegedly libelling three senior officials.

Malaysia

Opposition politicians questioned by police, threatened with prosecution for revealing government contract with highway operator

(SEAPA/IFEX) - SEAPA is concerned that the government is subjecting whistleblowers of a government document of high public interest to police interrogation and threatening them with prosecution.

Liberia

Journalist suspended for airing interview of opposition parliamentarian

(CEMESP/IFEX) - Reporter Othello Guzean of the government-controlled radio network, Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), has been suspended indefinitely by the network's director general, Charles Snetter Jr.

Zimbabwe

Proposed self-regulatory media council is not superfluous to existing media commission, says MISA

(MISA/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 MISA press release:

Nigeria

ARTICLE 19 calls for immediate enactment of Freedom of Information Bill

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Malaysia

Prime minister calls online critics "liars", supports libel suit against two bloggers

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Canada

School board pulls novel from high school libraries due to sexual content

(PEN Canada/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 PEN Canada press release:

Belarus

Government's eviction of human rights group meant to silence civil society, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Azerbaijan

Court sentences journalist to two years in prison, another to 18 months' corrective labour over critical articles that "defamed" minister

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Peru

CAPSULE REPORT: Nearly 100 reported violations of press freedom in 2006, says IPYS

(IPYS/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 26 January 2007 IPYS report:

Mexico

Newspaper "Tabasco Hoy" threatened by drug traffickers' hitmen prior to journalist's disappearance

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 26 January 2007 IAPA press release:

Egypt

Al-Jazeera producer to be tried on charges of "harming national interest"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a 27 January 2007 decision by judicial authorities to initiate trial proceedings against Al-Jazeera TV producer Howayda Taha on a charge of "harming national interest" in a documentary she was preparing about police torture in Egypt.

Australia

Newspaper receives death threats from anonymous "Al Qaeda" caller

(RSF/IFEX) - On 30 January 2007, Reporters Without Borders wrote to Attorney-General Philip Ruddock calling for urgent action in response to death threats against "Al-Furat", a weekly serving Australia's Iraqi community, by an anonymous caller claiming to belong to Al Qaeda. The letter asked Ruddock to take the threats seriously and to provide protection for the editor, Hussein Khoshnow, and his staff.

Yemen

CPJ urges government to honour pledge to probe attacks against journalists

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Peru

Four journalists accused by doctor of defamation for reporting on allegations of medical negligence

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 29 January 2007, journalists Julio Quevedo Chávez and Lénin Quevedo Bardalez of the newspaper "Diario Voces" and reporters Glenda Mello Pinedo and Felipe Tipián Ramírez of the television programme "Enfoques", were accused of the crimes of defamation and slander. Doctor Felipe Cesías filed the accusation with Tarapoto's Second Criminal Court after both media outlets reported, in October 2006, about alleged medical negligence on the part of Cesías. Tarapoto is a town in northeastern Peru.

India

Illegal armed group threatens television station over reports of "secret deal" with regional government; officials join in criticisms

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 January 2007 IFJ media release:

Afghanistan

Editor receives flood of death threats after speaking on television; authorities detain journalists, stop distribution of weekly in provinces

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 31 January 2007 IFJ media release:

Peru

Demonstrators assault cameraman during protest in Loreto region

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 16 January 2007, Ramiro Bardales Sánchez, a photographer with the Audiovisual Unit of the Loreto regional government's Institutional Image Office (Unidad de Audiovisuales de la Oficina de Imagen Institucional) was beaten by a group of demonstrating members of the General confederation of Workers of Peru (Confederación General de Trabajadores del Perú, CGTP) while he was filming their protest in front of the regional government's headquarters. Loreto is a region in Peru's northeast.

Liberia

Legislators threaten to bar radio stations from covering parliamentary sessions

(MFWA/IFEX) - Some members of Liberia's lower house of Parliament, opposing the leadership of Speaker Edwin Snowe on 23 January 2007, threatened to bar two independent FM stations and a pro-government radio station from covering their sessions.

Nepal

Journalists flee workplaces following threats, various journalists attacked, two issued death threats as social agitation continues; FNJ denounces indifference of authorities

(FNJ/IFEX) - Following the threats made by supporters of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) on 28 January 2007 in Birgunj, a mid-western city of Nepal, over a dozen local journalists left their workplaces, fearing for their safety.

Côte d'Ivoire

Newspaper journalist held for five days by Abidjan gendarmes

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Ivorian authorities to withdraw all charges against journalist Claude Dassé of the privately-owned daily "Soir Info", after he was held for five days at Abidjan investigative police headquarters on a contempt of court charge brought by the state prosecutor.

Thailand

Newspaper office hit by two small bombs

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Two small explosions occurred outside a newspaper office in a northern suburb of Bangkok during the early hours of 30 January 2007, causing minor damage to the building and the hotel next door, but no casualties.

Sri Lanka

Internet access and 8,000 telephone lines blocked in Jaffna Peninsula

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

Iran

Three online journalists arrested at Tehran airport; another goes missing after being arrested in Sanadaj

(RSF/IFEX) - Three online journalists and women's rights activists, Tala't Taghinia, Mansoureh Shojaie and Farnaz Seify, were arrested at Tehran airport on 27 January 2007 as they were about to board a plane for India to undergo journalism training.

Colombia

Newspaper in Barranquilla forbidden to report on case of alleged municipal corruption and paramilitary ties

(FLIP/IFEX) - In order to protect the possible violation of a company's right to a good reputation, a judge in the city of Barranquilla, Atlántico department, ordered the regional newspaper "El Heraldo" to suspend publication of news that might threaten or violate the company's fundamental rights.

Peru

Mayor's assistant threatens to kill journalist and his family for critical reporting on city's administration

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 26 January 2007, Mayor José Lomparte's personal assistant, Yutaca Cadota, threatened to kill journalist Antonio Asalde Lluen, director of "El Guerrero" newspaper, based in the northwestern city of Casma, when Cadota was walking in Casma's Plaza de Armas square.

Uzbekistan

Human Rights Watch translator, active in local human rights organisation, jailed on charges of bringing "extremist" literature across the border

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 26 January 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Togo

Suspended radio station resumes broadcast

(MFWA/IFEX) - Radio Victoire, a privately-owned FM station in Lomé, that was suspended for 15 days by the media regulator, Haute Autorité de l'Audiovisuel de la Communication (HAAC), on 24 January 2007, resumed operations after serving the full term of the suspension.

Kazakhstan

Court sentences journalist to two years' imprisonment on probation for "insulting president"; lawyer to appeal

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On January 22, the Bostandyk district court in Almaty sentenced journalist Kazis Toguzbayev to two years in prison, on probation, under Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan for "insulting the honor and dignity of the President of Kazakhstan".

Kazakhstan

Despite government pressure, printing company services newspaper; another printer terminates contract with seven opposition weeklies

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 29 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Senegal

ARTICLE 19 publishes report on free expression ahead of presidential elections

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 25 January 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Canada

Supreme Court denies funds to bookstore contesting Customs censorship; ruling "a blow to free expression", says PEN Canada

(PEN Canada/IFEX) - The following is a 25 January 2007 PEN Canada press release:

Burma

Media pressured by military government to publish articles denouncing opposition; democracy activist sues editors, publishers for defamation

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a report from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Philippines

Journalists being sued by president's husband post bail after warrants issued for their arrest

(CMFR/IFEX) - Journalists Ramon, Erwin, and Raffy Tulfo posted a P10, 000 (approx. US$200) bail bond each at the Quezon City Regional Trial court branch 83 after a judge issued warrants for their arrest on 26 January 2007.

Bolivia

Former minister hits journalist during interview and confiscates videotape

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 January 2007, former minister of public works Salvador Ric assaulted camera operator Álvaro Suárez, of Canal 39 Full TV television station, during an interview in the politician's office in the city of Santa Cruz, eastern Bolivia. The former official was annoyed by a question posed by journalist Daniel Castro and ordered the cameraman to stop taping. Then he threw himself against Suárez and hit him in the face. Castro intervened to protect the cameraman and stopped the assault.

Mexico

Two community radio journalists beaten, one arrested, during violent confrontation between PRI militants and community group in Oaxaca

(AMARC/IFEX) - Between the night of 24 January and the morning of 25 January 2007, a confrontation erupted between militants of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Institucional Revolucionario, PRI) and members of the grassroots community council of San Antonino de Velasco, in the state Oaxaca. During the incident, Emilio Santiago and Darío Campos, both of whom are journalists from Radio Calenda community radio station, were brutally beaten and one of them was arrested, despite having both clearly identified themselves as journalists performing their duties. Another dozen people from the community were also arrested.

Ukraine

Post office stops distributing newspaper, newsstands stop selling it, following article on criminal case against mayor

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2007 statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Ukraine

Minister of transportation sues periodical for libel over article on his business interests

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2007 statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Pakistan

Journalists beaten by police in Islamabad, at least 15 injured

(PPF/IFEX) - Police in Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad resorted to a baton charge on journalists covering the suicide bomb blast outside a five-star hotel on 25 January 2007. Fifteen journalists suffered injuries, including wounds to the head.

Mexico

Publications seized and their censorship attempted, journalists spied on and harassed, in Sonora, Guanajuato and Puebla states

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned harassment of the local press in Mexico after publications were censored and journalists spied on in the second half of January 2007 in Sonora state in the north-west, Guanajuato, in central Mexico, and Puebla in the south.

Bangladesh

New emergency regulations restrict press coverage of political news, set prison terms for violations

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Mexico

Investigative journalist goes missing in state of Tabasco; RSF urges authorities to act quickly

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called on the federal and local authorities to make up for lost time in the investigation into the 20 January 2007 disappearance of journalist Rodolfo Rincón Taracena, of the regional daily "Tabasco Hoy".

United Kingdom

Freedom of Information Act further threatened by MP's bill to exempt Parliament

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 26 January 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Zimbabwe

President's politician nephew warns against formation of independent media council without government approval

(MISA/IFEX) - On January 26 2007, a leading Zimbabwean politician warned journalists from forming an independent media council without the approval of the government, which has closed newspapers and arrested reporters.

Philippines

Provincial governor threatens journalists with libel charges ahead of elections

(CMFR/IFEX) - Governor Josie Mendoza dela Cruz of Bulacan, a province north of Manila, warned journalists on 22 January 2007 that she will file libel charges against them if they report "unsubstantiated news to malign her reputation."

Nepal

Demonstrators attack media offices and journalists, set fire to radio station property, beat three journalists, threaten another with death; newspapers stop publishing in protest

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES condemns the targeted attack by a section of protesters staging demonstrations in the eastern region of Terai in Nepal during the latter half of January 2007 (see IFEX alert of 26 and 22 January 2007).

Malaysia

Blogger covering protest roughed up, arrested by police; journalist briefly detained, camera seized temporarily

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is concerned that police in Malaysia roughed up and arrested a blogger at a peaceful assembly, and briefly detained an online journalist covering the event on 21 January 2007.

Pakistan

Journalist Sohail Qalander missing for 24 days

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the lack of any action from the Pakistani authorities in response to the disappearance of Peshawar-based journalist Sohail Qalander of the "Daily Express" newspaper, who went missing with a friend, Mohammad Niaz, on 2 January 2007 near the Khyber Agency tribal area.

France / Africa / International

IFJ urges authorities to give accreditation to journalists for upcoming Franco-African Summit

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 January 2007 IFJ media release:

Ghana

Court exonerates newspaper in another civil defamation case

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 23 January 2007, a High Court in Accra threw out charges against Western Publications, publishers of the "Daily Guide", a pro-government daily newspaper, its managing editor, Gina Blay, and news editor, Abdul Rahman Gomda, accused of defamation by an opposition politician, Charles Kofi Wayo.

Ghana

Former first lady appeals verdict that exonerated journalists in civil defamation case

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 12 December 2006, the former First Lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, appealed against an Accra High Court ruling that exonerated Western Publications Limited, publishers of the privately-owned "Daily Guide" newspaper, managing editor Gina Blay, and former deputy editor Ebenezer Ato Sam of defamation.

Sierra Leone

Office of Attorney General seeks extradition of three people implicated in editor's death

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 18 January 2007, the Office of the Attorney General instructed the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to officially ask the British government to extradite three siblings implicated in the murder of Harry Yansaneh, editor of the independent newspaper "For Di People", a year and a half ago.

Nepal

Demonstrators assault journalists and newspaper vendor, vandalise media vehicles and newspaper store

(FNJ/IFEX) - Two journalists were assaulted by demonstrators during a bandh (strike) called by the Madheshi Jaanidhikaar Forum (MJF) on 25 January 2007 in the eastern district of Janakpur in Nepal.

Somalia

Journalist Hassan Mohammed Abikar released; RSF urges government to commit publicly to press freedom after Mogadishu roundtable

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has urged the transitional federal government to publicly demonstrate its commitment to respect press freedom in Somalia after an historic four-day roundtable on freedom of expression was successfully held in Mogadishu by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

Philippines

Six-year murder case of journalist reopened; suspects to stand trial

(CMFR/IFEX) - A resolution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on 16 January 2007 ordered the reopening of the murder case against the suspected killers of radio broadcaster Rolando Ureta, who was killed on 3 January 2001 in Aklan, a province south of Manila.

China

Mine owner who allegedly instigated fatal attack on newspaper employee surrenders to police

(RSF/IFEX) - The owner of the mine where "The China Trade News" employee Lan Chengzhang was fatally beaten on 10 January 2007 surrendered to the authorities on 19 January after a police manhunt. The mine owner, Hou Zhenrun, is alleged to have told eight men to attack Lan with iron bars and other improvised weapons.

Egypt

Imprisoned blogger faces up to nine years in prison for posting articles critical of Islam

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information wrote to Justice Minister Mamdouh Marei on 22 January 2007 asking him to intercede on behalf of Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman (better known by his blogger pseudonym of Kareem Amer), whose trial is due to start on 25 January in Alexandria. Held since 6 November 2006, he faces up to nine years in prison for posting articles critical of Islam on his blog ( http://www.karam903.blogspot.com ).

Kazakhstan

Companies refuse to print newspaper

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - "Uralskaya nedelya" newspaper is facing repeated obstacles to its publication following the refusal of three local printing companies to work with the paper in Uralsk, western Kazakhstan. The newspaper recently signed a contract with A-Poligrafia printing company. The contract was later terminated by the company, which said it would no longer print the paper because of "unforeseen circumstances." The company has printed only one edition of the paper since then.

Romania

Constitutional Court strikes down law decriminalising defamation

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Burma

WAN reiterates call for release of journalist U Win Tin, imprisoned for 17 years

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a 23 January 2007 WAN letter to the Burmese ruler, Senior General Than Shwe:

Sri Lanka

CAPSULE REPORT: Journalists in Jaffna severely hampered by deteriorating security situation, impaired infrastructure and telecommunication facilities

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 24 January FMM special report:

Liberia

Lawmakers threaten to bar journalists from forum, accuse them of bias

(CEMESP/IFEX) - One of the factions involved in the current leadership struggle in the Liberian House of Representatives has threatened to prevent journalists from covering their activities for what they term as "biased coverage" of the ongoing leadership crisis in that body.

Honduras

Official published version of access to information law contains modifications weakening its positive effect, warn PROBIDAD and C-Libre

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - The Transparency and Access to Public Information Law (Ley de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública), which was approved on 27 November 2006, was published on 30 December, in number 31,193 of "La Gaceta", the official record of Congress, with substantial modifications that may well limit its effectiveness.

Mexico

Policeman says police chief and other Sonora state authorities were involved in journalist Alfredo Jiménez Mota's disappearance

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF today called on the federal authorities to relaunch the investigation into the April 2005 disappearance of journalist Alfredo Jiménez Mota of the daily "El Imparcial" in Hermosillo, in the northwestern state of Sonora, after a municipal police officer, Lt. Jesús Francisco Ayala Valenzuela, told the National Commission for Human Rights (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos, CNDH) on 17 January 2007 that local authorities were involved in the crime.

Sri Lanka

Journalist's detention extended for another 90 days

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

Dominican Republic

Drug traffickers threaten to burn journalist alive

(RSF/IFEX) - The anonymous death threats that have been made against Manuel Vega, a journalist and television producer who has often denounced drug trafficking in the eastern province of Hato Mayor, should be taken seriously by the Dominican Republic's authorities, RSF stated on 24 January 2007, calling for Vega to be given protection appropriate to the serious risks he is facing.

Maldives

Opposition website's reporter expelled, banned for two years

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the expulsion of US journalist Phillip Wellman on 19 January 2007 and a decision to ban him from returning to the Maldives for two years on the grounds that his visa was not in order. Wellman works for the office of the news website http://www.Minivannews.com that is located in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.

Russia

Chechnya police possibly behind murder of journalist Politkovskaya, over article on state-sponsored torture

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Iraq / Spain / United States

Spanish judge issues warrants for the arrest of three US soldiers for "murder" of journalist in Iraq

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF today welcomed the international warrant issued by a Madrid judge yesterday for the arrest of three US soldiers for the "murder" of Spanish cameraman José Couso of the privately-owned television station Telecinco, who was killed on 8 April 2003 when a US tank fired a shell at a Baghdad hotel used by the international media.

Russia

Journalist beaten, injured, for taking photographs in public employment agency

(CJES/IFEX) - On 19 January 2007, in the city of Partizansk (Primorsky region), Tamara Golovanova, correspondent for the newspaper "Vesti", was badly beaten while on assignment.

Burkina Faso

Newspaper publisher and editor convicted of libelling president's brother

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced stupefaction at the two-month suspended prison sentences and fines of 300,000 CFA francs (450 euros) which a court in Ouagadougou on 22 January 2007 passed on Germain Bitiou Nama, the publisher of the privately-owned fortnightly L'"Evénement", and Newton Ahmed Barry, its editor, for linking the president's brother, François Compaoré, to the 1998 murder of journalist Norbert Zongo. The newspaper has appealed.

Rwanda

Judge orders 30 days of pretrial custody for newspaper editor

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a Kigali judge's decision on 19 January 2007 to place Agnès Uwimana Nkusi, the editor of the privately-owned fortnightly "Umurabyo", in custody for 30 days while she awaits trial on charges of "promoting divisions," sectarianism and libel.

Haiti

Gang members gun down freelance photographer at his home

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF was horrified to learn that freelance photographer Jean-Rémy Badio was murdered in the southern Port-au-Prince district of Martissant on the afternoon of 19 January 2007. He was reportedly shot dead in his home by members of a gang he had photographed a few days before.

Guinea

Minister censors all private radio stations

(MFWA/IFEX) - The Minister of Information of Guinea, Boubacar Yacine Diallo, on 15 January 2007 ordered all private and community radio stations not to broadcast any material on the ongoing general strike by the country's workers protesting against the high cost of living and other national concerns.

Peru

Municipal officials assault two journalists, threaten to kill them for investigating corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 20 January 2007, journalists Elizabeth Salinas, host and reporter for the radio programme "Satélite Noticias", and Cinthia Florez, photographer for the magazine "Cono Este", were struck, insulted, and issued death threats by José Luis Zafra and Mazzi Soto, officials of the municipality of Chosica, a district to the east of Lima.

Palestine

Al-Arabiya TV's Gaza office bombed, RSF calls for increased security

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the bombing of the Gaza City offices of the Dubai-based pan-Arab satellite TV station Al-Arabiya on 22 January 2007, a few days after its journalists received telephone threats over a controversial report about Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh that had led him to say he would bring legal action against the station.

Paraguay

IAPA submits to IACHR results of investigation into journalist Santiago Leguizamón's murder

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 19 January 2007 IAPA press release:

Poland

Court halts appeal by editor facing imprisonment for libel; IPI urges presidential pardon

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2007 IPI letter to Polish President Lech Kaczyński:

Russia

Court allows website to continue operating but rules that it must register as a media outlet; editor to appeal

(CJES/IFEX) - On 17 January 2007, the City Court of Abakan ruled that the Khakassian website "Noviy Fokus" ("The New Focus"), belonging to journalist Mikhail Afanasyev, will not be closed down, despite Public Prosecutor Vladimir Dyuzhev's insistence, news agency Khakassia reported. However, the website can continue operating only after it has been registered as a media outlet.

China

Fatal beating of journalist allegedly on orders of local coal mine owner

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 January 2007 IFJ media release:

Turkey

Suspect arrested in murder of journalist Hrant Dink

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2007 IPI press release:

Brazil

Football fans assault radio reporter in Porto Alegre

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 17 January 2007, Radio Gaúcha reporter Rafael Serra was assaulted by Grêmio football team fans when he was covering the arrival of the team's new goalkeeper to Porto Alegre's airport, in southern Brazil. The reporter suspects that the attack was the result of criticisms made by the radio station's commentators about acts of vandalism carried out in the town by fans of the team.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Republika Srpska government boycotts public broadcaster from covering official events, alleging bias

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 January IFJ media release:

Bahrain

Two men detained, face up to seven years' imprisonment for disseminating "subversive literature"

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a 20 January 2007 statement from BCHR, an interim member of IFEX:

Colombia

FLIP concerned about lack of clarity on media's right to cover hearings on paramilitary crimes

(FLIP/IFEX) - FLIP is concerned about contradictions and confusion regarding the right to make public the version libre" ("freely given") testimony of paramilitary group leaders participating in the peace process with the government, under which sentence reductions are provided to paramilitary members at all levels who voluntarily provide full details of their crimes.

Pakistan

CPJ calls on government officials to fulfill promise to investigate murders and attacks of journalists

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Russia

Newspaper faces three defamation lawsuits as electoral period approaches

(CJES/IFEX) - In the city of Omsk, three lawsuits entailing demands for damages totalling 1.7 million rubles (approx. US$64,000), have been filed against the newspaper "Omskoe Vremya" ("The Omsk Times"). As the editor of the newspaper, Mr. Yury Perminov, told CJES, all three claims were filed under clause 129 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (slander in a public statement or media).

Nepal

In three separate incidents, journalists assaulted, threatened while covering strike, demonstrations

(FNJ/IFEX) - Sharad Chandra Bhandari, a reporter with the news agency Rastray Samachar Samitte (RSS), was manhandled on 21 January 2007 while covering the indefinite nation-wide traffic strike in Gaushala, called by the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE).

Philippines

Two critical television news programmes cancelled; financing for investigative news magazine allegedly halted under duress

(CMFR/IFEX) - Two television news programmes that were critical of the Arroyo administration have been taken off the air by their home station, rival network ABS-CBN's "TV Patrol" news programme reported on 18 January 2007.

Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)

Bill would increase police search powers

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about a bill currently being discussed by the Parliamentary Assembly of Northern Ireland. The draft "Policing - Miscellaneous Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 2007" would extend the powers of the police to search and seize documents.

Malaysia

Defamation suit against two bloggers a "landmark" legal assault on Internet free expression, says SEAPA

(SEAPA/IFEX) - SEAPA views with grave concern a landmark suit in Malaysia, filed on 4 January 2007 by a major news group and its top executives against two bloggers for "defamation" and "malicious falsehoods".

Sri Lanka

Income tax investigation into two newspapers may be intimidation tactic, says FMM

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

Iran

Journalist prevented from leaving the country to collect prize

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders expressed concern after a freelance journalist, Taghi Rahmani, was prevented from leaving Iran as he prepared to travel to Denmark on 13 January 2007 to receive a prize awarded by the local section of the freedom of expression organisation, PEN International.

Somalia

Two journalists still held for "insulting" the president; RSF denounces government's unequal battle with newspaper

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an 18 January 2007 RSF open letter to President Dahir Rayale Kahin:

Vietnam

Cyber-dissident Nguyen Vu Binh's health deteriorating; RSF calls for his inclusion in amnesty

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has written to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet asking him to include cyber-dissident Nguyen Vu Binh in the list of prisoners who will be amnestied on the Lunar New Year on 17 February 2007. The organisation draws the president's attention to the fact that Binh's health has deteriorated rapidly in recent months.

Turkey

Journalist Hrant Dink shot dead outside his newspaper offices in Istanbul

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

Morocco

Managing editor resigns to spare his newspaper impossible damages payment

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders voiced dismay on learning that Aboubakr Jamaï was forced to resign on 18 January 2007 as managing editor of the Casablanca-based weekly "Journal Hebdomadaire" in a move that confirms a significant decline in the level of press freedom in Morocco.

Venezuela

Journalist accused of fraud and other crimes says he is being persecuted by Táchira State governor

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 20 November 2006, Juan de Jesús Gutierrez, a prosecutor who works for the Ministry of the Prosecutor General (Fiscalía General de la República) and who is authorised to bring charges anywhere within the country, charged journalist Gustavo Azócar with making illegal profits to the detriment of the government, forging a private document and fraud. The preliminary hearing will take place on 19 January 2007 before the Seventh Control Court (Juzgado Séptimo de Control), presided over by Judge Ciro Heraclio Chacón. This event took place in San Cristóbal, southwestern Venezuela.

Brazil

Police assault cameraman covering student demonstration, briefly detain him and assistant, seize videotape

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 18 December 2006, TV Récord television station cameraman Marcelo Assunção and his assistant Fábio Souza were threatened, assaulted and arrested by members of the Metropolitan Civilian Guard Mediation Troop (Tropa de Mediación de la Guardia Civil Metropolitana, GCM), while they were covering a student demonstration near the mayor's office in São Paulo. The journalists were prevented from filming.

Peru

Journalist mistreated by hotel owner in Iquitos

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 11 January 2007, journalist Marbella Mamani, a reporter for Radio Loreto's programme "Loreto en la Noticia", was assaulted by the owner of Dorado Plaza Hotel, Beto Rodríguez, who also grabbed her mobile phone. The incident took place in the city of Iquitos, in northeastern Peru, when the journalist attempted to interview the hotelier about a traffic accident in which he had been involved the previous night.

Zimbabwe

State media body continues to harass journalist

(MISA/IFEX) - The Media and Information Commission (MIC) has summoned journalist Nunurai Jena to appear before it for a hearing over an expired accreditation card allegedly issued to him "in error" by the state-controlled media body.

Nepal

Maoist soldiers bar journalists from entering encampments

(FNJ/IFEX) - Soldiers of the Maoist's People's Liberation Army (PLA) barred journalists from entering their Fourth Division headquarters at Jhyaldanda in Nawalparasi district while a seven-member United Nation Arms Management Team was inspecting the site on 16 January 2007.

Romania

Justice minister publicly impugns journalist being tried for "using confidential information", questions his right to criticise

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 17 January 2007 IFJ media release:

Bahrain

Woman receives death threats, faces defamation charges, for speaking out about divorce case, criticising courts and authorities, in television interview

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is an abridged statement from BCHR, an interim member of IFEX:

Sri Lanka

Journalists, free expression worker labelled "traitors", issued death threats

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Mexico

Reporter receives death threats over coverage of sexual abuse case involving priest

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 17 January 2007 CPJ press release:

West Africa

Violations against journalists and media rights rise in 2006, reports MFWA

(MFWA/IFEX) - The following is a 17 January 2007 MFWA press release:

The Gambia

Journalist located after 188 days in secret detention

(MFWA/IFEX) - Chief Ebrima B. Manneh, a journalist working with the "Daily Observer", a pro- government daily newspaper, was located on 12 January 2007 for the first time since his arrest by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), more than six months ago.

Iraq

Several more journalists killed; another media worker kidnapped

(RSF/IFEX) - Just weeks after the UN Security Council's adoption of Resolution 1738 on the protection of journalists in armed conflicts, a new string of killings of journalists in Iraq has underlined the urgent need for the Iraqi government to take determined measures to protect its country's media personnel, Reporters Without Borders said on 18 January 2007.

Egypt

Human Rights Watch calls on government to drop charges against Al-Jazeera journalist

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 17 January 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Nepal

CEHURDES concerned with interim constitution's provisions

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - The following is a 17 January 2007 CEHURDES press release:

International

IFJ challenges media employers to improve safety, annual report confirms 2006 as "bloodiest year" for journalism

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2007 IFJ media release:

Guyana

Government punishes critical newspaper by withdrawing state advertising

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Guyanese government's withdrawal of virtually all state advertising from the "Stabroek News", the country's leading privately-owned daily, and its refusal to respond to the initiatives taken by the newspaper in response to this discriminatory measure.

Pakistan

Government stops advertising in leading English-language daily; editors' council condemns move

(PPF/IFEX) - The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has condemned the government's decision to stop advertising in the daily "Dawn", the country's largest circulation English-language newspaper.

Sri Lanka

TV journalist assaulted

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

Venezuela

Private media denied access to press conference

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 11 January 2007, several private media outlets were denied access to the National Commission for Police Reform (Comisión Nacional para la Reforma Policial) press conference where the proposal for the country?s new police model was presented. This took place at the Ministry of External Relations (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) in Caracas.

Somalia

Three local radio stations and Al Jazeera told they can go back to work

(RSF/IFEX) - After negotiating with the managers of three privately-owned radio stations that were ordered to suspend broadcasting the previous day, Somalia's transitional federal government told them on 16 January 2007 that they could resume broadcasting, Reporters Without Borders has learned from Omar Faruk Osman, the secretary-general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

Venezuela

Politician calls for investigation of media "conspiring against government"; National Assembly rejects OAS leader's censorship allegations

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 9 January 2007, Iris Varela, a National Assembly member belonging to the governing party, formally asked the National Assembly to urge the judiciary and the Ministry of the Attorney General (Ministerio Público) to launch criminal investigations against all media that, like Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), have "conspired against the government". The request was presented during the first ordinary session of the National Assembly of 2007.

Brazil

Journalist briefly detained, facing legal proceedings for practising without a university degree

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 14 December 2006, Judge Richard Fernando Silva ordered the arrest of reporter Silvério Netto, who was interviewing him, in the town of Pará de Minas, in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Netto was working on an article for the community-based radio station Total FM's webpage, BR Supernews, about a report presented by the Small Claims Court. The judge asked the journalist about his professional training; the reporter replied that he did not have a degree. The judge ended the interview and ordered Netto to be arrested. Netto was taken to a police station and released after he gave a statement.

China

Reporter beaten to death, another assaulted, at illegal mine

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Mexico

Body of disappeared journalist found, cause of death not yet determined

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 January 2007, the body of journalist Guevara Guevara Domínguez, editor and contributor of the digital edition of the U.S. weekly "Siglo XXI", who disappeared on 8 October 2006, was found in the municipality of Ocampo, in the northeastern state of Durango. The body, which was found at the bottom of a ravine, exhibited multiple fractures in the thorax, skull and limbs. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death, nor the date on which the possible crime may have taken place

Russia

Online newspaper editor's conviction, fine for "insult to authority" confirmed by regional court

(CJES/IFEX) - On 11 January 2007 in Ivanovo City, the Ivanovo regional court confirmed the prior verdict of the Lenin area Justice of the Peace against Mr. Vladimir Rahmankov, editor of the Internet-based newspaper "Kursiv".

United Kingdom

Proposed changes to Freedom of Information Act may be detrimental, says IPI

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2007 IPI letter to Constitutional Affairs Secretary Lord Falconer of Thoroton:

Kazakhstan

Draft law on print licencing "oppressive," says ARTICLE 19 in new report

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 15 January 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Thailand

Military leaders block CNN broadcasts of interview with deposed prime minister

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On 15 January 2007, Thailand's military leaders moved to block CNN broadcasts of the cable network's exclusive interview with deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, less than a week after warning the Thai press about giving the ousted leader such access to the media.

Zimbabwe

Central bank threatens to sue two newspapers, journalist, following story on bank governor

(MISA/IFEX) - The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has threatened to sue the privately-owned "The Standard" and "The Zimbabwean" weeklies over stories reporting that the RBZ governor Dr. Gideon Gono had bought a top-of-the-line Mercedes Benz for US$365,000.

Somalia

Three Mogadishu radio stations, two television stations ordered closed by national security agency

(CJFE/IFEX) -The following is a 15 January 2007 CJFE press release:

Egypt

Journalist in possession of footage documenting torture charged and interrogated

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo condemns the charges and the investigation launched against Huweida Taha, a journalist from Al-Jazeera TV. Taha is being investigated because she was in possession of footage documenting torture in Egypt that was to be broadcast on a show by the television channel. Security forces confiscated the videotapes while Taha was on her way to Doha, Qatar during the week of 8 January 2007.

Venezuela

Court confirms ruling against journalist accused of defamation

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 15 December 2006, the Sixth Bench of the Appeals Court (Sala Sexta de la Corte de Apelaciones) confirmed the 2-year 11-month sentence against journalist Julio Balza, accused of having of defamed Minister Ramón Alonzo Carrizalez Rengifo, which had been passed by the Ninth Court of Justice (Tribunal Noveno de Juicio). The ruling also calls for the payment of nearly US$12,500 in civil reparations.

Belgium

IPI protests measures adopted by Parliament in response to broadcast of fake documentary

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 12 January 2007 IPI press release:

Morocco

Editor and reporter receive three-year suspended sentences; newspaper ordered closed for two months

(RSF/IFEX) - Suspended sentences of three years in prison and fines of 80,000 dirhams (7,200 euros) were handed down by a Casablanca court on 15 January 2007 on Driss Ksikes, editor of the Arabic-language weekly "Nichane", and one of his journalists, Sanaa Elaji, for attacking Islam and traditional morals in a feature about Moroccan humour. The court also ordered "Nichane" to be closed for two months.

Azerbaijan

Website editor gets 12-day prison sentence

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 12-day prison sentence passed on 14 January 2007 by a Baku court on Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, the editor of a news website that has been blocked by the authorities for the past several days for criticising the government's economic policies.

Rwanda

Newspaper editor arrested for criticising press freedom violations

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Agnès Uwimana Nkusi, the editor-in-chief of the privately-owned bimonthly "Umurabyo", who has been held at the Muhima district police station in Kigali since 12 January 2007 for publishing an open letter condemning press freedom violations.

Azerbaijan

Court extends journalists' pretrial detention

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Iraq

Journalist murdered in Mosul, another found dead in Baghdad

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders expressed its horror at the murder of freelance journalist Khoudr Younes al-Obaidi, who was shot dead as he returned to his home in Mosul, northern Iraq, on 12 January 2007.

Burma

Internet censorship escalates as military junta bans proxy websites

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Peru

Teachers harass journalists in Ayacucho

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 January 2007, journalists Percy Rosado, of the newspaper "Jornada", and Héctor Oré, director and programme host of Canal 33 television station, were harassed by a group of teachers belonging to the Education Workers' Union (Sindicato Unitario de Trabajadores en la Educación, SUTEP) who were attempting to boycott the teacher evaluation exam that was taking place in Ayacucho, a city in southeastern Perú.

China

Wave of online free expression violations since beginning of year

(RSF/IFEX) - There has been a wave of violations of online free expression since the start of the year, says Reporters Without Borders. A website covering corruption cases was shut down on 8 January 2007, the Sichuan authorities are continuing to enforce an Internet ban on Tibetan poet Woeser and the wife of Yang Maodong (Guo Feixiong), one of the 50 cyber-dissidents jailed in China, said on 12 January that he is being regularly tortured.

Bolivia

Journalists attacked during march in Cochabamba to protest recent attacks on colleagues

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 10 January 2007, several journalists of the city of Cochabamba were assaulted while they protested against the attacks suffered by their colleagues on 8 January while covering a confrontation between government supporters and the police.

Bolivia

Number of journalists reported assaulted in Cochabamba protests rises

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 January 2007, journalists and photographers of various media outlets were assaulted while they covered a confrontation between government supporters and the police. The police were attempting to stop the demonstrators from storming the offices of the prefecture in Cochabamba, a city in central Bolivia. The protestors were demanding the retirement of the director of the prefecture, Manfred Reyes Villa.

Azerbaijan

Government blocks two websites for criticising economic policy

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to restore access to two websites, http://www.tinsohbeti.com and http://www.susmayaq.biz , which they have been blocking since 9 January 2007 because of content criticising the government's economic policies.

Bangladesh

TV and radio stations ordered to stop broadcasting their news programmes; TV station owner placed under house arrest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the interim government head's decision to impose general censorship on the news media following an 11 January 2007 verbal order to radio and TV stations to stop broadcasting news programmes. Journalists have also been prevented from circulating freely in Dhaka.

Bangladesh

Government suspends broadcasts of all eight independent television news stations; all articles on "Daily Star" newspaper's website replaced with list of restrictions

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is an 11 January 2007 CJFE media release:

Bangladesh

Media censored during political crisis; journalists receive death, bomb threats

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 11 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Syria

Cyber-dissident Ali Sayed al-Shihabi freed under presidential amnesty

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the release of academic and cyber-dissident Ali Sayed al-Shihabi on 9 January 2007 after five months in detention. Arrested on 10 August 2006 for articles posted on a far-left website, he was freed under a presidential amnesty marking the Muslim Eid celebrations.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Provincial governor has newspaper suspended and editor imprisoned

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the jailing of Rigobert Kakwala Kash, the editor of the privately-owned weekly "Le Moniteur", on 11 January 2007 in Kinshasa, and the 11-month prison sentence he has received as a result of a libel suit by the governor of the western province of Bas-Congo. He is the first journalist to be imprisoned since Joseph Kabila's election as president.

United States

RSF calls for Al-Jazeera cameraman's release from Guantánamo on fifth anniversary of arrival of first detainees

(RSF/IFEX) - On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the arrival of the first detainees at the US military base at Guantánamo Bay in eastern Cuba, RSF has reiterated its call for the release of Sami Al-Haj, a Sudanese cameraman with the Qatar-based satellite television station Al-Jazeera, who has been held without charge since 13 June 2002.

Sri Lanka

Paramilitary group prohibits sale of two dailies; soldiers raid offices of three newspapers, halt publication of communiqué; editor's home forcibly entered

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

Philippines

In face of legal challenge, journalists defend right to sue president's husband for violating press freedom

(CMFR/IFEX) - The journalists suing First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for abuse of right and for violating their right to the free exercise of their profession, shrugged off Arroyo's motion to dismiss their complaint, and maintained that their suit is meant to defend press freedom and democracy against Arroyo's efforts to undermine both.

Turkmenistan

Following dictator's death, Freedom House calls for free expression reforms, greater openness

(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is an 11 January 2007 Freedom House press release:

Brazil

Judge lifts blocking order on YouTube

(RSF/IFEX) - On 9 January 2007, a Sao Paulo judge issued a statement asking Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to stop blocking access to the entire video sharing service YouTube. The judge nonetheless said ISPs should continue to do everything possible to block the steamy video of soccer star Ronaldo's former wife.

Nigeria

Intelligence agency raids "The Abuja Inquirer" newspaper, arrests staff; journalist from "Leadership" arrested, released after revealing his sources

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned raids on two newspapers by the State Security Service, a domestic intelligence agency, on 9 January 2007 in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. The two newspapers targeted were "Leadership", a daily, and "The Abuja Inquirer", a weekly.

Sri Lanka

Minister threatens journalist with bodily harm over reports accusing him of corruption

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 10 January 2007 FMM press release:

Somalia

Radio station closed as government seat becomes hostile area for press

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the transitional government's closure of Radio Warsan, a privately-owned radio station based in the southwestern city of Baidoa, and called on the authorities to explain why they are continuing to hold journalist Hassan Mohammed Abikar of Voice of the Holy Quran, another privately-owned radio station.

Russia

Editor's home target of arson attack, police briefly detain newspaper staff following reports critical of regional governor

(CJES/IFEX) - On 1 January 2007 in the city of Pskov, at about 7:00 pm (local time), an unidentified individual or individuals set fire to the door of the apartment of Irina Tikhonova, the editor-in-chief of "The Bulletin" of the news agency Pskov News Bureau. Tikhonova is convinced that the incident is directly related to her professional work.

Mexico

Possible parole for convicted murderer of journalist would "increase impunity", says IAPA

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2007 IAPA press release:

Bahrain

HRinfo website blocked since December; RSF writes to the king about his government's Internet policies

(RSF/IFEX) - On 10 January 2007, Reporters Without Borders wrote to the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, about his government's Internet policies, condemning an increase in the censorship of online publications and, in particular, requesting the reopening of the site of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.

Russia

Journalist knocked unconscious, his documents stolen and audio recordings erased

(CJES/IFEX) - On 11 January 2007, Edward Kitashov, correspondent for the magazine "The Person and the Law", informed CJES that he was the victim of an assault on 5 December 2006. He reported the assault, which took place near the Moscow subway station "Polezhaevskaja", to a regional police station.

Colombia

Telesur television reporter released from prison, still under investigation for "terrorism"

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 9 January 2007, after almost two months' detention, journalist Freddy Muñoz Altamiranda, of the Venezuela-based television channel Telesur, was released following the prosecutor general's revocation of a security order against him. Muñoz, was taken into custody on 19 November 2006, accused of "rebellion" and "terrorism".

Democratic Republic of Congo

Dismissal of TV station staff threatens press freedom, says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2007 IFJ press release:

Bolivia

Eleven or more journalists attacked while covering protests in Cochabamba

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Iran

Call for end to harassment of media after new wave of arrests of journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Ali Farahbakhsh and Kaveh Javanmard, two journalists who have been held since late 2006, and urged the Iranian authorities to put an end to a wave of arbitrary arrests and harassment of media personnel that is taking place throughout the country.

Thailand

Military junta invokes censorship order on broadcast media for first time

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The military junta in Thailand has ordered the broadcast media to refrain from reporting about deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his cohorts.

Sri Lanka

Mob assaults two journalists covering anti-war rally, attacks photographer and seizes camera

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2007 FMM press release:

Togo

Radio station suspended for 15 days for alleged misconduct

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 9 January 2007, Radio Victoire, a privately-owned FM radio station in Lome, was suspended for 15 days by the media regulator Haute Autorité de l'Audiovisuel de la Communication (HAAC) for alleged unprofessional conduct.

Pakistan

IFJ renews calls for implementation of Seventh Wage Award to support press freedom and independent media

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 January 2007 IFJ press release:

Nigeria

State security officials raid newspaper office, briefly detain three staff members, seize manuscript and demand that author be surrendered to them

(MRA/IFEX) - On 9 January 2007, about 10 officials of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria's intelligence agency, raided the Abuja offices of the "Leadership" newspaper and held staff members of the company hostage for one hour. They later arrested the editor of the newspaper, Bashir Bello Akko; the general manager, Abraham Nda-Isaiah; and the Minna correspondent, Abdulazeez Sanni.

Morocco

Prosecutor seeks prison terms and closure of "Nichane" weekly

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced dismay at the sentences of three to five years in prison and bans on working as journalists that the state prosecutor requested on 8 January 2007 in Casablanca at the start of the trial of Driss Ksikes, editor of the Arabic-language weekly "Nichane", and one of his journalists, Sanaa Elaji, on charges of "damaging Islam" and "publishing and distributing writings contrary to morals and customs."

Egypt

Academic, political activist and publisher face defamation claim over book documenting feudal abuses

(HRinfo/IFEX) - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) is highly concerned by the defamation claim filed by a feudal family against an academic, Dr. Sherin Abu El Naga, a political activist, Shahenda Mekled, and the owner of the Dar Merit Publishing House, Mohamed Hashem. HRinfo is also worried about the attempt to confiscate a historical document issued in the form of a book.

Malaysia

Government shows lax attitude toward banning of books

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The implication that banning books in Malaysia, or placing restrictions upon their entry into the country, can be reversed or reconsidered upon receiving complaints from distributors or importers, has distressed a local communication rights organisation.

Sri Lanka

Three journalists flee country due to continuous death threats as press freedom situation deteriorates

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2007 IFJ media release:

Iran

Journalist imprisoned for over 40 days without charge or access to lawyer

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Peru

Armed assailants try to force threatened journalist's guard to reveal her whereabouts after ransacking her home, damaging her documents

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 1 January 2007, the house of journalist Marilú Gambini was broken into by unidentified persons who rummaged through it, messed it up and tore papers that the journalist kept in boxes. This took place in Chimbote, northwestern Peru. The journalist has been in hiding since April 2006 when she started receiving death threats after publishing a series of articles on drug trafficking.

Brazil

Une cour de Sao Paolo ordonne le blocage de l'accès au site de Youtube

(RSF/IFEX) - Une cour de San Paolo a ordonné aux fournisseurs d'accès Internet (FAI), le 4 janvier 2007, de bloquer l'accès au site de partage de vidéos Youtube. Cette mesure fait suite à une plainte déposée par deux personnalités brésiliennes concernant une vidéo sulfureuse mise en ligne sur le site américain. Reporters sans frontières considère la décision de la justice brésilienne disproportionnée et demande le déblocage de Youtube.

Brazil

Court order blocking access to YouTube called "disproportionate"

(RSF/IFEX) - A decision by a Sao Paulo court on 4 January 2007 ordering Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to the US video sharing service YouTube has been condemned as "disproportionate" by Reporters Without Borders, which called for access to YouTube to be restored in Brazil. The court issued its order in response to a petition filed by two Brazilians, who were shown in a steamy video posted on the site.

Kenya

Photographer roughed up by president's bodyguards in church

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about governmental hostility towards the privately-owned media after Chris Ojow, a photographer with the daily "The Nation", was roughed up by President Mwai Kibaki's bodyguards when he tried to take pictures of the president during a Sunday service in church on 7 January 2007.

Palestine

Kidnapped AFP reporter Jaime Razuri released after week in captivity

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Indonesia

Following year of intensified violence against journalists, AJI calls on government to protect press freedom

(AJI/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 3 January 2007 AJI press release:

Burkina Faso

President's brother launches libel lawsuit against bi-monthly after being implicated in Zongo murder

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced its support for the Ouagadougou-based bi-monthly "L'Evénement", which is accused of libelling the president's brother, François Compaoré, by linking him to the 1998 murder of journalist Norbert Zongo. The trial is due to start on 8 January 2007 in Ouagadougou.

Malaysia

Weekly censored for "contravening Islamic teachings"

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Government officials in Malaysia tore pages from the international weekly, "The Economist", and blacked out a paragraph whose content they alleged contravened Islamic teachings, according to the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), SEAPA's partner in Malaysia.

Philippines

Media lawyer and family receive death threats

(CMFR/IFEX) - Lawyer Harry Roque, who is handling the class action suit of Filipino journalists against the president's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, received several threatening text messages and a threatening telephone call on 3 January 2007.

Sri Lanka

Journalists prevented from covering conflict zone; newspapers reduce publishing due to lack of supplies; editor under threat of arrest; journalist announces his forced self-censorship

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep concern about the fact that journalists are being denied all access to war zones while a war of words and figures is being waged between the government and the Tamil armed separatists, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Palestine / Israel

Journalist wounded by Israeli gunfire during incursion in Ramallah; news agency stormed by gunmen in Nablus

(RSF/IFEX) - In response to a call from RSF, around 50 journalists and photographers gathered this morning outside the headquarters of the French news agency Agence France-Presse in Paris in a show of solidarity with Jaime Razuri, the AFP photographer of Peruvian nationality who was kidnapped in Gaza City on 1 January 2007 (see IFEX alerts of 4 and 2 January 2007). The photographers laid their cameras on the ground and brandished large photos of Razuri.

Nepal

Journalist abducted for five hours, beaten by Maoists over news report

(FNJ/IFEX) - Krishna Lama, a correspondent of "Taja Khabar Weekly", was abducted from Samakhushi Chowk by Maoist cadres in Kathmandu on 4 January 2007 at 7:30 p.m. (local time) and later released around midnight the same day in Ratnapark.

Burma

Two journalists among 2,831 prisoners pardoned by junta

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF and the Burma Media Association welcomed the release on 3 January 2007 of journalists Thaung Tun and Than Win Hlaing before they completed their sentences. They were among a total of 2,831 detainees pardoned by the military junta. No more than about 30 political prisoners were included in the amnesty. Five journalists, including U Win Tin, are still being held in Burma.

Somalia

Newspaper executives arrested in Somaliland, radio reporter arrested in Baidoa

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arrests of journalists in recent days in both the northern breakaway state of Somaliland and in the southwestern city of Baidoa, where the transitional federal government has its seat. Three executives of the Hargeisa-based independent daily "Haatuf" have been arrested in Somaliland. Hussein Mohammed Abikar of the privately-owned Voice of the Holy Quran radio station has been arrested in Baidoa.

Philippines

Reporter arrested and released on bail in libel case

(CMFR/IFEX) - A reporter in Pampanga, a province 80 kilometres north of Manila, was arrested on 19 December 2006 for alleged libel.

Zimbabwe

IPI condemns government's latest attempt to strip publisher of citizenship

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

Palestine

Kidnapped journalist's life endangered by lack of heart medication; Palestinian journalists demonstrate demanding his immediate release

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Nepal

Journalist stabbed over story about local market

(FNJ/IFEX) - Lalit Rai, a correspondent of the weekly newspaper "Majhkharka", was attacked in the area of Rampur Thoksila in Udayapur, an eastern district of Nepal, on 1 January 2007 by local resident Durga Bahadur Khatry, for his news reportage.

Burundi

Court acquits radio journalists charged with "endangering security"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 January 2007 CPJ press release:

Mexico

Criminal defamation charges against journalist Lydia Cacho dismissed

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

China

Magazine editor removed over coverage of corruption and land seizures

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned Huang Liangtian's dismissal as editor of "Bai Xing" ("Popular Masses"), a monthly owned by the agriculture ministry that has acquired a reputation for investigative reporting. Under political pressure, Huang's superiors told him on 30 December 2006 he was being transferred to a minor publication.

International

IFJ reports 155 murders and unexplained killings in year of unprecedented brutality

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 31 December 2006 IFJ media release:

Colombia

Key witness retracts testimony against jailed Telesur television network journalist

(RSF/IFEX) - A former member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrilla group who is serving a 12-year prison sentence has retracted the statement he made implicating journalist Freddy Muñoz, who has been held since 19 November 2006 on charges of "rebellion and terrorism." The prosecution witness finally said he did not know Muñoz.

Nepal

Fearing mob attack following assaults on journalists, newspapers stop publishing

(FNJ/IFEX) - Newspapers at Nepalgunj, Banke, west of Nepal, have stopped publishing since 26 December 2006, following attacks on journalists who were reporting on the Terai Bandh (strike). The strike was called on 25 December by the Nepal Sadbhawana Party-Anandadevi (NSP-A) to express dissatisfaction over the recently signed interim Constitution for allegedly failing to meet the demands of the Madhesi people.

International

CAPSULE REPORT: RSF releases press freedom report for 2006, the deadliest year since 1994

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 31 December 2006 RSF report:

Venezuela

Government considering three options for privately-owned broadcaster RCTV

(RSF/IFEX) - The Venezuelan government is considering three options for the future of the privately-owned broadcaster Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), communication and information minister William Lara said on 29 December 2006, a day after President Hugo Chávez announced that RCTV's licence was to be rescinded.

Iraq

Journalist killed; TV studio shut down for "incitement to violence" after showing footage of Saddam mourners

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the closure of the Baghdad studios of privately-owned satellite TV al-Charkiya, which was accused of "inciting sectarian violence" for showing footage of Iraqis mourning the death of former president Saddam Hussein.

Colombia

IAPA urges president to ensure journalist's murder is thoroughly investigated

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 26 December 2006 IAPA press release:

Philippines

Journalists, media organisations file class action suit against president's husband for his legal intimidation of media personnel

(CMFR/IFEX) - The following is a 28 December 2006 CMFR press release:

Nepal

Media vehicle attacked by Maoist splinter group

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES, a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group, condemns the targeted attack by Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) cadres against a vehicle belonging to a media house.

Palestine

Agence France-Presse photographer kidnapped in Gaza City

(RSF/IFEX) - Every effort must be made to obtain the rapid release of Agence France-Presse photographer Jaime Razuri, a Peruvian national, who was kidnapped in Gaza City on 1 January 2007, RSF said, condemning a lack of political will on the part of the Palestinian authorities to put an end once and for all to the wave of criminal kidnappings of journalists in the Gaza Strip.