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Alerts - 2007 - April-June

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Russia

Exiled journalists, CPJ brief US congressional caucus on dangers facing Russian journalists

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

Peru

Exhibit of political cartoonist's drawings censored by the National Institute for Culture

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 21 and 22 June 2007, officials of the National Institute for Culture (Instituto Nacional de Cultura, INC) ordered three of the ninety drawings of political cartoonist Piero Quijano's exhibition, "Dibujos en Prensa/1990-2007", to be withdrawn, according to declarations made to IPYS by Armando Williams, director of the José Carlos Mariátegui Museum, an institution supervised by the INC.

Sierra Leone

Newspaper editor in detention for criticising president's silence on gifts from Libyan leader

(MFWA/IFEX) - Philip Neville, publisher and editor of privately-owned "Standard Times" was arrested on June 28, 2007 and detained at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Freetown, for allegedly publishing subversive materials. Although he has not being charged, the police have refused to grant him bail.

Canada

Court quashes subpoena ordering journalist to hand over research materials

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 28 June 2007 CJFE press release:

Italy

Bill on publication of phone call intercepts raises press freedom concerns

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on Italy's senators not to approve a bill on telephone tapping that regulates the publication of phone call intercepts in the news media. Presented by justice minister Clemente Mastella, the bill sailed through the chamber of deputies on 17 April 2007 with 447 votes in favour, 7 abstentions and none against.

Burma

Activist on hunger strike, still detained over prayer vigil for Suu Kyi's release; junta frees 51 others

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

Lesotho

"Public Eye" reporter harassed at rally

(MISA/IFEX) - On 24 June 2007, a "Public Eye" reporter, Kabelo Masoabi, was verbally attacked at the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy's (LCD) rally in Makhaleng, Ha Ramabanta, in the Maseru district.

Yemen

Security court decides to hold opposition journalist for another month

(RSF/IFEX) - A state security court in Sanaa decided on 25 June 2007 to keep Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani of the online newspaper "Al-Shoura" in pre-trial detention for another month. Al-Khaiwani has not appeared in court since being arrested at home on 20 June for supposed links with Shiite rebels operating in the north of the country.

Somalia

Newspaper office firebombed

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

India

Nepalese journalist released on bail, but authorities refuse to return his belongings

(FNJ/IFEX) - Indian security officials refused to return the camera and other items belonging to Daya Ram Dahal, a Jhapa district-based journalist with "Janaganatantra Daily" and Janabidroha Radio, after he was released on bail of 1000 rupees (approx. US$24) by a court in Siligudi on 22 June 2007.

Somalia

Journalist struck and arrested by Somaliland capital's mayor

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arbitrary behaviour of mayor Hussein Mohamoud Ji'ir of Hargeisa, the capital of the northern breakaway territory of Somaliland, who on 28 June 2007 slapped journalist Abdirahman Musse Omar several times in the face and then had him arrested.

Comoros

Reporter from state-owned radio station imprisoned for three days, mistreated while in detention

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has "protested energetically" against the mistreatment of reporter Elarifou Minihadji of Radio Ngazidja, a state-owned radio station on the island of Grande Comore, during the three days he was held by gendarmes on the breakaway island of Anjouan.

Paraguay

Woman journalist receives death threat after criticising company owned by member of Congress

(SPP/IFEX) - The SPP condemns the death threat received by Clyde Martínez, correspondent for "ABC Color" newspaper in the city of Pilar, and holds local authorities and Benjamín Macial Pasotti, a Colorado party member of the Congress's Chamber of Representatives, responsible for her safety.

Dominican Republic

Demonstrators threaten to lynch two journalists in Maimón; several others threatened, attacked elsewhere

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is alarmed at the threats and physical attacks against two journalists by demonstrators on 22 June 2007 in Maimón, in the central province of Monseñor Nouel, saying it is astonished by the government's failure to react to an increase in these kinds of incidents since the beginning of 2007 and to the resulting impact on press freedom.

Nepal

Journalists attacked

(FNJ/IFEX) - Bimal Gautam and Dip Rayemaji of Kantipur Television, Badri Sigdel, Kumar Lamichhane and Cameraperson Ghanashyam Sharma of Nepal One Television, and Kiran Chapagain of "Kathmandu Post" were attacked by the relatives of former chairman of Small Cottage Industries Development Bank, Sitaram Prasain, at around 5pm (local time) on 27 June 2007 at Kathmandu district court, Babarmahal, Kathmandu.

Iraq

Two journalists killed in Baghdad; Al Iraqiya TV station destroyed in arson attack; reporter briefly detained in Diwaniya

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has learned that three more Iraqi journalists were killed in June 2007. Their deaths bring the number of media workers killed in Iraq since the start of the year to 36.

Swaziland

News magazine faces defamation charges over article critical of company

(MISA/IFEX) - On 19 June 2007, a case in which the privately owned "Nation" magazine is being sued for E5 million (approx. US$ 750,000) by a Mbabane businessman for alleged defamation, resumed at the Swaziland High Court.

Sri Lanka

Cabinet receives emergency proposal to reintroduce criminal defamation

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 27 June 2007 FMM press release:

Turkey

Various journalists, writers and publishers charged under article 301 over various publications

(BIANET/IFEX) - Since article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code was ratified, around 100 writers, journalists and academics have been tried under it. The authorities look set to continue using the law to target those who discuss controversial topics. Although there was a plan to review the law, the government has now accused non-governmental organisations of not producing a common draft on the recommended changes and therefore, is not going to amend the article. Thus, dozens of people will spend time in court again.

Peru

Columnist convicted of defamation for stating his opinion about a politician's behaviour

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 9 January 2007, Lima's 41st Criminal Court found historian Nelson Manrique, a columnist for the newspaper "Perú 2"1, guilty of defaming Rafael Rey, current Minister for Production, who sued Manrique in November 2005 when he was a member of Congress. The tribunal ordered the historian to pay 3 thousand soles (approx. US$950) as compensation for damages, and abstained from issuing its conviction for a year.

Colombia

CAPSULE REPORT: Threats, surveillance and restrictions undermine journalists trying to cover hearings on paramilitary crimes

(FLIP/IPYS/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 26 June 2007 special report by FLIP and IPYS:

Egypt

CORRECTION: Court refuses judge's request to block websites, but allows for their censorship and prosecution; investigation of blogger continues

(HRinfo/IFEX) - Please note an error in the HRinfo /IFEX alert dated 21 June 2007. In paragraph seven, it was mistakenly stated that the investigation of blogger "Amr Gharbia" had been suspended and that he had been absolved of a defamation charge, whereas neither is true: he still faces charges and is still under investigation. As well, an incorrect figure was given in paragraph nine: the compensation amount was given in English pounds, but should have been given in Egyptian pounds. A corrected version follows:

Iraq

Woman journalist shot dead; investigative journalists' gathering calls for legal reform, greater security

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

Eritrea

Woman journalist employed by state TV held in military camp

(RSF/IFEX) - Fathia Khaled, a presenter on state-owned Eri-TV's Arabic-language service, was arrested earlier in June 2007 and taken to one of the country's detention centres, Reporters Without Borders has learned from several Eritrean sources. One of the sources said she may have been taken to the Sawa military camp in the northwest after being in touch with one or more persons who had fled across the border into Sudan on foot.

Pakistan

Video stores bombed following militant group's threat to attack Internet cafes, newspapers covering women's issues

(PPF/IFEX) - Two video shops were destroyed and 10 others were damaged when a bomb exploded in a compact disk market in the city of Charsadda, located in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on 26 June 2007.

Nepal

Alleged smuggler threatens radio journalist with torture for refusing to reveal source

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 27 June 2007, P. R. Chataut, the news editor of Ghodaghodi FM radio station, was threatened by an Indian smuggler, Ramesh Gupta, in retaliation for a news piece aired on the station on 24 June. The incident took place in Kailali district in western Nepal.

Ukraine

Supreme Court upholds sentence against journalist's murderers

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a 25 June 2007 statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

Nepal

Journalist mistreated, his camera briefly seized, while covering film shoot

(FNJ/IFEX) - Ram Sarraf, a photo journalist with "The Himalayan Times" and "Annapurna Post" was harassed by employees of the National Medical College on 26 June 2007 at Birgunj, Parsa, a district in central Nepal.

Swaziland

Health minister bars journalists from hospital, bans hospital staff from talking to media, following media exposé of negligence

(MISA/IFEX) - On 24 June 2007, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Njabulo Mabuza, banned the media from entering the Mbabane Government Hospital, Swaziland's biggest hospital, in search of news.

Malaysia

District police restrict media coverage of crime stories

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Police in the Sibu district in Sarawak, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, have introduced restrictions on media coverage of crime stories, threatening journalists with arrest should they breach the new rules.

Turkey

Journalist to be tried for "degrading state"

(BIANET/IFEX) - A case in the district town of Gerger, in the province of Adiyaman, southeast of Turkey, illustrates how the Turkish government has been indecisive and contradictory in dealing with freedom of expression.

Bhutan

Government blocks local access to website

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

Cuba

Health of jailed journalists deteriorates

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

Paraguay

Journalist threatened with legal action by Pilar appeals court member after critical article

(SPP/IFEX) - Rubén Franco, a member of the Appeals Court of the city of Pilar (Cámara de Apelaciones del Poder Judicial de Pilar), has threatened Mauricio Acosta, a journalist with the Pilar-based newspaper "Ultima Hora", with legal action after the latter published articles that quoted social activists criticising the judiciary.

Guatemala

Sabotage of CERIGUA's website attempted censorship, according to organisation's director

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 22 June 2007, CERIGUA's website ( http://www.cerigua.org ) was sabotaged and made inaccessible for a number of hours.C

Latvia

Director of popular current affairs programme dismissed; RSF concerned about motives

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced support for investigative TV journalist Arta Giga following her dismissal as director of state-owned LTV's extremely popular weekly current affairs programme "De Facto," which has on several occasions exposed abuse of authority and corruption by politicians.

Mali

Court imposes prison sentences for newspaper report on school essay that mocked imaginary president

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders voiced disappointment at the prison sentences imposed on 26 June 2007 on five journalists and a school teacher on charges of insulting President Amadou Toumani Touré, either directly or as accomplices, in connection with a school essay about an imaginary president's mistress.

Argentina

Judge orders closure of public retransmission television station in San Rafael at request of monopolistic media conglomerate

(AMARC/IFEX) - AMARC is deeply worried about the decision of Héctor Acosta, a federal judge in the province of Mendoza, who ordered the cessation of broadcasts by the local relay transmitter of Canal 7 television station in the city of San Rafael.

Djibouti

Government's authoritarian excesses condemned on 30th anniversary of independence

(RSF/IFEX) - On 27 June 2007, the 30th anniversary of Djibouti's independence, Reporters Without Borders condemns the increasingly authoritarian tendencies of President Ismael Omar Guelleh's government, in particular, a campaign of harassment that led to "Le Renouveau Djiboutien", the country's sole opposition newspaper, being silenced.

Argentina

Photographer threatened with death, assaulted by son of ex-intelligence officer on trial for human rights violations

(FOPEA /IFEX) - The following is an 8 June 2007 statement, received 26 June 2007, from FOPEA, an interim member of IFEX:

China

Government backs down on legislation to censor coverage of emergencies

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders hails a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to withdraw Article 57 from a draft law on crisis situations, which would have imposed heavy fines on news media that published news reports about national emergencies without permission. The decision was reported by the government news agency Xinhua on 24 June 2007.

Turkey

WPFC concerned about journalist Arat Dink, who faces up to three years in prison; calls for reform to insult law

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 25 June 2007 WPFC letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan:

Lesotho

Radio host freed on bail, charged with "failing to report subversive activity"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Lesothan authorities to drop all charges against radio host Thabo Thakalekoala of privately-owned Harvest FM, who was released on bail on 25 June 2007 after being held for three days for reading a letter on the air demanding the prime minister's resignation. It was reportedly given to him by members of the armed forces.

Russia

Court rules seizure of media organisation's documents to be legal

(CJES/IFEX) -On 21 June 2007, the Moscow Golovinsky Court ruled as legal the January 2007 seizure of documents in the office of Educated Media Foundation (formerly known as Internews Russia), which is headed by Manana Aslamazyan. Thus, the court took the side of the prosecutor's office, which linked Aslamazyan's alleged violation of legislation governing currency import into Russia with the work of the foundation

Russia

"Moskovskaya Pravda" newspaper ordered to pay damages for article quoting Moscow governor's statement concerning federal corruption

(CJES/IFEX) - On 16 June 2007, the Moscow Koptevsky Court ruled in favour of the plaintiff in a defamation lawsuit filed by the Moscow region's governor, Boris Gromov, against Oleg Mitvol, deputy head of the Federal Service for Supervising Natural Resources, and the newspaper "Moskovskaya Pravda".

South Korea

Proposed "media support" measures will restrict free flow of information, says IPI

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 25 June 2007 IPI letter to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun:

Russia

Two journalists assaulted by company guards while filming a fire at mining site

(CJES/IFEX) - Alexander Kucheruk and Sergei Berdnikov, journalists with the state-run television and radio company Murman, were beaten by security guards of Norilsk Nickel, Russia's largest mining company, in Murmansk on 8 June 2007, the "Vecherny Murmansk" newspaper reported on 15 June.

Nigeria

Government demolishes broadcaster's offices, allegedly in retaliation for critical election coverage

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

Philippines

One journalist killed, another wounded in shooting spree

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

Russia

Website editor convicted in slander case

(CJES/IFEX) - On 21 June 2007, Mikhail Afanasyev, editor of the website Novy Fokus, was found guilty of slander and insulting a police officer under Articles 129 and 319 of the Russian Criminal Code and sentenced by an Abakan court (Republic of Khakassiya) to a fine of 50,000 rubles (approx. US$2,000).

Zambia

Minister threatens to revoke radio station's license following interview with opposition leader

(MISA/IFEX) - On 17 May 2007, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Mike Mlongoti threatened to revoke an operating license for Petauke Explorers, a local commercial radio station in Petauke district in the eastern province of Zambia, for featuring the president of one of the leading political parties in an on-air paid-for interview.

Uzbekistan

Human rights defender ordered to pay damages to sources pressured by authorities to sue him

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 14 June 2007, a civil court in Samarkand delivered a ruling obliging human rights defender Kamilzhon Ashurov to pay 1 million som (approx. US$820) to both Rustam Sadykov, head of Samarkan printing press, and Shavkat Abdullayev, head of the human rights committee, who had filed defamation lawsuits against Ashurov.

Liberia

Sports journalist assaulted by football coach, threatened by team administrator, after exposing their salaries

(CEMESP/IFEX) - On 18 June 2007, sports journalist Julu Johnson of the "Independent News" newspaper in Monrovia was attacked and assaulted by the head coach of Liberia's National Football team, Frank Jericho Nagbe.

Mexico

Supreme Court debates proceeding against Puebla governor for violating journalist Lydia Cacho's rights

(CENCOS/IFEX) - The magistrates of the Supreme Court (Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación) have sent an important signal regarding their own autonomy and respect for freedom of expression in Mexico by debating a recommendation for some kind of judgment to be made regarding Puebla state Governor Mario Marín Torres, a member of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) party, for his participation in the violation of journalist Lydia Cacho's constitutionally-guaranteed rights, in relation to the publication of her book "Los demonios del Edén: el poder que protégé a la pornografía infantile", a book about the protection of child pornographers by the powers that be.

Australia

Journalists convicted of contempt of court for doing "nothing more than their jobs", says IFJ

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

Palestine

Kidnappers threaten to kill journalist Alan Johnston if rescue attempted

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has said it was deeply shocked by the latest video of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, which his abductors, a group calling itself the Army of Islam, posted on a website used by militants on 24 June 2007. It shows him wearing an explosives belt of the kind used by suicide bombers.

Burma

Authorities arrest protester for criticising military junta; his mother and sister also detained

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

Colombia

Journalist threatened, his equipment seized by armed men in Tolima

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is alarmed over a new wave of threats and attacks on journalists in May and June 2007, in which the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) have often been to blame. RSF is also worried about the hostility displayed towards the media by students protesting against an announced cut in government funding for state universities.

Hungary

Journalist badly beaten, hospitalised following threats over her reporting on corruption

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a 22 June 2007 violent attack on investigative journalist Iren Karmen by two men that left her unconscious on the banks of the River Danube. She was found by a fisherman the next morning and is now hospitalised in Budapest with serious head injuries.

Colombia

Newspaper editor, his family face death threats following articles on drug-trafficker's arrest

(FLIP/IFEX) - Rubén Darío Valencia, editor of the Cali-based daily newspaper "Q'hubo", has been informed of an alleged plot against his life, and is concerned for his safety and for the safety of his family. The threats are apparently in response to reports published in the newspaper about the detention of Olmes Durán Ibargüen, alias "El Doctor", who has been identified by authorities as the head of a drug-trafficking cartel based in Colombia's Pacific region. The articles reported on Durán Ibargüen's 15 June 2007 arrest in Bogotá.

Lesotho

Journalist arrested on treason charges declares hunger strike pending trial

(MISA/IFEX) - On 22 June 2007, freelance journalist and Regional Chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Thabo Thakalekoala was arrested by Lesotho mounted police officers shortly after completing his morning "Rise and Shine" radio broadcast on Harvest FM radio. The mounted police are a division of the criminal investigation department (CID).

United Kingdom / International

PEN American Center urges rejection of academic boycotts to protect freedom of expression as UK body debates boycott of Israel

(PEN/IFEX) - The following is a 22 June 2007 PEN American Center press release:

Iran

Franco-Iranian documentary filmmaker still forbidden to leave country, her footage held

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has written twice to the French Foreign Ministry about the Iranian government's refusal to allow Mehrnoushe Solouki, a documentary filmmaker with dual French and Iranian nationality, to leave Iran."Solouki is in a very difficult situation," the press freedom organisation said. "The Iranian authorities are saying nothing. While no charges were brought against her after she spent a month in detention, the Tehran prosecutor's office is awaiting a green light from the Intelligence Ministry to allow her to leave the country."

Mexico

Newspaper director clarifies information on the "abductions" of three reporters in the Comarca Lagunera region

(CENCOS/IFEX) - The following is a 14 June 2007 CENCOS press release:

Philippines

Arroyo lawyer files motion to dismiss class action suit, subpoenas journalists

(CMFR/IFEX) - A lawyer for the journalists who filed a class suit against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's husband Jose Miguel Arroyo has asked Makati City Judge Zenaida Laguilles to quash the defense subpoenas on eight of the journalist-plaintiffs.

Brazil

Courts impose "preventive censorship" on various media; magazine copies seized, newspaper fined

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about a wave of court orders imposing "preventive censorship" on news media. In most cases, the orders are issued by local courts and are often quashed on appeal. Nonetheless, they feed a climate of intimidation and encourage self-censorship.

Peru

Teachers assault radio journalist during protest in Huaraz

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 20 June2007, Radio Huaraz Stereo radio station journalist Francisco Rodríguez Robles was assaulted by a group of teachers when he was covering their protest against the national government in Huaraz, capital of the Ancash region in northwestern Peru. The assailants belong to the Huaraz and Recuay chapter of Peru's Education Workers' Union (Sindicato Unitario de Trabajadores en la Educación del Perú, SUTEP).

Mexico

"Generos" journalist investigating political and police corruption in Sonora attacked, seeks asylum

(CENCOS/IFEX) - Amid the impunity currently the rule regarding attacks on journalists and media outlets, "Generos" newspaper journalist Claudio Tiznado has decided to ask for asylum in the United States, following an assault. "Generos" is a bimonthly newspaper based in Hermosillo, a city in the northern state of Sonora.

Nepal

Following death threats from Maoist-affiliated union, two newspapers forced to suspend publication

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

Colombia

Woman photographer clubbed by police in Bogotá; journalists abused during student marches in Ibagué, Medellín and Manizales

(FLIP/IFEX) - Journalists, photographers and video camera operators in the cities of Ibagué, Manizales and Bogotá were recently the victims of various acts of aggression perpetrated by students at several public universities or by the police. The incidents occurred during demonstrations against government economic measures considered damaging by some segments of the population, and against the free trade agreement with the United States.

Mexico

"Hora Cero" staff erect barricades at newspaper's facilities for fear of incursion after new threat

(CENCOS/IFEX) - The staff of "Hora Cero" newspaper, a bi-weekly newspaper based in the city of Reynosa, in Tamaulipas state, northern Mexico, have built barricades at the newspaper's entrance, after receiving information that a group of people intend to mob the facility in response to the newspaper's publication of information on the misuse of public funds by Reynosa mayor Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca.

Iran

CORRECTION: Woman journalist released on bail, another dual nationality academic jailed; ARTICLE 19 urges "propaganda" charges against four be dropped

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - Please note that an error in the ARTICLE 19 alert dated 14 June 2007 implied that Haleh Esfandiari had been released on bail. She is in fact currently still being held at Evin prison, as the following 19 June 2007 ARTILCE 19 press release clarifies:

Pakistan

Murdered journalist had received death threats over his reporting

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced revulsion at the murder of Noor Ahmed Solangi, a correspondent for the Sindhi-language newspaper "Khabroon" in Kingri, Sindh province.

Burma

CAPSULE REPORT: Mizzima reviews military junta's record on censorship, media sector relations

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is an 18 June 2007 report from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Mali

Journalist Ibrahim Famakan Coulibaly assaulted by security forces for protesting teacher's imprisonment

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

China

Leading dissident writer still detained without trial after nine months

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC protests the continued detention of leading dissident writer Chen Shuqing, who has been held without trial since 14 September 2006, in violation of both Chinese and international law. PEN considers Chen Shuqing to be detained in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Bahrain

Sharia Court ruling leaves woman without home, children; "clearly another tactic to silence critics of the courts system," says BCHR

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

Nepal

Journalist receives death threats for not disclosing source

(FNJ/IFEX) - Pabitra Kumar Khadka, central representative of the FNJ and Sindhupalchowk correspondent for the national daily "Gorkhapatra ", was threatened with death on 18 June 2007 by Sub-Inspector Surendra Basnet and Constable Keshab Raut of the area police office in Barabise, Sindhupalchowk, a district in central Nepal.

Egypt

Court refuses judge's request to block websites, but allows for their censorship and prosecution; investigation of blogger suspended

(HRinfo/IFEX) - There have been promising developments in the case against judge Abdel Fatah Murad, who has filed multiple fabricated charges against the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and HRinfo, as well as bloggers and human rights and news websites, report the law center and HRinfo.

Sri Lanka

Minister admits desire to hire hackers to disable news website; remarks tantamount to "cyber-terrorism," says FMM

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

International

Denial of accreditation to journalists from non-member countries contravenes internationally recognized agreements, says CPJ

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 June 2007 CPJ letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

United Kingdom

Proposed reforms aimed at denying costliest requests for publicly held information endanger fledgling Freedom of Information Act, says ARTICLE 19

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

Turkey

Sociologist, magazine owner and editor face possible imprisonment over article; writer escapes charge despite army's complaint

(BIANET/IFEX) - Sociologist Ismail Besikci, known in Turkey for his enduring academic interest in the Kurds and for facing both an end to his academic career and imprisonment over his books, is on trial under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Canada

Government appeals court decision quashing search warrant to uncover whistleblower; tribunal refuses to force journalist to reveal sources

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 20 June 2007 CJFE press release:

Turkey

ECHR condemns three rulings against journalists, accepts a fourth

(BIANET/IFEX) - On 14 June 2007, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decreed that freedom of expression was not curtailed in the case of Hünkar Demirel, the manager of the weekly newspaper "Yedinci Gündem", who appealed to the ECHR after he was convicted of "aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation by spreading propaganda".

Croatia

Independent newspaper closes, alleging bias after government refuses to write off debt; a "massive blow to media pluralism", says EFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 June 2007 media release of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Croatia / International

Proceedings against journalists covering international tribunal set disturbing precedent, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about a decision by one of the trial chambers of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to order prosecutors to find out how a document classified as confidential by the court was leaked to several Croat media. The order could lead to the media being prosecuted.

Sri Lanka

Government orders local Internet service providers to block "Tamilnet" news website

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 20 June 2007 FMM press release:

Mali

Four newspaper editors join reporter and school teacher in jail over school essay making fun of imaginary president

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of a secondary school teacher and a total of five journalists who have been arrested over an article about a school essay on the comical indiscretions of an imaginary president.

Poland

Spanish daily and Catalan feminist face trial in Wroclaw for "defaming Poland"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a lawsuit that was brought against the Spanish daily "El País" in the southwestern city of Wroclaw on 5 June 2007 accusing it of "defaming the Polish people" in an article by former Spanish parliamentarian Pilar Rahola entitled "Poland still freezes the soul" that was published on 17 March.

International

At least three journalists a month forced into exile to escape threats of violence, imprisonment, or harassment, CPJ report finds

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 19 June 2007 CPJ special report:

International

Trevor Ncube receives IPA press freedom prize; Hrant Dink, Anna Politkovskaya posthumously awarded special prize

(IPA/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 15 June 2007 IPA press release:

Philippines

Journalist jailed in defamation case; libel laws "outdated, excessive and unreasonable," says IFJ

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

Nepal

Journalist abducted

(FNJ/IFEX) - Hridayaraj Gautam, editor of the "Khulamanch Weekly" and a district member of Press Chautari Nepal, was abducted from his home at 8:30 pm (local time) on 20 June 2007 by unknown individuals in Bara, a district in central Nepal.

Liberia

Two journalists beaten by police and UN peacekeepers, one seriously injured

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the use of violence by members of the national police and United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) against several journalists, including Daylue Goah of the privately-owned daily "New Democrat" and Evans Ballah of "Public Agenda", during a student demonstration on 19 June 2007. Goah was seriously injured.

Antigua and Barbuda

Two CARICOM journalists expelled without justification

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders expressed surprise that the government of Antigua and Barbuda expelled the former editor of the daily "Antigua Sun", Vernon Khelawan, and a colleague of privately-owned Observer Radio, Lennox Linton, on 12 and 13 June 2007.

Yemen

Outspoken editor of Al-Shoura online newspaper detained on terrorism allegations

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

Mexico

Journalist receives death threats for reporting on government employee's alleged corruption

(CEPET/IFEX) - The following is an 18 June 2007 statement from CEPET, an interim member of IFEX:

Cambodia

Government's banning of report, threat by governor's brother show lack of commitment to free expression, says Human Rights Watch

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

Brazil

University professor convicted of defamation; his one-year prison sentence reduced to community service

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 15 June 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

The Gambia

MFWA sues government at ECOWAS Court over "disappeared" journalist

(MFWA/IFEX) - The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria has issued a hearing notice for a suit filed against the Republic of Gambia by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on behalf of a "disappeared" Gambian journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, reporter of pro-government Banjul-based "Daily Observer" newspaper.

Uzbekistan

Court frees jailed human rights activist after forcing her to criticise independent journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - An appeal court in Andijan reduced human rights activist Gulbahor Turaeva's sentence from six years in prison to a suspended six-year sentence on 12 June 2007 after she promised the court to turn over a new leaf and criticised several independent journalists by name. It was the second time in a month that an Uzbek court has suspended an activist's jail sentence after a public confession.

Colombia

Detained suspects confess to killing radio journalist for cash he was carrying

(RSF/IFEX) - The two people who were arrested for the 14 June 2007 murder of radio journalist Garrid Muñoz Tello - army sergeant Albeiro Otálvaro and army civilian employee Fanny Estela Lozano - reportedly confessed on 17 June to killing him in order to rob the large sum of cash he was carrying. They shot him to death when he was in transit in a car near Villavicencio, capital of Meta department, in central Colombia. The two suspects were captured the same day.

Turkey

In various legal actions against "Agos" newspaper staff, some acquitted, others still facing charges

(BIANET/IFEX) - Charges against the late editor-in-chief of "Agos" newspaper, Hrant Dink, of "degrading Turkishness" and "attempting to influence the judiciary" were dropped after he was murdered on 19 January 2007. However, on 14 June, prosecutor Mücahit Ercan demanded that Serkis Seropyan, the owner of "Agos", and the managing editor Arat Dink (Dink's son) be punished in the same case.

Pakistan

Missing journalist reportedly being held by army; two others denied entry to army-controlled Balochi district

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Abdul Latif Gola, the Urdu-language daily "Jang"'s correspondent in Jafarabad (in the southwestern province of Balochistan), who was arrested on 17 June 2007 by police saying they were acting on the orders of an army officer identified as Major Ali.

China

Court of appeal upholds six-year sentence against writer Zhang Jianhong; WiPC seriously concerned about his health

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC protests a court of appeal decision to uphold the six-year prison sentence handed down to prominent writer Zhang Jianhong (a.k.a. Li Hong) on 21 May 2007. PEN is also alarmed about reports that he is seriously ill and that an application for medical parole has not been considered. International PEN is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Zhang in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory. It asks that he receive all necessary medical treatment pending his release.

Canada

Quebec journalist ordered to reveal sources

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced anger over pressure brought to bear on Karine Gagnon of the "Journal de Québec" to reveal her sources after she reported on a potential danger to public health. Gagnon is to appear before an administrative tribunal on 19 June 2007.

Palestine

Armed gunmen raid journalists' union offices, seize documents

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 June 2007 IFJ media release:

Cambodia

Radio Free Asia journalist receives death threat after reporting on deforestation

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned anonymous death threats made against Lem Piseth of Radio Free Asia in Cambodia after he reported on damage from deforestation in the Kompong Thom province in the centre of the country. The authorities had banned all national media from carrying extracts from a report on deforestation in the area recently released by the NGO Global Witness. The journalist has now fled the country to take refuge in Thailand.

Democratic Republic of Congo

CPJ calls for reopening of radio station closed for "bad French"

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

Pakistan

A year after kidnapped journalist's body was discovered, government conceals results of investigations

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Pakistani government's refusal, despite the existence of reports from three investigations, to go after those responsible for the murder of Tribal Areas journalist Hayatullah Khan, whose body was found exactly one year ago on 16 June 2007.

Mali

High school essay assignment lands journalist in prison

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

Nepal

Journalists assaulted by demonstrators in Birtamod; FM station attacked, staff threatened

(FNJ/IFEX) - Yadhav Poudel, of "Morning Times" and Mechi Tunes FM, and Narayan Khadka, a correspondent with "Nepal Samacharpatra" daily were attacked by unidentified demonstrators at Birtamod in Jhapa, an eastern district, on 17 June 2007.

Pakistan

Militant cleric issues fatwa against fashion magazine staff, police file obscenity charges

(PPF/IFEX) - A leading militant mosque in Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad issued a death decree against the staff of the monthly magazine "Octane" for publishing a fashion-shoot entitled "Adam and Eve" that showed two models in revealing costumes.

Pakistan

Journalist murdered in Sindh; another reportedly abducted by intelligence agents in Baluchistan

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

Nepal

Two journalists assaulted by police in Chitwan

(FNJ/IFEX) - Suresh Chandra Adhikary, FNJ member and chief editor of "Chure Sandesh" weekly, and Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, FNJ central area representative and managing director of "Kayakairan National Daily", were attacked by police personnel on 16 July 2007 at Bypass Road in Chitwan, a central district of Nepal.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Police arrest suspects in journalist's murder

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

Russia

Investigative reporter shot, wounded in Moscow

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

Malaysia

Government sets up task force to circumvent "no Internet censorship" Bill of Guarantee

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Following repeated threats by ministers and members of Parliament over the past three years to control online content, the Malaysian government is setting up a task force to look into how it might apply existing legislation on new media without contravening the country's Bill of Guarantee against Internet censorship.

Palestine

Army of Islam threatens to kill BBC correspondent Alan Johnston

(RSF/IFEX) - On 18 June 2007, Reporters Without Borders voiced alarm over the contradictory signals coming from Hamas representatives and the Army of Islam militant group about the fate of British reporter Alan Johnston of the BBC, who has been held hostage by the Army of Islam in the Gaza Strip since 12 March.

Sudan

Four journalists arrested while travelling to cover violently suppressed dam protest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the continuing detention of four journalists employed by Khartoum-based daily newspapers who were arrested in Dongola, in the state of Shamiliyah (North), on 13 June 2007 while on their way to cover a protest against the building of a dam in the Kijbar region.

Philippines

Alleged murderer of journalists killed; president vows to end media killings, update libel arrest procedure

(CMFR/IFEX) - The alleged gunman behind the 19 June 2006 killing of journalist/activist couple Maricel Alave Vigo and George Vigo in Kidapawan, Cotabato, has himself been killed, the online publication " http://www.mindanews.com " reported. Kidapawan is located in Central Mindanao, a southern island of the Philippines.

Iraq

Kidnappers murder editor of daily "al-Sabah"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep outrage at the murder of Filaih Wadi Mijthab, editor of the daily "al-Sabah", whom kidnappers snatched from his car on 13 June 2007 as he was driving to work.

Paraguay

Radio journalist receives death threat from anti-drug agents, his phone and another journalist's illegally tapped, for reporting on corruption

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is concerned for the safety of Vladimir Jara and Víctor Benítez of radio Chaco Boreal, who have received threats and whose phones have been illegally tapped since revealing alleged corruption within Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Secretaría Nacional Antidrogas, SENAD). The organisation calls on the authorities to carry out both disciplinary and criminal investigations into the matter.

Ethiopia

EFJA shocked by deteriorating press freedom situation following conviction of editors and publishers

(EFJA/IFEX) - The following is a 12 June 2007 press release of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net), of which EFJA is a member:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Local ANR officials close Mayi-Munene radio station, confiscate equipment

(JED/IFEX) - JED condemns the closing of a community radio station emitting in Mayi-Munene, near Tshikapa, in central RD Congo, and the confiscation of its equipment, by local officials of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) on 9 June 2007.

Colombia

Owner of Araucan radio station murdered in Villavicencio, army personnel captured at scene of crime

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 14 June 2007, Garrid Muñoz Tello, owner of La Voz del Cinaruco radio station, based in Arauca, the capital of the department of the same name, was murdered in strange circumstances in the city of Villavicencio, capital of the department of Meta. The murder took place in a hotel located on the highway connecting Villavicencio with Bogotá, the national capital.

Iraq

Media workers detained for nearly four months said to be psychologically "collapsing"; CPJ calls for their release

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ letter to Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki:

Kazakhstan

Opposition newspaper sued for alleged defamation of deceased poet and national hero

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - The "Svoboda slova" newspaper and one of its journalists, Yerbol Kurmabayev, are facing a lawsuit filed by three private citizens - Almaz Dzhambulov, Zhenis Zhambylov and Katshibek Abdykalykova - who are seeking 800 million tenge (approx. US$6.5 million) in damages for "heavy sufferings." In their lawsuit based on "protection of the honour, dignity and reputation from insult and moral suffering," the plaintiffs, calling themselves descendants of national poet Dzhambul Dzhabayev and a national hero of Kazakhstan, Karasai Batyr, claim that the journalist distorted Kazakh history and defamed both of them. The lawsuit followed the 25 January 2007 publication in "Svoboda slova" of an article in which the journalist reported that the historical role of both the poet and hero was exaggerated and mythologised.

Fiji

Blacklisted New Zealand journalist detained and expelled

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns Fiji's expulsion of New Zealand journalist Michael Field and the existence of a government blacklist of undesirable foreign journalists. Field, who works for the Fairfax press group, was detained on his arrival on the evening of 14 June 2007 at Suva airport and was expelled a few hours later. He was treated well and an immigration officer even voiced regret at finding his name on a blacklist. Other journalists who arrived on the same flight as Field were allowed in.

Nepal

MJF cadres burn copies of newspapers in Duhabi, threaten further action

(FNJ/IFEX) - The "Nepal Samacharpatra Daily" and pro-Maoist newspaper "Janabidrohi Daily", published in Biratnagar, were burned by cadres of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) on 15 June 2007 at 5:00 a.m. (local time) in Duhabi, in Sunsari district in eastern Nepal.

Venezuela

Llanovisión television station owner suspends news programme after coverage of RCTV case

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 23 May 2007, regional UHF channel Llanovisión's news programme, "La Entrevista de Hoy", was suspended after it commented on the Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) case. The programme was hosted by sociologist Laure Nicotra and was broadcast in the state of Barinas, southern Venezuela.

Peru

Photojournalist assaulted in Chimbote by members of construction workers' union

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 10 June 2007, a group of members of the Civil Construction Workers' Union (Sindicato de Trabajadores de Construcción Civil) assaulted photographer Paul Meza Castañeda of Chimbote's newspaper "La Industria", when he was covering a union meeting. Chimbote is a port in northwestern Peru.

Iran

Three journalists sentenced to prison, another on trial, for covering demonstrations; "Disgah" and Kurdistan TV reporters out on bail

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned the judicial harassment of journalists who cover demonstrations. Four have been tried by revolutionary tribunals in recent weeks, three of them receiving prison sentences. Others are awaiting trial or the announcement of the court's verdict.

Rwanda

Newspaper's perceived ties to neighbouring Uganda may have precipitated closure

(Media Institute/IFEX) - The Rwanda government on 6 June 2007 ordered the closure of the privately owned "Weekly Post" for unknown reasons.

Rwanda

Government strips new journal's licence after first edition

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

Zimbabwe

Legislators pass bill allowing government to spy on telecommunications

(MISA/IFEX) - Zimbabwe's House of Assembly on 13 June 2007 passed the controversial Interception of Communications Bill without amendments despite opposition to some of its provisions by opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislators.

Cambodia

French-language daily to close, editor fired after publishing excerpts of report on illegal logging

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is outraged at the 12 June 2007 decision by the owners of the French-language daily "Cambodge Soir" to close the newspaper, just two days after unfairly dismissing its news editor for publishing extracts from a long report on illegal logging that was critical of the government.

Georgia

Jailed TV station co-founder Chalva Ramishvili does not get presidential pardon, unlike colleague

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has learned that Chalva Ramishvili, one of the co-founders of the independent TV station 202, has not received a presidential pardon, unlike his partner, 202 managing editor David Kokhreidze. The two journalists were convicted on flimsy evidence in March 2006 of extorting money from a parliamentarian. Ramishvili was sentenced to four years in prison. Kokhreidze got three years.

Sri Lanka

"Mawbima" journalist's passport and identification document seized as harassment campaign continues

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

Iraq

Government newspaper editor abducted

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern at the news that another Iraqi journalist, Filaih Wadi Mijthab, was kidnapped on 13 June 2007 in Baghdad. He is the 15th journalist currently held hostage in Iraq without any claim of responsibility or ransom demand being sent to relatives or colleagues.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist killed in Bukavu

(JED/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a Journaliste en danger press release:

Iran

Woman academic, woman journalist released on bail, another dual-nationality academic jailed, ARTICLE 19 urges "propaganda" charges against four be dropped

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

Mexico

Oaxaca journalist shot and wounded following death threats for investigating Brad Will's murder

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

Palestine

Gaza journalists endangered by armed groups' use of vehicle marked "TV", warns Human Rights Watch

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

Peru

Regional government's photographer and demonstrators assault, injure radio journalist in Loreto

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 5 June 2007, journalist Antonio Freyre Pizango, of Radio Jabes radio station's programme "Buenos Días Requena", was assaulted by Loreto's regional government's video camera operator, Félix Da Silva, and a group of supporters of that same government's president, Iván Vásquez, when he was covering a protest march organized in Requena, a town in northeastern Peru.

Vietnam

Following international pressure, critical writer Nguyen Vu Binh released under amnesty after serving four years for "espionage"

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC welcomes the release of leading dissident writer Nguyen Vu Binh on 10 June 2007, after serving four years of a seven-year prison on espionage charges for his critical writings. He was among three leading dissidents to be granted an amnesty by President Nguyen Minh Triet, two weeks ahead of his planned visit to the United States. Sustained international pressure from human rights organisations and US and European diplomats is thought to have contributed to his early release.

Burma

WiPC protests extension of writer and opposition leader Suu Kyi's detention for fourth consecutive year

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC protests the Burmese authorities' decision to extend Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest for a fourth consecutive year. PEN calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Suu Kyi and all others detained in Myanmar in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mexico

"Hora Cero" directors and reporters threatened after publishing allegations of Reynosa mayor's corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 9 June 2007, the directors of the newspaper "Hora Cero", from Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, in northern Mexico, reported that they and their reporters have been threatened after publishing information in May and June about alleged acts of corruption by Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca, mayor of the city of Reynosa, in Tamaulipas state. The last incident took place on 2 June, when those making the threats said that there was a bomb at the newspaper's headquarters, which turned out not to be true.

Mauritania

Opposition party chairman withdraws complaint against journalists

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 4 June 2007, chairman of the opposition Popular Front political party, Ch'bih Ould Cheikh Malainnie, withdrew complaints of defamation he filed against three journalists from privately-owned Nouakchott-based newspapers.

The Gambia

Convicted journalist briefly detained for failure to pay fine, later released following press union's intervention

(MFWA/IFEX) - Lamin Fatty, a reporter with the banned newspaper "The Independent", who was convicted of publishing false information, has filed an appeal at a High Court in Banjul against his conviction.

Brazil

Newspaper article alleges local military police involved in journalist's murder

(RSF/IFEX) - According to an article in the "Folha de São Paulo" daily newspaper of 8 June 2007, members of the local military police were involved in the 5 May murder of Luiz Carlos Barbon Filho in Porto Ferreira, in São Paulo state.

Iraq

Badly-wounded radio and TV presenter emerges from coma

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders learned on 30 May 2007 that Iraqi radio and TV presenter Amal Al-Mudarress has emerged from the coma she had been in since being shot several times in a murder attempt in Baghdad on 29 April, and is expected to recover. After spending several weeks in critical condition in Yarmouk hospital, where doctors feared internal haemorrhaging, the family decided to transfer her to a hospital in the Jordanian capital of Amman, where she underwent an operation. Her doctors say she is now "out of danger."

Ecuador

Staff of Telesur news channel in Quito receive death threats, one of their vehicles sabotaged

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned the death threats that have been being made, since May 2007, against the Quito-based staff of the pan-Latin American television news channel Telesur. This is not the first time the station, launched by the Venezuelan government, has been the target of hostility. RSF calls on the Ecuadorean authorities to act quickly to ensure such hostilities do not continue.

Yemen

Government bans news sent to mobile phones by text message; another website closed for a week

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned new media censorship in Yemen, where access to at least two websites has been blocked since the start of 2007, in one case for three months, and the information ministry is now censoring the distribution of news to mobile phones by SMS message.

Palestine

CAPSULE REPORT: IPI mission calls on government to resolve case of journalist Alan Johnston

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 12 June 2007 IPI mission statement:

China

Imprisoned dissident writer Yang Maodong allegedly tortured, confession to be used in court

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is alarmed by claims by dissident writer Yang Maodong that he was tortured in detention, and that a confession extracted through torture is to be used as evidence in court.

Algeria

Blogger charged with criminal defamation for criticising official

(HRinfo/IFEX) - The Algerian government must drop the defamation charge against blogger "Abd el Salam Baroudy", administrator of the "Bilad Telmesan" blog ( http://bilad-13.maktoobblog.com ), for criticizing an official in an article published in February 2007. Baroudy is scheduled to face the Telmesan First Degree Court on 11 June 2007.

Afghanistan

Editor of independent news agency receives death threats

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders voiced grave concern about death threats sent to Farida Nekzad, editor of Afghanistan's sole independent news agency, Pajhwok. The worldwide press freedom organisation called on the authorities to track down those responsible for the threats.

Nepal

Editor receives death threat after exposing sex trade

(FNJ/IFEX) - Ambika Bhandari, editor of the "Samyentra Weekly", published in Biratchowk in Morang, a district in eastern Nepal, was threatened with death by Bikram Bhujel, owner of the "Don't Cross Me" restaurant on 11 June 2007. Bhandari was threatened regarding news published in the paper that same day.

Venezuela

Caracas prosecutor asks journalist to reveal sources after article alleging corruption in state-owned oil company

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 31 May 2007, the 21st Prosecutor of Caracas' Metropolitan Region (Fiscal 21 del Área Metropolitana de Caracas), Álvaro Hitcher, made an urgent request for permission from the Prosecutor General's Office to ask the weekly newspaper "La Razón" for personal identification information, as well as notes, data, documents, physical documentation and tapings used by journalist Luis Felipe Colina, to publish his column "Carrusel Político", where he revealed alleged acts of corruption in the state-owned petroleum company Petróleos de Venezuela Sociedad Anónima (PDVSA) in September 2006 and April 2007.

Mexico

Supreme Court strikes down amendments to Radio and Television Law

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

China

Yahoo! criticises repression of Internet users in China

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed Yahoo! Inc's belated recognition of the dramatic consequences of its cooperation with the Chinese police after the US corporation sent some news organisations in Hong Kong a short statement on 11 June 2007 criticising the Chinese government's repressive policies.

Ethiopia

High Court convicts four editors, three publishers

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 11 June 2007 CPJ press release:

Somalia

HornAfrik, Shabelle and Quran Karim radio stations allowed to resume broadcasting

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced satisfaction at the transitional federal government's decision to allow three privately-owned radio stations - HornAfrik, Shabelle and Quran Karim (Holy Koran) - to resume broadcasting on 10 June 2007, four days after it ordered them to suspend operations.

Maldives

Photographer released after nine days in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Ahmed Rifah, a photographer with the opposition "Minivan Daily" newspaper, was freed on 10 June 2007 after being held for nine days. He has not been charged.

Uzbekistan

Charges against three Deutsche Welle correspondents dropped

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has given a cautious welcome to a decision by the Tashkent prosecutor's office to drop charges of tax evasion, defamation and working without accreditation against three freelance journalists who work for the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

France

Damages sought by former presidential candidate for tell-all book "disproportionate," says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has expressed its concern about the 150,000 euros in damages and interest sought against the authors of the book "La femme fatale", Ariane Chemin and Raphaëlle Bacqué.

Peru

Cancellation of television programme an act of self-censorship, says IPYS

(IPYS/IFEX) - The following is an 8 June 2007 IPYS press release:

Nepal

Armed groups pose increasing risk to journalists, says RSF; at least 72 attacked or threatened since start of year

(RSF/IFEX) - On 6 June 2007, Reporters Without Borders voiced concern about the safety of journalists in southern Nepal, where armed groups are becoming increasingly active. At least 72 journalists have been attacked or threatened since 1 January, by groups that use violence against the media and the civilian population in general. For a list of the main incidents involving armed groups, see: http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/List_Attacks_2007_RSF.pdf.

South Africa

FXI concerned over trend of banning public events in Cape Town to prevent particular points of view from being expressed

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is an 8 June 2007 FXI press statement:

Venezuela

Editor accused of inciting Chávez's murder in survey; journalists accused of receiving CIA money

IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 May 2007, Mario Silva, host of the state-owned television station Venezolana de Televisión's (VTV) opinion programme "La Hojilla", accused a group of journalists who have been critical of Hugo Chávez's government of receiving money from the American government in order to destabilize the State. The following day, the pro-government newspaper "Vea", stated that the journalists received money from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

China

Three journalists sacked over newspaper and saluting Tiananmen mothers

(RSF/IFEX) - On 7 June 2007, Reporters Without Borders condemned the sacking of three senior editorial staff on Chengdu daily in the southwest, that carried an advertisement saluting mothers of victims of the 4 June 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in which thousands of demonstrators died - to which all reference is banned in China.

Mexico

Three journalists abducted, missing; details scant as media exercise self-censorship, says CENCOS

(CENCOS/IFEX) - The disappearance of three Torreón, Coahuila-based reporters over the 2-3 June 2007 weekend was announced by Joaquín Martínez Garza, editor of "El Sol de Durango" newspaper. The announcement was made on the occasion of Freedom of Expression Day.

Pakistan

Government to withdraw draconian amendments to electronic media laws

(PPF/IFEX) - Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf has said the government would withdraw the controversial amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) law, enacted on 4 June 2007.

Philippines

Court dismisses petition against media censorship by executive branch officials; petitioners to appeal

(CMFR/IFEX) - Thirty seven journalists, the College of Mass Communication of the University of the Philippines, and eight media organizations will appeal a court decision dismissing their petition seeking to prohibit executive branch officials from censoring the media.

Morocco

Seven activists arrested, two allegedly tortured, all sentenced to prison for criticising royalty during Labour Day event

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo calls upon the Moroccan authorities to release the civil society activists who were arrested after 1 May 2007 demonstrations and charged with "insulting sacred doctrines." HRinfo also call for an end to the government's crackdown on freedom of opinion and expression.

Ecuador

"El Telégrafo" editor alleges government seeking control of newspaper in legal dispute over ownership

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 4 June 2007 IAPA press release:

Nepal

Journalist beaten by Maoist militants

(FNJ/IFEX) - Bijaya Poudel, a journalist with Kantipur Television (KTV) and the secretary of FNJ's KTV chapter, was attacked by cadres of the Maoist-aligned Madhesi National Liberation Front (MNLF) on 9 June 2007 in the New Baneshwor section of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.

Malaysia

Media barred from seeking own sources on premier's wedding

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Malaysian government has barred the media from pursuing their own stories about the wedding of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which will take place on 9 June 2007.

The Gambia

Newspaper journalist convicted for publishing false information

(MFWA/IFEX) - Lamin Fatty, a reporter for the banned Banjul-based "The Independent" newspaper charged with publishing false information, was on June 5, 2007 convicted and fined 50,000 Gambian Dalasi (approx. US$1,850).

Bolivia

CPJ mission finds growing difficulties for media despite relatively open press climate

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

Maldives

"Minivan Daily" photographer arrested when police break up prayer meeting

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the interior minister to have news photographer Ahmed Rifah of the opposition "Minivan Daily" released. Rifah was arrested as he left an allegedly illegal prayer meeting on 1 June 2007 in a mosque near the capital, Male, during which he took photos of participants. Scuffles broke out during the meeting. The police seized his press card and took him to Dhoonidhoo prison, where he told colleagues he thought the authorities intended to charge him with attacking police officers.

Burkina Faso

Angry youths threaten to kill journalist and set his house ablaze

(MFWA/IFEX) - Abdoul Salam Quarma, a correspondent for the Agence d'Information de Burkina (AIB), a newswire service in Titao in the province of Lorum, 230 km north of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, was threatened with death on 24 May 2007 by a group of irate youths over a news report they were not pleased with.

Pakistan

Journalists not provided press cards, denied entry to Parliament building

(PPF/IFEX) - On 7 June 2007, the Speaker of the National Assembly barred journalists from Pakistan's lower house of Parliament.

South Africa

SABC withdraws controversial documentary for second time

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is an FXI statement:

Somalia

Radio Warsan shuttered briefly, its director questioned; HornAfrik radio station co-director temporarily detained

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

Tunisia

Journalist Abdallah Zouari's internal exile extended by 26 months

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced dismay at Tunisian government methods of gagging all those who once dared to oppose it, as journalist Abdallah Zouari continued to pay a high price for his former work with "Al Fajr", the official organ of the Islamist movement Ennahda.

Nigeria

Gunmen storm Port Harcourt offices of "The Punch" newspaper; one employee seriously injured

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Nigerian authorities to protect the staff of "The Punch" daily newspaper after two gunmen burst into its offices on 5 June 2007 in Port Harcourt, in the southeastern state of Rivers, looking for an employee.

Venezuela

"Correo del Caroní" suffering electrical outages, its journalist threatened; more cancellations of television frequency concessions threatened

(IPYS/IFEX) - A newspaper's journalist has been threatened over its coverage of the non-renewal of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) station's frequency concession, and the newspaper itself has suffered a series of power outages. As well, President Hugo Chávez has warned that the frequency concessions of other television stations may be cancelled.

Uruguay

Congress approves draft law on community broadcasting

(AMARC/IFEX) - The following is a 6 June 2007 AMARC press release:

Nepal

Journalist receives death threat from district land official for reporting on corruption

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 5 June 2007, Purna Mishra, a correspondent of "Bimarsha Weekly" newspaper and a member of FNJ's Sindhupalchowk chapter, was threatened with death by Bhujung Lama, the district chairman of Rastriya Bhumi Adhikar Manch (National Forum of Land Rights), in the office of the Village Development Committee (VDC) of Sidhupalchowk, a central district of Nepal

Azerbaijan

Imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev receives death threats, inhumane treatment; his conviction confirmed

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

Somalia

Government urged to explain closure of three radio stations

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders called on the transitional federal government to publicly explain the closure of three privately-owned radio stations on 6 June 2007 in Mogadishu for "supporting terrorism" and urged the authorities to take great care with the accusation made against one of the stations, HornAfrik, that it was storing firearms.

Iraq

Baghdad media mourn two more deaths

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep sadness at the murder of a young cameraman employed by Associated Press Television News (APTN) in Baghdad on 1 June 2007, a day after the father of a woman journalist employed by satellite TV station Al-Arabiya was found riddled with bullets in the Baghdad morgue.

International

Regional alliance of NGOs concerned over non-transparent allocation of broadcasting rights, media ownership concentration

(AMARC/IFEX) - The following is a 4 June 2007 AMARC press release:

Pakistan

Charges against 200 journalists for protesting broadcast restrictions dropped following national and international reaction

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

Egypt

Military trials for Brotherhood leaders flawed; human rights groups, media barred from observing trial

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 5 June 207 Human Rights watch press release:

International

WAN calls for protection of freedom of the press in face of anti-terrorism measures, increasing surveillance

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 5 June 2007 WAN press release:

Iraq

Female reporter Sahar Al-Haidari, on death list of journalists, shot dead

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

Colombia

Details, motives for paramilitary murders of two journalists clarified

(FLIP/IFEX) - Demobilised paramilitary leader Juan Francisco Prada Márquez, alias "Juancho Prada", has confessed his responsibility for the 2004 murder of Martín Larrota Duarte, director of La Palma Estéreo radio station in the municipality of San Alberto, Cesar department, in northern Colombia.

International

International Rugby Board trying to restrict media coverage of upcoming World Cup, warns IPI

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

Palestine

Gunmen storm independent news agency amid continuing impunity in Gaza

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the impunity with which journalists are attacked in the Gaza Strip after gunmen stormed the offices of the independent news agency Palmedia in Gaza City, now the epicentre of violence against the press in the Palestinian Territories on 5 June 2007.

China / International

Golden Pen of Freedom awarded to jailed Chinese journalist Shi Tao

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a 4 June 2007 WAN press release:

South Africa

Following protests over apparent ban, SABC decides to screen edited version of controversial documentary

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 6 June 2007 FXI press release:

Tunisia

Police prevent "Kalima" newspaper journalists from entering premises to work

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a 6 June 2007 WAN press release:

Singapore

Court rejects magazine's application for international lawyer in libel case

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Singapore High Court has rejected a regional periodical's application for a Queen's Counsel from the United Kingdom to represent the magazine in a defamation lawsuit brought against it by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

China

Spurious charges against journalist after months of harassment, wife still in jail

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 4 June 2007 CPJ press release:

Eritrea

Public radio journalist arrested as he tries to flee across border

(RSF/IFEX) - On 6 June 2007, Reporters Without Borders voiced deep concern about the fate of Eyob Kessete, a journalist with the Amharic-language service of public radio station Dimtsi Hafash, who was arrested as he tried to flee across the border into Ethiopia and has since been held in the May Srwa detention centre, north of Asmara.

Australia

Government withdraws proposal for police screening of press gallery journalists

(MEAA/IFEX) - The following is a 1 June 2007 MEAA media release:

Togo

CPJ mourns death of pioneering female journalist

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 4 June 2007 CPJ press release

Cambodia

Government bans report by environmental watchdog linking top officials to illegal logging

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Cambodian government has banned a report by a London-based environmental watchdog that accuses Prime Minister Hun Sen and top government officials, as well as their relatives and cronies, of plundering the country's forests through illegal logging.

Afghanistan

High-profile female radio journalist murdered

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders voiced deep shock at the murder of Zakia Zaki on 5 June 2007. She was a leading figure among Afghanistan's independent journalists.

Kazakhstan

Prosecutor shuts down websites of "Karavan" newspaper and Kazakstan Today news agency

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

Pakistan

Government further tightens law for electronic media

(PPF/IFEX) - On June 4, 2007, President Pervez Musharraf promulgated the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance (2007), which gives sweeping powers to the state regulator to take punitive action against the country's private electronic media.

Tunisia

HRinfo calls on government to release journalist under house arrest for five years

(HRinfo/IFEX) - The following is a 4 June 2007 HRinfo statement:

Iran

Detained journalist very ill, denied treatment by Evin prison authorities

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage about the conditions in which journalist Ali Farahbakhsh is being held after learning that he is seriously ill and is being refused proper treatment by the prison authorities. The organisation reiterated its condemnation of his arbitrary arrest and called for his immediate release.

Afghanistan

Suspect arrested in murder of young female TV presenter; RSF calls for thorough investigation

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has urged Afghan police to leave no stone unturned in investigating the 31 May 2007 murder of a popular young TV presenter, Shakiba Sanga Amaj, who worked for Pashtu-language channel Shamshad TV.

South Africa

FXI welcomes court ruling refusing Transport Department's request for pre-publication interdict against newspaper

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 31 May 2007 FXI press release:

Palestine

Islamist group threatens to behead women journalists not wearing veil on public TV

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders wrote to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh on 5 June 2007 asking him to identify and arrest the members of an armed Islamist group that threatened to kill women journalists and other female employees of the state-owned Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) who refuse to wear strict Islamic dress.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Eleven months after his death, journalist's killers face trial

(JED/IFEX) - On 1 June 2007, the trial of the presumed assassins of Bapuwa Mwamba got underway at the Kinshasa/Matete Military Tribunal. Mwamba, an independent journalist, was killed in his Kinshasa home during the night of 8 July 2006.

Democratic Republic of Congo

CPJ condemns police assault on journalists during media group meeting

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

Pakistan

Transmission of leading television news channels blocked

(PPF/IFEX) - Transmission of three leading private television news channels has been intermittently blocked in many parts of Pakistan since 1 June 2007, apparently in an attempt by the government to control the media coverage of the crisis that has engulfed the country since President Pervez Musharraf suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry and filed a judicial reference against him.

Nepal

Radio journalist, station threatened by militant group for not covering its activities

(FNJ/IFEX) - Dependra Chauhan, a member of the Press Council and news coordinator of Radio Birgunj, was threatened with physical assault by members of the militant group Janatantrik Terai Mukati Moarchha-JTMM, Jwala Singh faction, for not reporting on their activities. The incident took place on 31 May 2007 in Parsa, Birgunj, a central district of Nepal.

Sri Lanka

FMM concerned Foreign Affairs Ministry comments prejudicial in cases against journalists

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 1 June 2007 FMM press release:

International

Lack of press freedom inhibits development, says WAN president

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a 4 June 2007 press release:

International

Advertising threatens media freedom, say WAN conference delegates

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a 3 June 2007 WAN press release:

Sri Lanka

FMM concerned with opposition leader's charges against media

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 1 June 2007 FMM media release:

Venezuela

Journalists assaulted, threatened during demonstrations in Barquisimeto; friction continues between government and RCTV and Globovisión

(IPYS/IFEX) - Several media outlets and journalists were harassed, assaulted and threatened in Barquisimeto while covering confrontations between university student groups supporting or opposing the government's controversial decision to not renew the Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) frequency concession. As well, RCTV journalists were denied access to a government press conference in Caracas, and Globovisión journalists were briefly detained.

Venezuela

Globovisión director, host summoned to court; RSF denies accusation of journalists' group

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has accused President Hugo Chávez of aiming to eliminate all the opposition media after he publicly threatened independent television station Globovisión and CNN, claiming they were instigating a "vast destabilisation plan," just two days after the closure of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV).

Ecuador

Journalist faces possible prison sentence if convicted of "insult and calumny"

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF hopes the Quito Supreme Court will not find journalist Celio Rosario Chamba, of "El Correo de Machalá" newspaper, guilty of "insult and calumny" - punishable by imprisonment - for reporting that two veterinary doctors plagiarised a Cuban book in a thesis they wrote, especially as the veterinarians acknowledged having copied much of the book.

Nicaragua

Party leaders sign Chapultepec Declaration, discuss new access to information law's implementation

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 22 May 2007 IAPA press release:

Pakistan

Reporter killed in bomb attack in Tribal Areas

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep sadness at the death of Noor Hakim, a reporter for the Urdu-language daily "Pakistan" and vice-president of the Tribal Union of Journalists. Hakim was killed along with four other people in a bombing in Bajaur, in the northwestern Tribal Areas, on 2 June 2007.

Palestine

Army of Islam releases undated video of journalist Alan Johnston, calls for prisoner exchange

(RSF/IFEX) - On 1 June 2007, for the first time since kidnapping British journalist Alan Johnston 81 days ago, the Army of Islam distributed a video of its captive in which it demanded the release of Muslim activists held by "infidel countries", including Abu Qatada, a radical Palestinian who has been held by the British authorities since 2005 for alleged links to Al-Qaeda.

Iraq

Journalist shot dead in Baghdad, new developments in three other deaths

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

Afghanistan

Female television reporter shot dead

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

Pakistan

Government prohibits television coverage of presidential reference on judicial controversy

(PPF/IFEX) - The Pakistan government has prohibited independent television channels from televising programmes, including live talk shows and discussions, on the issue of the presidential reference against the suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The presidential reference is a legal indictment against the Chief Justice, that was sent to a court comprised of senior justices of the Supreme Court and chief justices of high courts.

India

Nepalese journalist detained, severely beaten by authorities for covering Bhutanese refugees' march

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 29 May 2007, Daya Ram Dahal, a Jhapa district-based journalist with "Janaganatantra Daily" and "Janabidroha Radio", was arrested by Indian security personnel at Mechi Bridge. The bridge connects India and Jhapa district in eastern Nepal.

China

CAPSULE REPORT: Harassment of journalists, censorship still prevail despite official pledges ahead of 2008 Olympics

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 31 May 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Bahrain

Upper house passes press law amendments to decriminalise press offences; RSF urges lower house to approve changes

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has welcomed amendments to the press and publications law that were approved on 28 May 2007 by the Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Council), the upper house of the Bahraini parliament. If the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, approves the amendments, press offences will no longer be punishable by imprisonment.

Lebanon

U.N. tribunal offers chance for justice in Lebanese journalist attacks

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

South Africa

Revised Film and Publications Amendment Bill still problematic, says FXI

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 31 May 2007 FXI press release:

Liberia

Ban lifted on newspaper that published sex photograph of ex-official

(CEMESP/IFEX) - The government of Liberia has lifted the ban imposed on the "Independent" newspaper.

Kenya

IPI concerned about new media bill that undermines media independence

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 31 May 2007 IPI letter to Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki:

Mauritania

Journalist released on bail; three others interrogated by police

(MFWA/IFEX) - Abdel Fettah Ould Abeidna, managing editor of "Al-Aqsa", a daily Arabic-language newspaper, was granted bail on 28 May 2007 by a Nouakchott court after spending four days in prison for allegedly defaming a businessman, Mohamed Ould Bouammatou.

Iraq / Spain / United States

Madrid judge stands by decision to charge three US soldiers with Spanish cameraman's murder

(RSF/IFEX) - Madrid investigating judge Santiago Pedraz announced on 24 May 2007 that he has rejected an appeal by the prosecutor's office against his decision to indict three US soldiers for the murder of Spanish cameraman José Couso, who was killed when a US tank shelled the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 8 April 2003.

Kyrgyzstan

Explosion destroys newspaper archives

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders said it was "alarmed by the tense situation" in recent weeks in Kyrgyzstan after an explosion damaged the offices of two newspapers in the country's second city, Osh, on 30 May 2007. It called on the government to thoroughly investigate the blast and take steps to protect the media if it proved to be a criminal attack.

United States / China

Microsoft research in China into "profiling" Internet users raises free expression concerns

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is worried about a report in the British magazine "New Scientist" that a Microsoft laboratory based in China is carrying out research on software that can analyse the behaviour of Internet users with precision and draw up a profile of them (their age, sex, geographic origin and so on). The US software corporation's aim is get to know its users better in order to deliver targeted advertising.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Police violently break up meeting of journalists in Mbuji-Mayi

(JED/IFEX) - A gathering of some 100 journalists on 31 May 2007 in Mbuji-Mayi, capital of East Kasai province, was violently broken up by police led by Commander Jean-Claude Kabeya, also known as "Shegué". Journalists were beaten and one of them, Luboya Nokia of Radio Mont Carmel, was seriously injured and taken to Bonzola Hospital in Mbuji-Mayi. Other journalists told JED that they lost work-related equipment during the attack.

Iraq

Four journalists killed in less than a week by armed groups; RSF calls for special task force to tackle violence against press

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep shock at the murders of four Iraqi journalists by armed groups within a space of five days. The body of a local TV station employee was found in the boot of his car in the northern city of Kirkuk on 26 May 2007. A Turkmen journalist was killed in Kirkuk on 28 May. Gunmen burst into the home of a journalism teacher and contributor to several media outlets in Amariyah, near Fallujah, on 29 May, killing him and seven members of his family. A Shiite journalist was fatally shot on 30 May in the southern town of Amara.

Guyana

Government's withdrawal of advertising threatens survival of "Stabroek News"

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 25 may 2007 IAPA press release:

Venezuela

Journalist assaulted, another receives death threat; president threatens action against Globovisión

(IPYS/IFEX) - A journalist was assaulted in Valencia, another received a death threat in Carabobo, and President Hugo Chávez accused Globovisión television station of urging that he be assassinated, amid reactions to the non-renewal of the frequency concession used by television station Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV).

Egypt

Authorities increase arrests, reportedly torture detainees in continuing campaign to silence opposition group

(HRW/IFEX) -The following is a 30 My 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Nepal

Violent clashes over expression of opinions on resettlement kill two in Bhutanese refugee camps

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

Mexico

"Cambio" newspaper closes temporarily given Sonora government's inaction after two attacks

(CENCOS/IFEX) - On 25 May 2007, Mario Vázquez Raña, owner of "Cambio" newspaper, decided to temporarily shut down the newspaper, following two fragmentation grenade attacks in one month that had caused physical damage to the newspaper's facilities. The announcement was made by "Cambio" director Roberto Gutiérrez Torres, who said that a one-month shutdown is planned, during which it is hoped that the conditions necessary for exercising the profession of journalism without undue risk can be established. The employees were given a month's salary in advance of the closure decision.

Mexico

CAPSULE REPORT: ARTICLE 19 report says 2006 worst year for media, with threats from authorities, violent groups, drug cartels

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 30 May 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Peru

Teachers assault radio journalist in Requena during broadcast

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 18 May 2007, a group of teachers burst into the broadcasting booth of Radio Sensación radio station and assaulted journalist Juan Torres Campos while he was broadcasting his programme "En el ojo de la tormenta", for criticizing the fact that classes were suspended in order for the teachers to organize a protest march. The event took place in the town of Requena, Loreto region, in northeastern Peru.

Peru

Surprising reversal by Supreme Court leaves slain reporter's family seeking justice

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

South Korea

Allow media greater access to public institutions, demands IPI

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 30 May 2007 IPI press release:

China

Journalist with news website Boxun arrested

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Sun Lin (better known as Jie Mu), a correspondent for the news website Boxun ( http://news.boxun.com ), who was arrested on 30 May 2007 by plainclothes police in the eastern city of Nanjing. His wife, He Fang, was arrested at the same time but freed four hours later. They also searched the journalist's apartment.

Canada

Journalist's legal battle to protect sources continues; independence of journalists at stake, says CJFE

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 28 May 2007 CJFE press release:

Chad

Government lifts prior censorship for privately-owned print media

(RSF/IFEX) - On 30 May 2007, Reporters Without Borders was told by the Chadian government that the country's newspapers can again be published without having to obtain prior approval for each issue from a censorship committee that was set up under a state of emergency in November 2006.

Burma

Censors ban biography of former Prime Minister U Nu

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the censorship board's decision to ban the publication of a new biography of former Burmese Prime Minister U Nu by journalist Than Win Hlaing, who requested permission in February 2007 to release the book on 25 May, the centenary of his birth.

Algeria

Two "El Watan" journalists receive two-month prison sentences in libel case; another manhandled, placed under investigation

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is outraged at the two-month prison sentences imposed on two "El Watan" journalists in a libel case on 27 May 2007 and said it was concerned about the verdict that is due to be issued by an Algiers criminal court on 30 May in the case of Arezki Aït-Larbi, the correspondent of several international news media.

Thailand

Authorities block website supportive of ex-PM ahead of court ruling on his party's fate

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The junta-appointed government has blocked access to a website promoting deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra one day before a politically fraught court ruling that will decide whether his political party and a rival were guilty of committing electoral fraud related to the aborted April 2006 elections.

China

Access to RSF website blocked

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Chinese government's censorship of the Chinese-language version of its website, http://www.rsf-chinese.org, as a result of which Internet users in China are deprived of information about press freedom.

Pakistan

Bullets found in cars of three journalists in Karachi; journalists whose names appear on MRC "hit list" consider themselves under threat

(PPF/IFEX) - In what is being described as a death threat, on 29 May 2007, bullets were found planted on cars belonging to three journalists in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan's southern Sindh province.

Mexico

Journalist abducted, beaten, released in Durango

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

Venezuela

RCTV ceases broadcasting, amid escalating reactions to government's decision to not renew its frequency concession

(IPYS/IFEX) - As was expected, Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) television station stopped broadcasting at 11:59 p.m. (local time) on 27 May 2007, after its frequency concession was not renewed by the government. The government's decision provoked strong reactions among both the public and other opposition media, in the days preceding and after RCTV's final broadcast.

Thailand

Three community radio stations face possible charges of "undermining national security" and "illegally operating"

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

Serbia

Political party targets media house with harassment over its reporting on war crimes in former Yugoslavia

(ANEM/IFEX) - The following is a 28 May 2007 ANEM statement:

Venezuela

New public television broadcaster to use RCTV frequency; RCTV will be limited to operating by cable or satellite

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 24 May 2007 CPJ letter to President Chávez:

Azerbaijan

Fifteen journalists seek political asylum in protest against closure of newspapers

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders today condemned the constant government harassment of opposition media, which has led 15 journalists working for two daily newspapers, the Azerbaijani-language "Gundelik Azerbaijan" and the Russian-language "Realny Azerbaijan", to seek political asylum between 25 and 29 May 2007 after their newspapers were closed the week before. Fearing for his safety, the editor of the newspaper "Nota Bene" has also requested asylum.

Mexico

Severed head left at door of "Tabasco Hoy" in Villahermosa, newspaper's managers call for action from president and Tabasco governor

(CENCOS/IFEX) - In the early hours of 26 May 2007, the severed head of Terencia Sastré Hidalgo, a councillor for El Cedro, a nearby town in the municipality of Nacajuca, was left at the door of "Tabasco Hoy" newspaper, in the city of Villahermosa, the capital of the state of Tabasco, located in southern Mexico.

Brazil

Only one perpetrator of journalist's 1998 murder imprisoned, another missing, mastermind still unidentified

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 17 May 2007 IAPA press release:

Philippines

Two ABS-CBN network journalists receives death threats after reporting on election irregularities

(CMFR/IFEX) - A television and radio reporter for the ABS-CBN network each received death threats in Lanao del Norte, a province located in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), after reporting election irregularities in the province. ARMM is in Mindanao, the second largest and southernmost island of the Philippines.

Kazakhstan

Journalist, two media executives arrested as political pressure on media increases

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

Venezuela

Three community TV station journalists beaten by student group opposing national government's decisions

(AMARC/IFEX) - AMARC is concerned about the physical and verbal attacks suffered by a group of reporters from the community television station TV Rubio, at the hands of a group of demonstrators who had occupied the entrance to a university, the Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador (UPEL), located in Rubio, Táchira state.

United Kingdom

Right to information threatened by parliamentary bill

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has strongly condemned the British parliament's approval of amendments to the Freedom of Information Act, including one that would bar access to details of MPs' expenses.

Bangladesh

CJFE protests charges against journalist as new hearing date set

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 25 May 2007 CJFE letter to the Acting High Commissioner for Bangladesh in Canada:

Armenia

ARTICLE 19 calls on legislators to review law to ensure autonomy of broadcasting commission

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 26 May 2007 ARTICLE 19 press statement:

Kazakhstan

Local journalists attribute suspension of media outlets to coverage of Nurbank scandal

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Turkey

Journalists, publisher charged under Article 301 for "degrading" army, police in articles; president of foundation acquitted

(BIANET/IFEX) - The trial of journalist and editor Umur Hozatli, who is in court for two articles written in the leftist, pro-Kurdish "Ülkede Özgür Gündem" newspaper, continued on 16 May 2007.

Colombia

Paramilitary "black eagles" poised to swoop down on press, "Justice and Peace" law guarantees impunity, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 22 May 2007 RSF press release:

Turkey

Journalist and security expert charged for "denigrating armed forces" in article

(BIANET/IFEX) - The weekly magazine "Nokta" was forced to close in April 2007. It now faces a court case under Article 301 for an interview with security expert Lale Sariibrahimoglu and a follow-up article, both of which criticised the involvement of the army in domestic affairs.

Peru

Editor of "Investigando" convicted, fined for allegedly defaming businessman

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 May 2007, journalist Rocío Vásquez Goicochea, editor of the Chombote-based weekly newspaper "Investigando", was given a one-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay 3000 soles (approx. US$900) as civil reparation to businessman Samuel Dyer Ampudia by Lima's Fifth Criminal Court, for the crime of aggravated slander. Vásquez, however, has filed an appeal with the Superior Court of Justice.

Pakistan

Journalists' union president threatened with death if he attends IFJ World Congress

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 May 2007 IFJ media release:

Morocco

YouTube site blocked for Maroc Telecom subscribers

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the blocking of access to video-sharing website YouTube by the Moroccan Internet server (ISP) Maroc Telecom since May 25 2007.

Nepal

Newspaper's publication blocked; journalist assaulted; another receives death threat

(FNJ/IFEX) - The distributors of the daily "Nepal Samacharpatra", who are associated with the pro-Maoist Nepal Publication and Communication Labour Association, padlocked the publication and distribution office of "Nepal Samacharpatra" on 26 May 2007 in the central district of Katmandu.

Turkey

Journalist to be retried on technicality for criticising army in 2002 magazine article

(BIANET/IFEX) - The Supreme Court sentenced journalist Emin Karaca to five months in prison, then later to a fine of 900 YTL (approx. US$680), for criticising the army. Now he is to be retried.

Colombia

Radio journalist flees his home after guerrilla threats

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Peru

Policeman threatens to kill journalists in Ayacucho

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 24 May 2007, a non-commissioned officer of the National Police, who did not identify himself, threatened to kill América Televisión television station journalist José Atauje as he was walking past the police station in the town of Huamanga, Ayacucho region, southern Peru. The policeman also threatened to kill Rocío Paredes, a reporter for IRTP Canal 7 television station.

South Africa

Court dismisses state request for ban on reporting of sensitive nuclear-smuggling case

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 25 May 2007 FXI press release:

Pakistan

Nighttime attack on home of cartoonist Muhammad Zahoor

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns an attack by gunmen on the Peshawar home of "Daily Times" cartoonist Muhammad Zahoor at around 2 a.m. (local time) on 25 May 2007. The attackers tried to break in after Zahoor, wary of the danger, refused to open the door when they rang the bell. But a watchman intervened, and the intruders fled in a car with tinted windows. As they left, they fired shots at the watchman, who was not hit. Zahoor and the watchman reported the attack to the police, who are investigating. Four-time winner of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society's annual best cartoonist award, Zahoor has drawn many cartoons in recent weeks on the chief justice of the Supreme Court's dismissal.

Tibet (China)

Two foreign reporters summoned and warned about Tibet stories

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the action of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in summoning and warning two western journalists about their reporting from Tibet last month, and called on Beijing Olympic Games organiser Liu Qi to clarify the status of Tibet in the new rules for foreign journalists.

Pakistan

Journalist's house attacked with hand grenades

(PPF/IFEX) - Unidentified persons lobbed two hand grenades at the house of journalist Nasrullah Afridi on 26 May 2007, damaging the boundary wall and veranda. Afridi, the correspondent for the daily "Mashriq" in the tribal Khyber Agency, was publicly threatened the previous week by a leader of Lashkar-i-Islam, a militant Islamic organisation. Fortunately no one was injured in the attack.

Burma

Police release two journalists working for Japanese television

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association welcome the release of Aung Shwe Oo and Daw Sint Sint Aung on the evening of 23 May 2007. The two journalists, who work for Nippon News Network's Bangkok bureau, were escorted home by police officers. They are reported to be in good shape, albeit shaken by their two days in detention.

Lebanon

Journalists covering northern clashes beaten by soldiers and civilians; army imposes restrictions on coverage

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Peru

Journalist was gunned down to prevent him naming corrupt policemen, colleagues and press reports say

(RSF/IFEX) - Peruvian newspapers and colleagues of Radio Éxitos journalist Miguel Pérez Julca say he was gunned down by two hired killers in Jaén on 17 March 2007 because he had announced during his programme, "El Informativo del Pueblo", the day before that he would reveal the names of Jaén police officers who had links to drug traffickers and who protected criminal gangs.

Cuba

Independent journalist Armando Betancourt completes a year in prison without trial

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF reiterated its call for the release of Armando Betancourt, 45, as he completed a year in detention without trial on 23 May 2007. A contributor to the Nueva Prensa Cubana website and founder of the underground magazine "El Camagüeyano", he was arrested by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) on 23 May 2006 in the central city of Camagüey.

Democratic Republic of Congo

HAM's status called into question following RTDK closure

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

Peru

Journalists assaulted, receive death threats after criticising striking teachers' conduct in Huaraz

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 23 May 2007, journalist Alejandro Jaimes Maguiña and cameraman Enoc Gómez Durand, of television station TV Perú's Huaraz branch, were assaulted by a group of teachers belonging to Huaraz's Education Workers' Union (Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Educación, SUTE), who were staging a protest march against the central government. The teachers attempted to stop the journalists from covering their protest by throwing stones at them and threatening them.

International

Media activities excluded from latest EU regulation; EFJ welcomes decision

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 May 2007 media release of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Philippines

Photojournalist shot dead

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on provincial and national authorities to thoroughly investigate the 21 May 2007 murder of photojournalist Dodie Nunez. Nunez worked for the regional newspaper "Katapat", known for criticising corruption. RSF believes the killing may have had political motives.

Mauritania

Newspaper editor jailed after accusing businessman of drug trafficking

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of Abdel Fettah Ould Ebeidna, managing editor of the daily newspaper "Al-Aqsa", who was sent to prison in Nouakchott on 24 May 2007 because of a libel complaint against him by a businessman.

Colombia

Paramilitary chief confesses he ordered radio journalist's murder

(IPYS/IFEX) - In testimony given between 16 and 18 May 2007, paramilitary chief Juan Francisco Prada Márquez confessed that on 2004 he ordered the murder of journalist Martín Larrota Duarte because Larrota Duarte had opposed the paramilitary umbrella group known as the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia. The paramilitary chief was then the head of the "Héctor Julio Peinado" front, which operated in the south of the department of Cesar. He confessed to the crime as part of the "justice and peace" process taking place in Colombia with former members of the paramilitary groups. (Under this process, paramilitary members receive substantial sentence reductions in exchange for confessing their crimes and disarming.)

Russia

CPJ troubled as authorities focus on "private life" motive in mysterious death of journalist Ivan Safronov

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

Thailand

Military-backed government censors Internet; Human Rights Watch says blocking cyber dissidents obstructs return to democracy

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 24 May 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Germany

Parliamentary chamber passes resolution addressing access to information in positive terms

(IPA/IFEX) - The following is a 24 May 2007 IPA press release:

Peru

Mayor assaults cameraman in Amazonas

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 May 2007, the mayor of the district of Cajaruro, Antero Dueñas Dávila, hit cameraman Luis Cumpa Quiroga, a correspondent for América Televisión, in the face, after the mayor's sentencing for the crime of usurpation of functions. Cumpa Quiroga was videotaping the mayor as he left the court when the mayor struck him without any apparent provocation. The mayor was sentenced to four years in prison and also barred from public office for a year. Cajaruro is in the Amazonas region in north eastern Peru.

Turkey

Singer, previously threatened with death, charged over sympathetic speech for guerillas, investigated over article

(BIANET/IFEX) - The Izmir Public Prosecututor's Office filed a case against artist Ferhat Tunc on allegations of "propagation of the illegal pro-Kurdish guerilla group PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party)", based on a speech he made during a concert in Alanya last year.

Afghanistan

Parliamentarian suspended for criticising colleagues, threatened with contempt charges

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

Venezuela

Newspaper journalist murdered in Aragua, motive unknown

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 19 May 2007, journalist Nelson Álvarez Narváez, a columnist with the newspaper "El Siglo de Maracay", was murdered during a birthday party at his mother's house. A hit man burst into the house and shot him six times. The murderer then fled in a car, accompanied by another man. The crime took place in the city of Maracay, Aragua state, in central Venezuela. The motives for the murder are unknown.

Kazakhstan

Television station and newspaper closed; journalists' homes searched; telephone lines blocked

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 24 May 2007 IPI press release:

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

Australian government alleged to have covered up murders of "Balibo Five"

(RSF/IFEX) - As a Glebe Coroner's Court inquest into the murders of cameraman Brian Peters and four other TV journalists in the East Timor town of Balibo on 16 October 1975 draws to a close, Reporters Without Borders has called on deputy state coroner Dorelle Pinch to use all possible national and international police and judicial mechanisms to arrest those responsible.

Pakistan

Ethnic political group allied with ruling party releases journalist "hit list"

(PPF/IFEX) - The Mohajir Rabita Council (MRC), an ethnic political group in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh, has issued a list of twelve Pakistani journalists it denounced as being "chauvinists", and criticized their alleged role in the violence during protest rallies held in Karachi on 12 May 2007, during the visit of the suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftekhar Mohammed Chaudhary to the city.

Turkey

Bill censoring online content that insults Atatürk signed into law

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders regrets that a bill passed by parliament on 4 May 2007 allowing the authorities to block websites with content deemed to have insulted the memory of the Turkish republic's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was signed into law by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on 22 May.

Nigeria

Politician's supporters ransack radio station, attack journalists with machetes

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at a violent 23 May 2007 attack on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), a public radio broadcaster in Ibadan, in the southwestern state of Oyo, by around 100 supporters of a local politician who were angered by an announcement that state elections would go ahead on 24 May. Equipment was smashed and at least 10 journalists were hurt.

Haiti

Second radio journalist murdered in a week

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has strongly deplored the murder of well-known actor and radio presenter François Latour, whose body was found on 23 May 2007 in Port-au-Prince a day after he was kidnapped by armed men on his way home.

Iran

Another Iranian-American scholar detained in crackdown on civil society; woman academic charged with "acting against national security"

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

Zimbabwe

Photographer sought by police goes into hiding; imprisoned journalist denied medical treatment

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

The Gambia

Journalist denies charge of publishing "false information", places responsibility on editor

(MFWA/IFEX) - Lamin Fatty, a reporter with the banned Banjul-based bi-weekly "The Independent", who is standing trial at the Kanifing Magistrate's Court for publishing "false information", on 21 May 2007 denied ever publishing any "false information".

Kyrgyzstan

Protesters, police forcibly prevent journalists from covering demonstration; one journalist struck by police

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 16 May 2007, "Talas turmushu" newspaper editor Kozubek Imankulov, photojournalist Berdibek Sultanmuratov and a journalist for the National TV/Radio Corporation, Salamat Nazarkulov, were rudely prevented from carrying out their professional activities during a demonstration in Aksai village, southern Kyrgyzstan.

Sri Lanka

Opposition leader wants editors summoned and questioned in Parliament over non-coverage of "vital" government statements

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

Azerbaijan

Imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev charged with terrorism; his home searched, his newspaper's computers, documents confiscated

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

Turkey

Ill-defined law to control Internet publications passed, awaiting president's final approval

(BIANET/IFEX) - Law No 5651, which is concerned with "the preparation of Internet publications and crimes connected with these publications", was passed by Parliament on 4 May 2007. Should the president not veto it, it will be implemented.

Romania

Journalists' safety endangered by president's "abusive and offensive behaviour," says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 May 2007 IFJ media release:

Turkey

Radio station closed indefinitely as court affirms broadcasting council's revocation of licence

(BIANET/IFEX) - According to representatives of the radio station Anatolia's Voice, which started broadcasting in 1999, the administrative court in Ankara has not reversed the decision of the Supreme Council of Radio and Television (RTUK) to revoke the station's broadcasting license. The radio station says that the court has affirmed RTUK's decision, and has ignored the financial losses of the station arising from the closure.

Colombia

Soldier intimidates journalists in Tuluá; police mistreat journalists in Barranquilla

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 10 May 2007, a group of journalists was intimidated when a non-commissioned officer of the national army fired his weapon above their heads to prevent their approaching the scene of an attack on an army convoy. The incident took place on the Alto Bonito highway, three kilometers from the urban centre of Tuluá in Valle department, in south-western Colombia.

Colombia

Public relations broadcaster struck by municipal official over critical comment

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 7 May 2007, journalist Sandra Hernández Acosta, head of Public Relations for the Municipality of Maicao, was assaulted by the vice-president of the Municipal Council of that same municipality, Sayira García Ariza.

Mexico

Television cameraman receives death threats in Chilpancingo

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

Nigeria

Two journalists in hiding because of arrest warrants, a third gets death threats

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has deplored the appalling threats and constraints under which Nigerian journalists work, with two of them currently in hiding because of an arrest order issued by a judge on 16 May 2007 and a third receiving repeated telephone threats because of an article published on 22 May.

Iran

Journalist gets two-year sentence; two others barred from leaving the country; weekly paper closed

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has deplored a two-year prison sentence imposed on a provincial newspaper journalist, as well as the closure of a weekly paper and a ban on two journalists from leaving the country.

Bulgaria

ARTICLE 19 and 67 international groups call on legislators to reject amendments that would weaken Access to Public Information Act

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 21 May 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Pakistan

Journalist receives death threat

(PPF/IFEX) - A leader of an Islamic militant organisation, Lashkar-i-Islam, in the Khyber Agency of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), issued a death threat to a local journalist on 22 May 2007.

Democratic Republic of Congo

RSF calls for release of reporter arrested six months ago and "forgotten" in Kinshasa prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Bosange Mbaka, a reporter with the Kinshasa-based publication "Mambenga", who was arrested six months ago in a round-up of presumed sympathisers of former presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba. Nicknamed "Che Guevara," Mbaka is from Equateur province, a Bemba stronghold. He was charged with stealing military property for picking up a mobile phone dropped by a soldier.

Burma

Two journalists working for Japanese TV arrested near Rangoon

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association have called for the immediate release of U Aung Shwe Oo and Daw Sint Sint Aung, two Burmese journalists working for the Japanese television news agency, Nippon News Network (NNN), who were arrested on 21 May 2007 when they went to a port near Rangoon to confirm the arrival of a North Korean ship.

Jordan

Charges against former parliamentarian demonstrate government's continued efforts to silence critics despite new law prohibiting imprisonment for speech offences, notes Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 22 May 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Private broadcaster suspended for seven days

(JED/IFEX) - JED expresses its profound indignation over the 20 May 2007 decision by the local section of the media regulatory agency (Haute Autorité des Médias, HAM) in Mbuji-Mayi to suspend for seven days all broadcasts by the privately-owned network, Radiotélévision Débout Kasaï (RTDK).

Philippines

Election commission's ban on media-initiated tally labeled an infringement on press freedom and the public's right to information

(CMFR/IFEX) - The Commission on Elections (Comelec), the government body responsible for running elections in the Philippines, ordered a stop on 16 May 2007 to the "media counts" being conducted by the TV networks GMA-7 and ABS-CBN on the grounds that they were "unauthorized" and "confuse our people."

Afghanistan

NATO force blacklists French journalist at US army's behest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has asked the US ambassador in Afghanistan, William Wood, to intervene on behalf of Claire Billet, a French journalist working for the independent Hamsa Press agency, who was notified by email on 17 May 2007 that she has been blacklisted by NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Last month, she was arrested by private security guards and interrogated by US soldiers in Kabul.

North Korea

Regime jams foreign-based radio stations again

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has deplored the North Korean government's resumption on 11 May 2007 of its jamming of independent and dissident radio stations broadcasting in Korean from outside the country and called on the South Korean government and the international community to defend their right to broadcast freely.

Paraguay

Journalist receives ongoing death threats over reporting on drug-trafficking in Itapúa

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 14 May 2007, journalist Óscar Bogado, a correspondent for the newspaper "Última Hora", revealed that he has been receiving death threats by telephone. The threats began in January 2006 and he is still receiving them. According to Bogado, each of the threats was made immediately after he published an article about drug trafficking in the department of Itapúa, southern Paraguay.

Palestine / Israel

Israeli troops raid West Bank TV and radio stations, forcing some of them off the air

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned Israeli army raids that occurred on 21 May 2007 on five Palestinian radio and TV stations in the West Bank city Nablus. Some of the stations have stopped broadcasting because the soldiers removed equipment.

Palestine

Journalist abducted in Gaza Strip, released after several hours

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced relief on learning that Palestinian journalist Abdelsalam Mussa Abu Askar, Abu Dhabi TV's bureau chief in Gaza, was freed several hours after being kidnapped on 18 May 2007 in the Gaza Strip.

Austria

Danish cartoonist arrested, his hotel room searched, over poster suggesting Russian president's complicity in journalists' deaths

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

Nepal

Journalist and newspaper carrier released after brief detention, harassment by militants; members of same group arrested for attacks against five journalists

(FNJ/IFEX) - Shree Shresha Rai, photojournalist and correspondent with "Shree Janamat Daily", and newspaper carrier, Ram Sigdel, were captured at around 8:30 a.m. (local time) on 22 May 2007 at Bargachhi in Biratnagar, an eastern town of Nepal.

The Gambia

Journalist arrested, threatened with death by police officer for trying to cover student protest

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 18 May 2007, Fabakarr Ceesay, a reporter with the pro-opposition bi-weekly "Foroyaa Newspaper", was arrested and threatened by an officer of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), a paramilitary wing of the Gambia Police Force, while covering a student demonstration.

Philippines

Court bars public affairs programme from airing story

(CMFR/IFEX) - A local public affairs program was barred from airing a story on 12 May 2007 by a temporary restraining order (TRO). A representative from Lanao del Norte's second district secured the TRO, preventing GMA Network Inc.'s Imbestigador (Investigator) program from airing a segment that reported on the almost six-decade reign of the congressman's clan in the province.

Sri Lanka

Journalist assaulted, ID and equipment seized

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a press release by FMM and four other organisations:

Iraq

Authorities enforce media ban on scenes of bomb attacks

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 May 2007 CPJ letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki:

Nepal

Journalist attacked by police officer during hotel stay

(FNJ/IFEX) - Dambar Nidal, a reporter of "Sundur Sandesh Weekly", published from Kailali, was attacked by police officer Rabindra Pal on 18 May 2007 in Dadeldhura, a far western region of Nepal.

Kazakhstan

Opposition newspaper charged with "insulting" president for re-printing critical articles from foreign media

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 17 May 2007, the National Security Committee (NSC) filed charges against the opposition newspaper "Taz'zhargan" for insulting the honor and dignity of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, following the publication of materials in the newspaper reprinted from foreign media outlets.

Australia

West Australia's top officials threaten state's leading newspaper, demand editor's dismissal

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage over attempts by the authorities in the state of West Australia to blackmail the management of "The West Australian" newspaper. Attorney-General Jim McGinty threatened to withdraw state advertising and to not implement a proposed shield law protecting journalists' sources unless editor Paul Armstrong is fired.

Turkey

Newspaper editor faces charges for "insulting a public officer" over article critical of police

(BIANET/IFEX) - The editor-in-chief of the local daily newspaper "Emirdag", Mustafa Koyuncu, is being tried on charges of "insulting a public officer" in an article.

Fiji

Interim government closes websites critical of the army or party leaders

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the decision of the military authorities, on 17 May 2007, to block access to blogs "critical of the army and members of the government" on the pretext that they pose a "threat to national security".

Sudan

Publisher and editor of daily "al-Sudani" released after several days in detention; newspaper suspended

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the lifting of a ban on the Arabic-language daily "al-Sudani", under a highly controversial article of criminal code procedure, over an editorial accusing the justice minister of "lying in a money-laundering case".

Cambodia

Journalist in hiding following verbal attack by prime minister

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

China

House arrest, travel ban arbitrarily imposed on outspoken dissidents

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

Azerbaijan

Imprisoned editor target of death threat; two newspapers evicted amid media harassment campaign

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

Pakistan

Editor brutally beaten over coverage of judicial crisis

(PPF/IFEX) - On 18 May 2007, unidentified individuals assaulted and injured Shakeel Ahmad Turabi, editor-in-chief of the SANA news agency, in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Iraq

One of two journalists abducted in Baghdad found dead; US army raids offices of Shi'ite daily "al-Da'wa"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 20 May 2007 murder in Baghdad of Ali Khalil, of the daily "al-Zaman" ("Time"), and the kidnapping on 9 May of the journalist Salam Duhi al-Sudani.

Nepal

Commander of armed group issues death threats against six journalists over coverage

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - A military commander named Prabhu, member of the armed group that goes by the name of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Jwala Singh faction), issued a "threat to take physical action" against six journalists based in southern Rautahat district.

Haiti

Radio journalist Alix Joseph shot to death

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Bulgaria

Photographer beaten by police despite complying with order to delete photographs

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 May 2007 media release of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Zimbabwe

ARTICLE 19 and Index on Censorship condemn recent attacks on lawyers

(ARTICLE 19/Index on Censorship/IFEX) - The following is a 17 May 2007 joint statement by ARTICLE 19 and Index on Censorship:

Thailand

Three community radio stations closed for broadcasting Thaksin interview

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemned the military government's closure on 17 May 2007 of three community radio stations - Confidante, Taxi Driver Community Radio and Saturday Voice Against Dictatorship - just hours after they broadcast an interview with deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The authorities have also charged them with violating "national security."

Iraq

Two ABC News journalists killed in Baghdad

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

Kyrgyzstan

Journalist, two human rights defenders, private citizen facing criminal defamation charges over article about alleged interior ministry abuse

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - Journalist Abdumalik Sharipov, two employees of the local human rights organisation "Justice" - Valentina Gritsenko and Mahamadzhana Abdushaparova - and a private citizen, Nargiza Turdiyeva, are facing defamation and insult charges under Articles 127 and 128 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Thailand

Community radio station investigated after airing call from deposed prime minister; SEAPA concerned crackdown may follow

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A community radio station that received an "unexpected" call from deposed, self-exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a live programme is being investigated for "operating illegally" and "undermining national security".

Sri Lanka

Jaffna-based freelance reporter receives death threat; journalists threatened in Hatton, Ampara and Uva, one briefly detained

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 17 May 2007 FMM press release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Newspaper publisher released after five days in detention

(JED/IFEX) - Phambu Lutete, publisher of the Kinshasa-based bi-weekly newspaper "La Tolérance", was granted a provisional release on 11 May 2007 after five days in detention. The journalist told JED that he paid "bail" of US$50.

Mexico

Gunmen fire on "El Diario del Yaqui" newspaper's facilities in Ciudad Obregón; IAPA urges investigation of various incidents

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 15 May 2007 IAPA press release:

Iran

Student editors jailed for allegedly publishing offensive articles; university's student publications banned

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

Somalia

Two journalists shot dead while travelling with provincial governor's convoy

(RSF/IFEX) - Two Radio Jowhar reporters were killed on 15 May 2007 when gunmen ambushed the convoy of the governor of the central province Middle Shabelle, in which they were travelling, Reporters Without Borders has learned from its local partner organisation, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

Mexico

Another grenade attack on "Cambio Sonora" newspaper in Hermosillo

(CENCOS/IFEX) - A fragmentation grenade exploded at the facilities of "Cambio Sonora" newspaper in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora state, at 3:35 p.m. (local time) on 16 May 2007, causing material damage but no injuries. "Cambio Sonora" is part of the Grupo Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM) media group, which has 70 daily newspapers, 24 radio stations, one television station and 43 Internet websites in Mexico. Carlos Licona, a reporter with the newspaper, noted that this attack happened almost exactly one month after a similar one on 17 April.

International

2007 IPA awards go to Zimbabwean publisher Trevor Ncube, Turkish journalist Hrant Dink and Russian reporter Anna Politkovskaya

(IPA/IFEX) - The following is a 16 May 2007 IPA press release:

Mongolia

Criminal charges pressed against journalist and editor over articles criticising Member of Parliament

(Globe International/IFEX) - Criminal charges were pressed against B. Tsognemekh, a reporter for the daily newspaper "Zuuni Medee", on 9 April 2007 and B. Ganbold, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, on 11 May 2007 pursuant to a complaint by Member of Parliament Ch. Ulaan.

Taiwan

UN and WHO deny accreditation to Taiwan journalists; RSF condemns "appalling discrimination"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders voiced exasperation at the failure of the UN to resolve a dilemma under which Taiwanese journalists have again been refused accreditation to cover the World Health Assembly in Geneva simply because they are from Taiwan.

International

IFJ backs union calls for protection of editorial independence in news agency's merger

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 May 2007 IFJ media release:

Malaysia

Sarawak state chief minister sues two news organisations, two opposition politicians for libel

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A state chief minister has followed through on his threat of suing a news site and two opposition politicians after failing to obtain compensation and retraction from them over allegations of corruption on his part, naming an additional news organisation - owned by the dominant ruling political party - in his suits.

Russia

Government eviction of journalists' union aims to sabotage international media event, says union

(CJES/IFEX) - On 15 May 2007, the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) received a notice signed by Mr Grigoryev, deputy head of the territorial department of the Federal Property Management Agency (Rosimushchestvo), stating the termination of the contract allowing the union to occupy its office space on Moscow's Zubovsky Boulevard, giving no reasons for the decision.

Sudan

IPI calls on government to allow journalists full access to Darfur, halt repression of media

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 14 May 2007 IPI press release:

Uzbekistan / International

EU calls for release of imprisoned Uzbek activists, upholds sanctions policy over poor rights record

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

Iran

IPA pressure prevents segregation of publishers at Tehran international book fair

(IPA/IFEX) - The following is a 16 May 2007 IPA press release:

Palestine

Journalist killed by gunmen, another wounded at security checkpoint; heavy gunfire outside media buildings endangers dozens of journalists

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

Azerbaijan

Two journalists sentenced to 30 months in prison for defaming president's parliamentarian uncle

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

Venezuela

Interferencias constantes en señal de radio estatal cuando se transmite programas informativos y de opinión

(IPYS/IFEX) - Desde marzo de 2007, la señal de la emisora estatal YVKE Mundial para Caracas ha sufrido interferencias. Se desconocen las causas; sin embargo, los problemas surgen cuando se transmiten los programas informativos y de opinión, según afirmó la directora del medio, Cristina González. La periodista indicó también que en la última semana la señal había sido interrumpida, como ocurrió el 10 de mayo durante 14 horas.

Venezuela

Constant interference in state radio station's broadcast signal during news and public affairs programmes

(IPYS/IFEX) - Since March 2007, the signal of state-run radio station YVKE Mundial for Caracas has suffered from interference. The motives for this are unknown; the problems, however, begin when the station broadcasts news or public affairs programmes, according to the station's director, Cristina Gonzáles. The journalist also stated that during the last week the signal has been interrupted, as happened for 14 hours on 10 May.

Peru

Journalist's murder being planned after he escapes attack from demonstrators angered by his reporting

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 15 May 2007, journalist Danilo Bautista Hernández, director of Radio California's news programme "El informativo del Mediodía", saved himself from being attacked by demonstrators belonging to the Front for the Defence of Nueva Cajamarca's Interests (Frente de Defensa de los Intereses del distrito de Nueva Cajamarca ) by taking refuge for two hours in the station's premises. The demonstrators sought to attack him in reprisal for his comments about their protest against a public works contract signed by the mayor. The district of Nueva Cajamarca is located in the San Martín region of northeastern Perú.

El Salvador

Politicians, journalists and government officials jointly recommend reforms to defamation and access to information laws

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is an 11 May 2007 IAPA press release:

Tunisia

Journalist assaulted after linking president's relative to deadly concert stampede

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the physical attacks on journalist Slim Boukhdir after he accused a member of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's family of being responsible for a stampede at a 30 April 2007 pop concert in which seven young people were killed.

Venezuela

Journalists mistreated by police, camera damaged, while covering football incident

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 May 2007, photographers Gil Montaño, of the newspaper "El Universal", and David Urdaneta, of the newspaper "El Meridiano", were assaulted by members of the military police as they attempted to cover an incident involving spectators of a football game being played at the Brigido Iriarte Stadium in central Caracas.

Sri Lanka

Newspaper editor questioned by police, pressured to reveal sources, over articles on corporate scandal

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 15 May 2007 FMM press release:

Colombia

Journalists' telephone lines illegally tapped by national police; CPJ fears chilling effect

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

Nepal

Two journalists assaulted by armed group

(FNJ/IFEX) - Om Prakash Shah, Rajbiraj correspondent of "Gorkhapatra Daily" newspaper, and Dev Narayan Shah, editor of "Aaja ko Janakpur Daily" newspaper, were assaulted on 15 May 2007 in Banauli Chowk in Saptari, an eastern district of Nepal.

Russia

Courts delay action on media NGO's complaint about raid on office; part of a campaign to silence critical NGOs, says CJES

(CJES/IFEX) - The Moscow Golovinsky Court on 11 May 2007 rejected a complaint filed by Manana Aslamazyan, the head of the foundation Educated Media, which is a successor of Internews, the international non-governmental organization (NGO) that fosters independent media and access to information.

Bangladesh

Authorities censor political magazine

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

Russia

Television journalists prevented from filming exterior of missile disposal plant, harassed, detained briefly by police

(CJES/IFEX) - The agency Skrytaya Kamera (Yekaterinburg's Channel 4 television) has spent 20 days waiting for a response from the Perm Kirovsky district prosecutor's office to its report on an incident involving a group of its reporters, which occurred in Perm on 20 April 2007, the agency's founder Robert Karapetyan told CJES on May 10.

Russia

Publication of newspaper suspended following raid; police prohibit journalist from using laptop

(CJES/IFEX) - Police confiscated three computers from the office of the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta v Samare" on 11 May 2007. The police accused the newspaper's journalists of using counterfeit software, reports NEWSru.com. The newspaper's director, Sergei Kurt-Adzhiyev, has announced that the publication of the paper has been suspended. He believes that the actions taken by the police are aimed at disrupting the publication of the edition of the newspaper that was to come out before a rally planned by the opposition movement, March of the Dissenting Ones, in Samara, for 17 and 18 May.

France

Judge attempts to access satirical weekly's files; EFJ calls for European action to protect journalists' sources

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

Russia

Crackdown on free speech continues with more arrests and harassment

(RSF/IFEX) - The Russian authorities continue to violate free speech even as US secretary of State Condoleezza Rice begins a three-day visit to Moscow and European Union representatives prepare to attend a summit in the Russian city of Samara on 17-18 May 2007, Reporters Without Borders said.

Suriname

TV programme withdrawn at vice-president's behest; RSF condemns act of "censorship"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a decision by the state-owned Surinam Television Foundation (STVS) to cancel its "Surinam Today" discussion programme on 10 May 2007 under direct pressure from Vice-President Ram Sardjoe. The offending programme was about China-Taiwan relations.

Cambodia

Brutal murder of journalist not work-related

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Cambodian police have determined that the brutal murder of Pov Sam Ath, the late editor of the newspaper "Samleng Khmer Krom", was not connected to his work.

Iraq

Journalists banned from scene of bombings; Parliament votes to take legal action against al-Jazeera TV

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the press freedom implications of a decision by the Iraqi interior ministry announced on 14 May 2007 to prevent journalists from getting access to the scene of bomb attacks. The worldwide press freedom organisation said it feared that growing restrictions on the media could end in a total news blackout.

Guatemala

Radio station had received threats prior to journalist's murder

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 4 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Vietnam

Sixth cyber-dissident jailed in worst crackdown since 2002

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders said it was stunned by a five-year jail sentence handed down on 15 May 2007 to pro-democracy activist Tran Quoc Hien, the sixth such sentence in a week.

Palestine

Journalist, media worker killed in Gaza City

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

Pakistan

Three photographers injured, journalist and cameraman taken hostage in Aaj TV attack

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

Mexico

Two TV Azteca journalists missing in Monterrey

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF says it fears the worst after the disappearance of TV Azteca Noroeste reporter Gamaliel López Candanosa and cameraman Gerardo Paredes Pérez on 10 May in Monterrey, in the northeastern state of Nuevo León, and called on the authorities to step up the search for the two journalists.

Vietnam

Human rights lawyers and Internet writers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan sentenced to prison

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the imprisonment of lawyers and internet writers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan (f), who were sentenced to five years and four years respectively by the Hanoi People's Court on 11 May 2007. PEN is alarmed about an apparent crackdown on leading pro-democracy figures in recent weeks, including Father Nguyen Van Ly, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in March 2007. PEN considers Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong to be detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to free expression, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Vietnam is a signatory.

Iraq

CPJ condemns murder of media company chief, three others in Kirkuk attack

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

Mexico

CAPSULE REPORT: Following attacks, press no longer covers certain key issues; CPJ urges action at meeting with ambassador

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

Pakistan

Six journalists injured in airport attacks

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a 12 May 2007 attack by members of the MQM (an extremist party that supports President Pervez Musharraf) on the offices of Aaj TV and the "Business Recorder" daily (a member of the same media group) in the southern city of Karachi, in which gunmen opened fire on the building while the station was providing live coverage of the MQM's violent, pro-Musharraf demonstrations.

Jordan

Ex-parliamentarian arrested for criticising government corruption in Internet letter

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 3 May 2007 arrest of former Jordanian parliamentarian Ahmad Oweidi Abbadi after he accused King Abdallah's government of corruption in an open letter to US Senator Harry Reid, which he posted on the Internet.

Peru

"Integración" newspaper director threatened, facilities vandalised, after reporting on alleged corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 May 2007, a group of unidentified individuals threw rocks and bottles against the facilities of "Integración", a daily based in the city of Huaraz in Peru's northwest. The attack damaged the building's windows and doors. Ten minutes later, the newspaper's director - journalist Alcides Peñarando Oropeza - received a telephone call warning him, "If you don't shut up, worse will befall you." The next day, he received a similar call.

Ecuador

President calls for imprisonment of "La Hora" director over critical editorial; charges against other media threatened

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is an 11 May 2007 IAPA press release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

RTNC-Goma reporter suspended without pay after interviewing disaffected general

(JED/IFEX) - Michel Mutabesha Bakuza, a reporter at Radiotélévision nationale congolaise's (RTNC-the public broadcaster) Goma station, was suspended without pay on 8 May 2007 by RTNC-Goma director Gabriel Lukeka after broadcasting an interview with a former rebel general. Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, in eastern DRC.

Pakistan

Armed activists attack private television channel

(PPF/IFEX) - Aaj TV, a leading television channel in Pakistan, came under gunfire attack for almost six hours on 12 May 2007 during clashes between government supporters and opposition activists that took the lives of 36 persons in Karachi, the country's largest city. The attackers also set ablaze vehicles in the parking lot of the television network. Elsewhere in the city, a number of journalists and cameramen came under attack from security forces and activists.

Iran

Iranian-American academic jailed, forcefully interrogated, as part of government campaign to discredit critics

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 12 May 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Syria

Dissident journalist Michel Kilo sentenced to three years in jail

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage over the three-year prison term imposed 13 May 2007 on journalist and writer Michel Kilo for "weakening national sentiment". Another dissident, Mahmud Issa, also got a three-year jail term.

Thailand

Cyber crime bill that limits Internet free expression approved by junta-appointed legislators, awaits royal assent for promulgation

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly in Thailand has passed a cyber crime bill which gives the government legal muscle to act on Internet abuse and provides for harsh prison terms for offenders.

Australia

MEAA welcomes new press freedom network, launch of Right to Know campaign in context of "marked erosion of free speech"

(MEAA/IFEX) - The following is 11 May 2007 MEAA media release:

Somalia

Draft media law contains provisions that seriously hinder free expression, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 10 May 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Russia

Police raid two independent media outlets, seize computers, question journalists ahead of opposition march in Samara

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 11 May 2007 CPJ press release:

United Kingdom

Court sentences whistleblower, reseacher to prison, gags media; clear signal that "government secrecy remains strong," says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an 11 May 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Egypt

Judge asks courts to block 29 additional websites, brings lawsuit against directors of HRinfo, Hisham Mubarak Law Centre and blogger Amr Gharbia

(HRinfo/IFEX) - Hrinfo has expressed dismay that Judge Abdel Fatah Murad has asked the Administrative Judiciary Court to block 29 websites, in addition to the 21 he had previously requested be made inaccessible. The judge amended his original list of websites following a 5 May 2007 investigation of the case by the court, resulting in a total of 50 websites presently vulnerable to closure as a result of the judge's request.

Peru

Journalists assaulted by police in Ambo, their video camera damaged

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 27 April 2007, eight police officers assaulted journalist Irwin Berríos, of Radio Súper FM radio station, and freelance cameraman Abraham Rolando Estela after being videotaped drinking alcohol in a bar in the city of Ambo, Huánuco region, in central Peru. The squad, composed of officers from the San Martín and Junín regional police forces, had arrived in the city to keep order at a march of coca leaf producers protesting the eradication of their crops.

Colombia

Journalist beaten, injured by police in Bogotá; "Vanguardia Liberal" photographer assaulted by demonstrators in Cesar

(FLIP/IFEX) - Adamis Guerra Bermúdez, photographer for the Valledupar edition of the newspaper "Vanguardia Liberal", was assaulted on 9 May 2007 by informal gasoline vendors protesting a recent decision by the national tax authority.

Argentina

Journalists assaulted while covering political events, one receives death threat

(FOPEA /IFEX) - The following is an 8 May 2007 statement from FOPEA, an interim member of IFEX:

Uzbekistan

Human rights defender sentenced to second prison term

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 10 May 2007 Human Rights watch press release:

Zimbabwe

Media lawyer brutally beaten by police

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Montenegro

Draft constitution fails to provide effective guarantees for free expression, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 10 May 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Uruguay

Journalist loses appeal, condemned to three months in prison for libel of businessman

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

Bangladesh

Journalist and rights activist arrested, detained by army

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

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

"Balibo Five" inquest told one of the journalists killed may have violated neutrality; MEAA proposes safety training

(MEAA/IFEX) - The following is a 10 May 2007 MEAA media release:

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

"Balibo Five" inquest: former Australian prime minister suggests journalists acted irresponsibly

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the progress being made in the inquest into the 1975 deaths of cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalists in East Timor but deplored some of the comments made to the Coroners Court in Sydney on 8 May 2007 by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his defence minister, Bill Morrison.

Pakistan

Supreme Court issues guidelines tightly restricting media coverage of ongoing judicial crisis

(PPF/IFEX) - The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued guidelines on media coverage of the judicial proceedings relating to the presidential reference against Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Indonesia

Journalist sentenced to six months' imprisonment for libel in hiding, sought for arrest

(AJI/IFEX) - On World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2007, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia received the sad news that the state is seeking the arrest of journalist Risang Bima Wijaya, who has been in hiding following a 2005 Supreme Court ruling rejecting his appeal against a libel verdict handed to him by a lower court.

Vietnam

Three cyber-dissidents sentenced to prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the sentences of three, four and five years in prison that were imposed by a Ho Chi Minh City court on 10 May 2007 on cyber-dissidents Huynh Nguyen Dao, Nguyen Bac Truyen and Le Nguyen Sang, respectively, for "propaganda against the communist regime". Their trial lasted just four hours.

Mongolia

Judges summon, threaten editor with legal action over critical article

(Globe International/IFEX) - A newspaper editor in Huvsgul aimag (province) is being threatened with a lawsuit by two judges over a critical article that allegedly tarnished the court's image.

Uruguay

New procedures required in the allocation of broadcast licences to avoid political abuse, says AMARC

(AMARC/IFEX) - The following is an 8 May 2007 AMARC press release:

Guatemala

Protesting teachers assault journalists following report on their leader

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - At least four journalists were physically and verbally assaulted by protesting teachers while attempting to cover a demonstration taking place in front of the National Palace of Culture ( Palacio Nacional de la Cultura).

Cuba

Independent journalist released after nearly two years in prison, reports beatings and "psychological torture"

(RSF/IFEX) - Roberto de Jesús Guerra Pérez, a contributor to the Payolibre and Nueva Prensa Cubana websites and to US-funded Radio Martí, who was arrested during an anti-government demonstration on 13 July 2005, was released from Valle Grande prison on 9 May 2007.

Venezuela

Programme host fired from La Tele television station after participating in march supporting RCTV workers

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 4 May 2007, journalist Marietta Santana, host of the programme "Marietta Alerta" on La Tele television channel, reported that she had been fired for having participated in a 21 April march expressing support for the workers of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV).

Syria

Peaceful activist gets 12 years with hard labour as government accelerates crackdown on free speech

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

Mexico

Leading journalist's car sabotaged four days after gruesome "narco-message" threatening press

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced concern about gruesome threatening messages aimed at journalists and the fact that one of the latest messages, which are being blamed on drug traffickers, was followed four days later by an apparent attempt to kill a leading investigative journalist by sabotaging her car.

Algeria / Morocco

Polisario Front briefly detains two Australian filmmakers at refugee camp

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has deplored the action of the Polisario Front's security services in briefly detaining Australian documentary filmmakers Violeta Ayala and Daniel Fallshaw during the first week of May 2007 near the Rabouni refugee camp, 25 km from Tindouf in southwestern Algeria.

India

Three newspaper employees killed in arson attack in Tamil Nadu state

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at the death of three employees of the Tamil newspaper "Dinakaran" in a 9 May 2007 arson attack on its offices in Madurai, in the southeastern state of Tamil Nadu, by supporters of M.K. Azhagiri, one of the sons of Tamil Nadu chief minister K. Karunanidhi. M.K. Azhagiri's supporters were angry about the publication of a poll tipping another son as his likeliest successor.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist in police custody in Kinshasa

(JED/IFEX) - Phambu Lutete, the publisher of the Kinshasa-based bi-weekly newspaper "La Tolérance", has been in the custody of Kinshasa's Provincial Police Inspection (IPK) unit since his arrest on 6 May 2007. On 8 May, Lutete was transferred to the Kinshasa/Matete High Court Prosecutor's Office.

Philippines

Foreign journalists barred from entering military camp to conduct interview

(CMFR/IFEX) - Two journalists from the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) were banned from entering the Philippine Marines headquarters in Taguig City on 9 May 2007 for an arranged interview with jailed opposition senatorial candidate and former Navy officer Antonio Trillanes IV.

Hong Kong (China)

Committee recommendations would prevent Radio Television Hong Kong from becoming a truly independent public broadcaster, says IFJ

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

Palestine

Palestinian group claims it's holding BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, makes public demands

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

Turkey

Publisher acquitted of "insult to Turkishness" in one case, second trial continues; his translator charged with insulting state, memory of Ataturk

(WiPC/IFEX) - The following is a 9 May 2007 WiPC press release:

Somalia

Radio journalist killed by crossfire while covering army raid on illegal gun market

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

Iraq

Three journalists and their driver tortured, killed near Kirkuk; IFJ prepares safety strategy

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

Venezuela

Journalist's vehicle torched following threats from Guárico state governor over article on corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 3 May 2007, journalist Werner Córdoba's vehicle was torched while parked in front of his home, located in Aragua state in central Venezuela. The vehicle bore a "press" decal. The body of the vehicle was damaged by the flames. Córdoba works in the political news section of "La Prensa del Llano" daily newspaper in the city of San Juan de los Morros, located in the neighbouring state of Guárico, 70 kilometers from Aragua.

Brazil

Death threats made against critical current affairs television programme host in Imperatriz

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 7 May 2007 IAPA press release:

United States

Cases of two journalists held without charge have similarities; implications for journalists' work "alarming", says CPJ

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

Mongolia / World Press Freedom Day

Journalists hindered by criminal defamation laws, financial pressures; draft access to information law submitted to Parliament

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

Malaysia

Following move to monitor Internet, information minister considers classifying bloggers

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Malaysian minister for information is considering classifying bloggers as "professional" or "non-professional" in a move to curb libel on the Internet.

International

AAI estimates one Arab journalist killed every month in past six years for doing their job, pays tribute to slain journalists

(AAI/IFEX) - The following is a 7 May 2007 AAI press release:

Brazil

Journalist murdered in Porto Ferreira following death threats

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 5 May 2007, Luiz Carlos Barbon Filho, 37, a journalist for Porto FM radio station and columnist for "Jornal do Porto" and "JC Regional" newspapers, was executed with two shots fired at point blank range by two masked men who ambushed him in a neighbourhood bar in Porto Ferreira, in Sao Paulo state. He died the following day at a local hospital.

Uzbekistan

Journalist Umida Niyazova released following appeals court decision

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is delighted by the 8 May 2007 news that journalist and human rights defender, Umida Niyazova, who was sentenced to seven years in prison on 1 May 2007, has had her sentence reduced to a suspended term by an appeal court. According to a report on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, she has been released.

Burkina Faso

Journalist faces possible jail term in criminal defamation case

(MFWA/IFEX) - Thierry Nabyoure, a journalist with the privately-owned, Ouagadougou-based newspaper "San Finna", faces a possible prison sentence if found guilty of charges resulting from an article he published in early 2007.

Liberia

Government representative threatens legal action against newspaper over article implicating him in oil deal with foreign company

(CEMESP/IFEX) - The management of the "Liberian Express" bi-weekly newspaper has been threatened with legal action by a member of the House of Representatives of Liberia.

Dominican Republic

"Equilibrio" editor's murder allegedly work-related; investigation of journalist's 1994 disappearance reopened; "Ahora" director's murderers' sentences upheld

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 4 May 2007 IAPA press release:

Pakistan

Taliban impose ban on music in North Waziristan and Bajaur tribal areas, threaten CD shop owners, set up military checkpoints to remove cassette players from vehicles

(PPF/IFEX) - On 7 May 2007, the local Taliban Shoora (council) imposed a ban on the sale of CDs and cassettes and on the playing of music in buses and coaches in the North Waziristan tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, while armed militants set up checkpoints on roads in different parts of the Bajaur Tribal Agency area, and forcibly removed tape recorders from vehicles.

Spain

Five IFEX members urge ECHR to eliminate two Spanish laws used to indict journalist for article on hashish seizure from former Moroccan king's vehicle

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 3 May 2007 WPFC press release:

Iraq

RSF condemns police's passive response to two armed attacks on radio station in one day

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep concern about two armed attacks on privately-owned Radio Dijla in Baghdad on 3 May 2007 that left one person dead and two wounded. The organisation also condemned the death of Russian freelance photographer Dmitry Chebotayev on 5 May in a bombing targeted at the US military unit with which he was embedded. He was on assignment for the Russian edition of "Newsweek" magazine (see IFEX alert of 7 May 2007).

International

OSCE study shows need for better laws to protect investigative journalism in wake of security tightening

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 7 May 2007 media release of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Australia

Political and media website banned from official budget for third year; police screening of federal press gallery journalists proposed

(MEAA/IFEX) - The following is a MEAA media release:

Côte d'Ivoire

Armed men ransack newspaper's offices

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 5 May 2007, armed men broke into the offices of the pro-government daily "Le Matin" and made off with cash and various documents. They also stole some of the paper's equipment.

Venezuela

RCTV journalists denied entry to government event; others expelled for recording minister's speech on kidnappings

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 3 May 2007, reporter Junior Acosta, camera operator Juan Rojas and his assistant, Michael Risquez, all of the television station Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), were denied entry to a ministry of defence function, where they intended to cover an event being held by the interior and justice ministry. They were denied entry by Fabiana Ochoa, the director of institutional relations of the interior and justice ministry, for wearing shirts referring to the conflict between the station and the government.

Venezuela

Former minister urges investigation of newspaper publisher over editorial alleging corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 23 April 2007, former finance minister Tobías Nóbrega asked the Prosecutor General (Fiscalía) to investigate Teodoro Petkoff, the publisher of "Tal Cual" newspaper, over a 12 April editorial that alleged the former minister's involvement in acts of corruption, in complicity with other public officials.

Iraq

Russian photojournalist killed by roadside bomb

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

Guatemala

APG urges unity among journalists, alliance with other social organizations, to deal with dramatic increase in press freedom violations

(APG/IFEX) - The following is a 3 May 2007 APG press release:

Ghana

Guards prevent journalists from covering presidential visit to flooded region

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 28 April 2007, guards of President John Agyekum Kufuor prevented journalists from covering the president's visit to Tamale, capital of Ghana's Northern Region. Some of the journalists were roughed up and intimidated.

Cambodia

General threatens to shoot journalist, later says he was "only kidding"

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

Nepal

Following death threats, radio journalist attacked, beaten by political militants for covering altercation with police

(FNJ/IFEX) - Yuvraj Adhikary, a local correspondent of Radio Nepal, was attacked by cadres of the Maoist-aligned Young Communist League (YCL) on 2 May 2007 in the Kusumba market of Bardiya, a mid-western district of Nepal.

Pakistan

Three television news channels suspended for six hours in Sindh province

(PPF/IFEX) - Cable networks in major cities of Pakistan's southern Sindh province suspended the transmissions of three leading television news channels for six hours on 5 May 2007. The transmissions of Geo, ARY and Aaj television networks were suspended in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas.

Jordan

CAPSULE REPORT: Prior censorship must be abolished, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 4 May 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Pakistan

Homemade bombs damage music and video shops following Taliban warning

(PPF/IFEX) - Unidentified militants targeted music and video shops with crude homemade explosive devices on 4 May 2007, damaging a number of shops in two markets in the town of Charsadda, in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) bordering Afghanistan. Fortunately, there was no loss of life.

Ghana

Radio journalist assaulted over comments about presidential candidate

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 3 May 2007, World Press Freedom Day, while discussing the electoral prospects of presidential candidates from the ruling party, a radio correspondent was attacked by a friend of one of those reviewed.

Nepal

Publisher badly beaten; one assailant arrested

(FNJ/IFEX) - Lokshari Kuwar, editor and publisher of "Morning Bell" daily, was captured and attacked by a group of people on 2 May 2007 in Dhangadi, Kailali, a western district of Nepal.

Dominican Republic

Murderer of journalist Juan Andújar sentenced to 30 years in prison, fined for wounding another journalist; his fellow conspirator given five-year sentence

(RSF/IFEX) - Edri Vladimir "Vla" Pujols, a member of a gang known as "Los Zayayines", was sentenced on 2 May 2007 to 30 years in prison for the 2004 murder of Juan Andújar, a correspondent of the daily "Listín Diario". He was also ordered to pay the equivalent of 30,000 euros in compensation to another journalist, Jorge Luis Sención, who had to have an arm amputated after being attacked by Pujols because he had witnessed the murder of Andújar.

Guatemala

Journalists' work threatened by "parallel powers" linked to organised crime through corrupt individuals and ties to political groups, warns CERIGUA

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

Guatemala

Radio Sonora producer shot dead in national capital

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 3 May 2007, World Press Freedom Day, journalist Mario Rolando López Sánchez, the 64-year-old general producer for Radio Sonora radio station, was shot dead by unidentified individuals in a building in the Nimajuyú neighbourhood of the capital, Guatemala City.

Iraq

Attack on private radio station kills two, injures five, puts station off air; government not protecting journalists, says IFJ

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

Bangladesh

TV journalist allegedly threatened by police commander following report on police raid

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

Azerbaijan

Two independent journalists jailed for inciting religious hatred following threats by activists during trial

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

China

Magazine engaged in critical coverage of corruption placed under Propaganda Ministry's control

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns measures taken by the authorities to transform "Baixing" ("Commoners"), a monthly mangazine that used to investigate corruption in rural areas. After being controlled for years by the agriculture ministry, it has been placed under the propaganda ministry's control. Former editor Huang Lingtian told radio RFA in a recent interview that the authorities want to turn it into an "arts and lifestyle" magazine targeted at a "young rural readership." As a result, most of its investigative reporters have left. Huang added that this transformation, similar to one recently undergone by the magazine "LifeWeek", meant that "Baixing"'s journalists would no longer do any original reporting.

East Timor / Australia / Indonesia

Inquest into deaths of "Balibo Five" points to high-level cover-up, former Australian PM to be summoned

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed the resumption this week of an inquest into the murders of cameraman Brian Peters and four other journalists 32 years ago in East Timor, saying it hoped every aspect of their deaths would be clarified and insisting that it was not too late for those responsible to be punished.

Thailand

Journalists urge government to be "considerate" in curbing free speech on Internet, call for reform of Printing Act and broadcast media laws

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

Palestine

Palestinian PM says Britain has asked his government not to rescue BBC correspondent by force; worldwide rallies seek his release

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 May 2007 CPJ press release:

Turkey

BIANET's quarterly report points to Penal Code article 301 as major barrier to free expression, amid mounting attacks on press

(BIANET/IFEX) - The following is a 3 May BIANET report:

Maldives

"Minivan Daily" columnist questioned, charges against one of its editors dropped, those against another reduced; "E-Sandhaanu" editor released

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

Philippines

Presidential spouse's withdrawal of libel suits against 46 journalists a triumph for press freedom, proves resistance best defence, says CMFR

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

International / World Press Freedom Day

Failure to punish the world's "predators of press freedom" one of the greatest threats to the media, says RSF

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

Democratic Republic of Congo / World Press Freedom Day

JED appeals for end to state violence against media in World Press Freedom Day statement

(JED/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 2 May 2007 JED press release:

Cuba

One imprisoned journalist denied medically-needed exercise; another reports food poisoning due to spoiled meals

(RSF/IFEX) - Prison guards have been refusing to let Normando Hernández González into the exercise yard since 23 April 2007, although his doctors have said he should walk every day because of the tuberculosis and other ailments he has contracted. Hernández González said the exercise ban was a form of revenge by the Cuban government for his continuing to work as a journalist from prison.

Turkey

Authorities assault media at May Day demonstration, ban live coverage of events

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

Mexico / World Press Freedom Day

Statistics show freedom of expression under threat, says CENCOS

(CENCOS/IFEX) - The following is a 2 May 2007 CENCOS press release:

Colombia / World Press Freedom Day

"Wasted years and little progress made": impunity still prevails in crimes against journalists, says FLIP

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

Liberia / World Press Freedom Day

In observance of World Press Freedom Day, CEMESP urges government to improve relations with media

(CEMESP/IFEX) - The following is a 2 May 2007 CEMESP statement:

Iraq

Journalist murdered east of Mosul; "Aldiyar" editor kidnapped, fate unknown; media "under siege", says ARTICLE 19

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

Philippines

Presidential spouse "Mike" Arroyo drops all libel suits against journalists

(CMFR/IFEX) - Presidential spouse Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo ordered his lawyers to withdraw all the libel suits he had filed against Filipino journalists as a "gesture of peace" on 3 May 2007. Read by press secretary Ignacio Bunye in a media briefing in Malacañang, Arroyo's announcement coincided with the celebration of World Press Freedom Day.

International / World Press Freedom Day

IFJ and Vintu Foundation launch humanitarian assistance programme for victims of violence in journalism

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

International / World Press Freedom Day

Freedom of movement essential for freedom of the press, says IPI

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

Iran / World Press Freedom Day

CAPSULE REPORT: Attacks on press freedom mount, Internet becoming only refuge, reports Freedom House

(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is a 2 May 2007 Freedom House press release:

Nigeria

Journalist in coma after being beaten unconscious by Ondo state police

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced shock at the severity of an attack on journalist Dare Folorunso of the state-owned Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), who was beaten unconscious by several policemen, including a deputy commissioner, at a May Day rally on 1 May 2007 in Akure, in the southwestern state of Ondo. He is now in a coma.

Brazil

Police detain television crew in Belém, seize camera

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 25 April 2007, journalist Célia Pinho, cameraman Edílson Matos and chauffeur Marcelo Silva, who work for the television station Record Regional/Marajoara, were detained for six hours at the local headquarters of the federal police in the city of Belém, located in the department of Pará in northern Brazil. They were held on the orders of police officer Alessandro Dantas de Oliveira. Their camera was also seized, but was returned to them when they were released.

International / World Press Freedom Day

CPJ releases "Backsliders" report on the 10 countries where press freedom has most deteriorated

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 2 May 2007 CPJ press release:

International / World Press Freedom Day

WAN calls on governments to protect press freedom in face of anti-terrorism laws

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

Palestine / Israel

Travel ban on human rights activist unfairly impairs his ability to address international forums, says Human Rights Watch

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

International / World Press Freedom Day

"Dreary panorama" for region's press freedom mitigated by decriminalization of defamation in Mexico, enactment of access to information laws

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

International / World Press Freedom Day

CAPSULE REPORT: Press freedom findings in region disappointing after earlier hopeful years, says Freedom House

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

Egypt

Al-Jazeera journalist sentenced to prison for exposing torture

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch media advisory:

International / World Press Freedom Day

IFJ calls for release of imprisoned and kidnapped journalists on World Press Freedom Day

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

Sri Lanka / World Press Freedom Day

"The Death of Media Freedom in Sri Lanka": FMM's statement on World Press Freedom Day 2007

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of an FMM statement:

Algeria

Journalist detained at Algiers airport, another given one-year sentence for tax fraud

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for an end to the political and legal harassment of two journalists - Arezki Aït-Larbi, the correspondent of the French dailies "Le Figaro" and "Ouest France", and Saad Lounès, the former editor of the daily "El Ouma" - that has been going on for years.

Burma / International

IPI names Mizzima News "Free Media Pioneer 2007"

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

International / World Press Freedom Day

"More to be done to eliminate murder as a means of censorship," notes WiPC on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day

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

Peru

Police arrest another suspected hit-man in murder of journalist Miguel Pérez Julca

(RSF/IFEX) - A youth suspected of being one of the contract killers in the 17 March 2007 murder of journalist Miguel Pérez Julca was arrested on 25 April.

Uzbekistan

Human rights worker sentenced to seven years in prison for "speaking up about things the government tries to silence," says CJES

(CJES/IFEX) - The following is a statement by CJES:

Mongolia

Newspaper editor's conviction for defamation of former Miss Mongolia upheld by appeals court

(Globe International/IFEX) - On 3 February 2007, an appeals court reaffirmed the ruling delivered by a court in the village of Kherlen Soum, located in Dornod Aimag (province), convicting "Dornod" newspaper's editor-in-chief, B. Tuya, of defamation, pursuant to a complaint filed by Miss Mongolia 1994, G. Tuul.

Australia / World Press Freedom Day

Threats to press freedom in 2006-2007 reflect "government bent on controlling information," says MEAA

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

Mongolia

Television journalist receives death threats following broadcasts on current political situation in Dornod province

(Globe International/IFEX) - At 11:30 p.m. (local time) on 5 April 2007, S. Delger, director of the television channel Shine Suvag in Dornod province, found a letter on her apartment door that read "I will kill you". The following day, insulting, vulgar messages addressed to her were painted on the wall of her apartment building.

Mauritania

Journalist threatened by credit union official over critical coverage

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 27 April 2007, Mohammed Ould Saleck, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mutpêche, a credit union for fishermen in Mauritania, threatened to throw Isselmou Ould Mustapha, managing editor of "Tahalil Hebdo", an independent weekly newspaper, into the sea for refusing to disclose a source of information.

Jordan

Authorities ban newspaper edition over front-page story

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

Uzbekistan

Trial of human rights defender resumes without notice; judge prompts and cuts short witnesses

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

International / World Press Freedom Day

Killers of journalists "getting away with murder", says CJFE

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

Namibia

National broadcaster's planned format change to call-in radio programme "an attempt to stifle public debate", says MISA

(MISA/IFEX) - The minister for information and broadcasting has announced that top management at the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), the country's national broadcaster, has taken the decision to change the format of the call-in programme on national radio, according to a 30 April 2007 "New Era" newspaper report. The statement comes ten months after the current NBC director general went on air shortly after being appointed to the office to call on listeners and phone-in callers to "act responsibly."

Russia

Police in St. Petersburg seize copies of opposition newspaper reporting on antigovernment rallies

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

Vietnam

WiPC concerned that detained writer not receiving urgently required medical care

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of writer and journalist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, who was reportedly arrested on 21 April 2007 for her critical writings. PEN considers her to be held solely for peacefully exercising her right to free expression. Thuy suffers from diabetes and advanced tuberculosis, for which she has been receiving hospital treatment, and there are grave concerns that she is not receiving the medical care she urgently requires in detention.

Pakistan

Freelance photographer killed by suicide attack on interior minister

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is saddened by the death of Mehboob Khan, a young freelance news photographer who was killed on 28 April 2007 in a suicide bombing aimed at Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, in the northwestern district of Charsadda. Four other journalists were injured by the blast.

Nepal

Journalist attacked by police in Bara district while covering arrest of separatist group leader

(FNJ/IFEX) - Rabindra Singh, a correspondent of Channel Nepal Television, was attacked on 27 April 2007 by security personnel at Manarharwa, a village in Bara, a district in central Nepal.

Iraq

Well-known radio and television host in coma after being shot near her home

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced deep concern over the condition of a well-known Iraqi public radio and television presenter, Amal Al-Mudarress, who is reportedly in a coma after being shot several times as she left her Baghdad home on 29 April 2007.

Sri Lanka

Reporter with Tamil newspaper murdered in Jaffna

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 29 April 2007 murder of a young reporter employed by the daily "Uthayan", one of the Tamil newspapers that has been most targeted by violence. Gunned down on his bicycle near the newspaper's office in the northern city of Jaffna, Selvarajah Rajivarnam was the second journalist to be killed in a government-controlled area in the past 10 days.

Nepal

Bomb thrown at vehicle transporting journalists in troubled Terai region

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES is deeply concerned over an attempt to bomb a vehicle carrying journalists in eastern Nepal.

Burkina Faso

Radio station temporarily pulls programme after host receives death threats; CPJ calls for full investigation

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

International / World Press Freedom Day

To mark World Press Freedom Day, MISA publication details regional media freedom violations in 2006

(MISA/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 27 April 2007 MISA media statement:

Pakistan

Police in Pakistani Kashmir harass television station employees to force withdrawal of news story

(PPF/IFEX) - Police in the city of Mirpur, the commercial centre of Pakistani administrated Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), harassed the staff of the bureau of Aapna Des, a Bradford-based, Pahari-language television channel. The police wanted the channel to stop showing news reports regarding the withdrawal of official facilities provided by the government to an AJK Supreme Court judge, Justice Manzoor Hussain Gilani.

Mexico

Murdered journalist had received list of suspects in kidnapping he was investigating

(CENCOS/IFEX) - At 7:30 p.m. (local time) on 23 April 2007, the body of Saúl Noé Martínez Ortega was found. Martínez Ortega was a reporter and editor for "Interdiario Escorpión y Centenario", which is based in the city of Agua Prieta, located in Sonora state. He had been kidnapped by a group of unidentified men riding in two pick-up trucks on the morning of 16 April, in Agua Prieta. His body was found in a 40 meter-deep ravine, 600 meters from the Chihuahua-Sonora state border, just beyond Sierra de Puerto San Luis on the Chihuahua side.

Cambodia

Newspaper editor found dead in suspicious circumstances

(RSF/IFEX) - The body of Pov Sam Ath, editor of the newspaper "Samleng Khmer Krom" ("Voice of the Khmers Kroms"), was found in a suitcase on 26 April 2007 in the Pich Nil valley in Kampong Speu province in the south of the country. The autopsy showed that his killer used the 29-year-old journalist's bicycle brake cables to strangle him.

Ghana

District official assaults, verbally abuses TV journalists

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 26 April 2007, reporter Kojo Hayford and cameraman Lord Asante Fordjour of TV3, an independent Accra-based television station, were mistreated by Raymond Gbegoah, coordinating director of Akuapem South District Assembly in the eastern region of Ghana.

Uzbekistan

One rights defender sentenced to six years in prison, another's trial indefinitely postponed; crackdown exposes failure of EU policy, says Human Rights Watch

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

China

Cyber-dissident Yang Jianli released

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomed the 27 April 2007 release of cyber-dissident Yang Jianli, who has completed a five-year prison sentence for "illegally entering Chinese territory" and "spying for Taiwan".

Pakistan

CAPSULE REPORT: Human Rights Watch concerned about increasing attempts by government to muzzle media

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch letter to President Pervez Musharraf:

Zimbabwe

Government plan to revoke all NGO licences violates free expression rights, obligations under African Charter, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 26 April 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Brazil

Civil society movement for access to information launched; two draft bills in process

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 26 April 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Guatemala

Journalist shot, three others beaten and stoned, while trying to cover attempted lynching

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - Journalist Rudy Toledo - a reporter for a cable television station based in Santa Cruz del Quiché - was shot and wounded in the leg on 25 April 2007, when he was trying to cover an attempted lynching in San Andrés Sajcabajá, along with two other journalists, who were beaten with sticks and stoned by a mob. A vehicle belonging to the television station Telediario was also burned by the same group, reports Telediario director Eduardo Mendoza.

Venezuela

Journalist struck, detained by National Guard members when covering protest in Aragua

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 24 April 2007, journalist Gina Reyes was struck and detained by members of the National Guard while she was covering a protest march in the state of Aragua, central Venezuela. Reyes is a correspondent for the newspaper "El Carabobeño".

Jordan

Draft "access to information" law, approved by Lower House of Parliament, actually entrenches government control over information, says AAI

(AAI/IFEX) - On 25 April 2007, the Lower House of Parliament endorsed a draft access to information law that gives government wide powers to control information flow and deprives citizens of access to basic information.

Iran

Six women's rights advocates receive lengthy prison sentences under national security laws

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

Egypt

Government harasses, closes offices of workers' rights organisation in apparent retaliation for its reporting on labour issues

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

Kyrgyzstan

Newspapers seized and journalists assaulted during opposition demonstration

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - Five journalists were injured, another two were threatened with physical violence, journalists' equipment was broken and newspapers were seized during a nine-day opposition demonstration in the capital city, Bishkek.

Mexico

WPFC concerned about flaws in reformed defamation law

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 24 April 2007 WPFC letter to the president of Mexico:

Burkina Faso

Radio presenter receives death threats

(MFWA/IFEX) - Sam K. Le Jah, a presenter at Ouga FM, a privately-owned radio station in Ouagadougou, received death threats on 18 April 2007 for allegedly criticising the administration of President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso.

Venezuela

Non-renewal of RCTV license a threat to media pluralism, will cost 2,000 their jobs, says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 24 April 2007 IFJ media release:

Pakistan

Regulatory authority suspends transmission of private TV channel following coverage of judicial crisis

Regulatory authority suspends transmission of private TV channel following coverage of judicial crisis

Burma

Two sentenced to prison for distributing wedding video of junta chief's daughter; solo protester arrested

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a 24 April 2007 statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Palestine

Authorities confirm BBC correspondent is alive but CPJ remains deeply concerned; fear undermining foreign media coverage from Gaza

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Syria

Imprisoned human rights lawyer ill-treated, fined for membership in unlicenced human rights centre

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 25 April 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

International

2006 most brutal year for media with 100 journalists killed, says IPI

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 25 April 2007 IPI press release:

Jordan

Government refuses to return seized videotape of interview, cites "national interests" and concern over "harming" Saudi Arabia

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

Namibia

Newspaper publishing company, editor threatened with defamation suits, damages by family over article alleging mafia connections

(MISA/IFEX) - On 25 April 2007, "The Namibian" newspaper reported that its editor, Gwen Lister, and The Free Press of Namibia, the company that owns and publishes "The Namibian", were instructed to pay N$7 million (approximately US$1 million) to the Palazzolo family, or face legal action in the form of five defamation suits.

Vietnam

Prominent Internet writer in detention, charged with disseminating information "harmful to the state"

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

Venezuela

Other media outlets less critical in wake of "predetermined" non-renewal of RCTV licence, says CPJ report

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 24 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Colombia

Journalist receives death threats after reporting on alleged municipal corruption in Barrancabermeja

(FLIP/IFEX) - Diego Waldrón, the editor-owner of the magazine "Revista Gente" in the city of Barrancabermeja, Santander department, has reported to authorities that he has been the target of anonymous threats, apparently in relation to an article he published on municipal corruption.

Burma

Peaceful protestors detained, two allegedly beaten by police, for expressing discontent with economic hardship

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a 24 April 2007 statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Senegal

CPJ condemns ruling party official's alleged threats to staff of private radio station

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

Rwanda

Court sentences newspaper director to one year in prison for publishing letter criticising government

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

Mexico

Abducted Sonora reporter found dead in neighbouring state of Chihuahua

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

Azerbaijan

Editor of critical newspaper brutally beaten after protesting conviction of colleague

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

Jordan

Government censors Al Jazeera, seizes tapes of interview with prince

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the confiscation by the Jordanian authorities of the videotapes of an interview by the pan-Arab satellite TV station Al-Jazeera with King Abdallah's uncle, Prince Hassan Bin Talal. The tapes were seized from Al-Jazeera journalist Ghassan Ben Jeddou at Amman airport after he interviewed the prince on 18 April 2007.

Russia

NGO training independent media suspends activity after police search, director charged

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

Peru

Radio station director violently assaulted by sports regulatory body official in Abancay following critical coverage

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 21 April 2007, the director of Peru's Sports Institute (Instituto Peruano del Deporte, IPD), Hugo Catalán Loayza, punched journalist Hernán Farfán Cruzado, director of Inti Radio, in the face and kicked him. The public official entered the home of a friend of the journalist while a birthday party was in progress and astonished everyone by hitting the journalist and kicking him until he fell to the floor. The other guests' outraged response prompted him to leave. The incident took place in Abancay, Apurímac region, southern Peru.

Syria

Human rights lawyer sentenced to five-year prison term for signing joint statement

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemned the five-year prison sentence imposed by the Damascus criminal court on 24 April 2007 on lawyer and human rights activist Anwar Al-Bunni for signing a joint statement calling for better relations with Lebanon. Held for the past 11 months, he was found guilty of "disseminating false information weakening the nation."

Turkey

"Nokta" magazine's offices raided, files copied, premises occupied by police for four days, following critical articles about military

(BIANET/IFEX) - Weekly news magazine "Nokta"'s editor-in-chief Alper Görmüs said on 16 April 2007 that the publishing policy of his magazine will not change despite harassment by security forces and the judiciary following critical articles about the Turkish military.

Pakistan

Media authority threatens closure of television station for covering judicial crisis, warns all private stations against negative coverage of judiciary, army, or state

(PPF/IFEX) - The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has served a show-cause notice on private television channel Aaj TV for airing news, talk shows and other programmes on the judicial crisis in Pakistan and threatened the channel with closure.

Turkey

Court blocks access to popular website following defamation complaint

(BIANET/IFEX) - Responding to a civil complaint, an Istanbul court recently banned access to the online news source Eksisozluk ( http://www.sourtimes.org ). Adnan Oktar, a self-proclaimed religious sect leader, complained to the court that the online interactive site, where members can add and edit comments on anything, contained defamatory remarks about him.

Malaysia

Government minister demands compensation, threatens to sue newspaper for defamation over article alleging corruption

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A top Malaysian politician from the ruling party is threatening to sue an independent web-based daily for publishing articles linking him and his family with corruption.

Peru

Six broadcasters in Chimbote off air following raids and equipment seizures allegedly in reprisal for coverage of popular mobilizations

(AMARC/IFEX) - On 18 April 2007, radio stations Ancash, Amistad and Miramar, and television stations Canal 15, Canal 27 and Canal 55, were raided and their equipment seized by order of Judge Frey Tolentino Cruz, of the Fifth Criminal Court of the Superior Court of Santa (Quinto Juzgado Penal de la Corte Superior de Justicia del Santa), acting on a complaint by the transportation and communications ministry (Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones, MTC).

Somalia

RSF and local partner denounce current wave of violence against media in Mogadishu

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and its partner organisation in Somalia, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), are outraged by the recent wave of violence in Mogadishu and the arbitrary shelling and shooting of civilians, including journalists and news media personnel.

Philippines

President Arroyo issues order further restricting access to information, sets up "National Security Clearance System"

(CMFR/IFEX) - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has issued an Executive Order (EO) that will restrict public and media access to official information. EO 608, issued on 20 April 2007, will create a National Security Clearance System that will "protect and ensure the integrity and sanctity" of classified information against "enemies of the state."

Honduras

Defamation lawsuit against television station owner-manager re-opened

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - A lawsuit for defamation and insult, dating from 2005, against Esdras Amado López, the owner-manager of the television station Canal 36, has been reactivated by the annulment of a ruling that had been made in November 2006 that the suit could not be heard.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist released after being held for more than five months without a hearing

(JED/IFEX) - Journalist in Danger (JED) welcomes the release of Papy Tembe Moroni on April 13, 2007, in Kinshasa. Tembe, a cameraman and reporter with the privately-owned Canal Congo Television (CCTV), was detained for 132 days in the cells of Kinshasa's Secret Service Police and at the Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa (CPRK), Kinshasa's main prison.

Nepal

Journalist receives death threat over critical coverage of Maoists; another threatened by hospital committee chairman for not reporting on health camp

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 22 April 2007, Santosh Neupane, the editor and publisher of "Narayani Express National Daily", was threatened by Maoists at Mahari Bazaar in Hetauda, where his publication is based.

Azerbaijan

Embattled editor jailed for libel and insult over article he denies writing

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

South Africa

FXI protests state's attempt to close court from media during nuclear smuggling trial

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 20 April 2007 FXI press release:

Democratic Republic of Congo

One month on, soldiers' occupation of community radio station in Luebo continues

(JED/IFEX) - Soldiers acting on the orders of Oscar Malongi, Kasaï district commissioner, have occupied the premises of the community radio station ODL since 17 March 2007. They brutally stopped all broadcasts and chased away all staff members found on site. For the last month, they have occupied the premises and forbidden any access to them.

Belarus

Opposition activist arrested for article posted online

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arrest of writer and political activist Andrei Kilmau on 3 April 2007 on a charge of "inciting the regime's overthrow" in an article posted on the Internet, in which he was very critical of President Lukashenko and looked at options for changing the political system in Belarus. The organisation is also concerned about a parliamentary committee's bill that could require all online publications to register.

East Timor

Journalist and cameraperson threatened by MP for covering inactivity of Parliament

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Amid rising political tensions in the run-off presidential election in East Timor, a member of the National Parliament has threatened a journalist and a cameraperson who were covering legislative activity in the building.

Senegal

Armed ruling party politician bursts into radio station, threatens to kill staff

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the police and judicial authorities to take action against Moustapha Cissé Lô, a politician who burst into the studios of Radio Disso FM on 18 April 2007, accompanied by his henchmen, and threatened to kill the station's staff because his inclusion on the ruling party's parliamentary candidate list had just been criticised on the air by a listener.

Nepal

Maoists detain two journalists, seize their camera in Rolpa

(FNJ/IFEX) - Rameshwor Bohara, a correspondent with "Himal", and Damodar Bhandari, with the daily "Annapurna", were detained by Maoists in Rolpa, a mid-western district of Nepal, on 19 April 2007.

Singapore

Government bans film on journalist detained without trial for 17 years

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Singapore government has banned an independent film about a former top journalist and political activist who was held without trial for 17 years in the island republic, deeming the documentary to be "against public interests".

Senegal

Journalist sentenced to prison for defamation

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Mexico

Newspaper office target of grenade attack in Hermosillo

(IPYS/IFEX) - On the night of 17 April 2007, unidentified persons threw a hand grenade against the headquarters of the newspaper "Cambio", in the town of Hermosillo, state of Sonora, in northern Mexico.

Sri Lanka

Editor of Tamil-language magazine shot dead in Vavuniya

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 19 April 2007 FMM press release:

Venezuela

Graffiti supporting non-renewal of RCTV's broadcasting license painted on station's walls

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 15 April 2007, followers of the revolutionary movement "Tupamaros", from the 23 de Enero neighbourhood in western Caracas, painted messages supporting the non-renewal of Radio Caracas Televisión's (RCTV) broadcasting frequency concession on the television station's façade.

Palestine

IFJ delivers appeal from 197 European parliamentarians for release of BBC journalist, believed still alive

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 April 2007 IFJ media release:

Zimbabwe

Journalist reportedly tortured during detention, forced to confess alleged crimes

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC is seriously concerned about "The Zimbabwean" reporter Gift Phiri, due to stand trial on 25 April 2007 on charges of working as a journalist without official accreditation and "publishing false news". WiPC is concerned about the treatment Phiri received while in police detention earlier this month, particularly allegations of torture. It fears that the charges against Phiri are politically motivated and in direct contravention of his right to freedom of expression. WiPC is calling for a full investigation into the torture allegations and for the charges against Phiri to be dropped.

Venezuela

AMARC says automatic renewal of broadcasting licenses "inappropriate and unjust", that RCTV "violated citizens' right to information" during 2002 coup

(AMARC/IFEX) - The following is an abbreviated version of an 18 April 2007 AMARC statement:

Peru

Police bring charges against one journalist in Chiclayo, beat another, allegedly in retaliation for critical reporting

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 17 April 2007, Radio Digital radio station and Canal 12 television station journalist Paul Alvarado Huamán stated that police officers of the Cayalti police station had falsely charged him with the crime of "violence and resisting authority" after he reported critically on their work. Cayalti is in Chiclayo, a city in northwestern Peru.

Venezuela

Journalist faces possible imprisonment on "aggravated defamation" charges

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF calls on Venezuelan judges to be lenient with Miguel Salazar, the editor of the political weekly "Las Verdades de Miguel", who faces a possible prison sentence for "aggravated defamation" in a trial that was due to start 18 April 2007 in Caracas.

Haiti

Activist Johnson Edouard, killed in Gonaïves, had not worked for "Haïti Progrès" for past three years

(RSF/IFEX) - The staff of the weekly newspaper "Haïti Progrès" have said that Johnson Edouard, who was killed on the night of 12 April 2007 in the north-western city of Gonaïves, had not worked for the newspaper for about three years. The theory that he was murdered in connection with his political activism therefore seems more likely. Edouard was the regional representative of Fanmi Lavalas, former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's party.

Ethiopia / Somalia

Two Eritrean journalists captured in Somalia are shown in video posted on Ethiopian pro-government website

(RSF/IFEX) - A video published on an Ethiopian pro-government website on 13 April 2007 includes footage of two Eritrean state TV journalists, cameraman Tesfalidet Kidane Tesfazghi and reporter Saleh Idris Gama, who have been held in secret since their December 2006 arrest in Somalia.

Venezuela

Fine of Globovision suspended by court but equipment confiscated by media regulator not to be returned

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 7 March 2007, the Politico-Administrative bench of the Supreme Court of Justice (Sala Político Administrativa del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia) temporarily suspended a fine against television station "Globovisión" that had been imposed by the National Commission for Telecommunications (CONATEL) on 3 October 2003. It rejected, however, the restitution of seven of its microwave systems that had been confiscated by CONATEL.

Kenya

Government orders state sector to withdraw advertising from Standard Group media outlets; top employees interrogated after critical report

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a government decision to withhold state advertising from the Standard Group media, which include "The Standard" daily newspaper and Kenya Television Network (KTN).

Sri Lanka

Defence secretary threatens to "exterminate" journalist with "Daily Mirror"; president promises investigation of threats to newspaper

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has strongly condemned threats made by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, younger brother of the president, against the editor of the "Daily Mirror", Champika Liyanaarachchi. The minister also threatened to "exterminate" a journalist on the newspaper, for writing articles about the plight of civilian victims of the war.

Canada

Journalist attacked, injured, following threats over reporting on religious organisation and its leader

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

Guinea-Bissau

Presidential press secretary threatens to close radio station

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 17 April 2007, Barnabé Gomes, a presidential press officer, threatened to close Radio Bombolom, an independent radio station based in Bissau, the capital, for allegedly broadcasting a programme that he claimed could worsen the country's political situation.

Cuba

Journalist sentenced to four years in prison as "pre-criminal social danger"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the jailing of Oscar Sánchez Madan, a Matanzas province correspondent for the Miami-based Cubanet website. Arrested on 13 April 2007 and summarily tried the same day, Sánchez was sentenced to four years in prison as a "pre-criminal social danger." His imprisonment brings the number of independent journalists currently held in Cuba to 26.

Philippines

Newspaper journalist shot and wounded following threats; two libel cases involving radio journalists lead to lawsuit and arrest

(CMFR/IFEX) - Delfin Mallari Jr., a Southern Luzon correspondent for the Manila-based broadsheet "Philippine Daily Inquirer" (PDI), was shot and wounded at around 7:40 a.m. (local time) on 19 April 2007 by two unidentified gunmen in Lucena City, Quezon, a province east of Manila. PDI is one of the leading daily newspapers in the Philippines.

Turkey

Three employees of Christian publishing house killed following protests and threats by nationalists

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

Philippines

Radio journalist killed following reports on crimes of police and politicians

(CMFR/IFEX) - On 18 April 2007 at about 6:00 a.m. (local time), a police reporter for the government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan was found dead in Mapalad Village, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija (about 200 km north of Manila).

International

Resolution violates international standards on freedom of expression, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an 18 April 2007 ARTICLE 19 statement:

International / United States

Dilemma of uncovering government secrets, post-9/11 press freedom environment analysed in WAN's World Press Freedom Day material

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is an 18 April 2007 WAN press release:

Ghana

Sports club guards prevent "Ghanaian Times" journalist from covering game, threaten permanent barring of colleagues

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 14 April 2007, Ian Motey, a correspondent of "The Ghanaian Times", a state-owned daily newspaper, was prevented by security guards of Asante Kotoko Football Club, a Kumasi-based team, from covering their league match, for alleged biased reporting.

Nigeria

Intelligence agents raid TV station during programme about President Obasanjo

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 17 April 2007 heavy-handed raid by Nigeria's domestic intelligence agency, the State Security Service (SSS), on the Abuja studios of African Independent Television (AIT), a privately-owned station.

France / Côte d'Ivoire

RSF, family and support committees continue to press for truth three years after journalist's disappearance in Abidjan

(RSF/IFEX) - On the third anniversary of the abduction and disappearance of French-Canadian journalist Guy-André Kieffer in Abidjan, a news conference about the case was held on 13 April 2007 at the French national assembly by Reporters Without Borders, Kieffer's wife, Osange Silou-Kieffer, his brother, Bernard Kieffer, the president of "Truth for Guy-André Kieffer" support committee, Aline Richard, and the Green Party deputy for Gironde, Noël Mamère.

Democratic Republic of Congo

JED expresses disappointment following verdict in case of murdered journalist Franck Ngyke and his wife

(JED/IFEX) - The military court of the Kinshasa/Matete garrison in the Democratic Republic of Congo pronounced on 13 April 2007 its verdict in the murder trial of journalist Franck Ngyke and his wife Hélène Mpaka. Joël Munganda, the main defendant, and Papy Munongo were sentenced to death. The third defendant, Didier Awatimbine, was sentenced to life in prison. All three were found guilty of murder, attempted murder, extortion, and violation of prison regulations.

Bolivia

Journalist from state radio station beaten by student leader and union leader in Tarija

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 11 April 2007, journalist Mario Fernández, a correspondent for the state-owned radio station Red Patria Nueva of the city of Tarija, in southern Bolivia, was beaten by a student organisation leader and a union leader while he was interviewing a group of female peasants.

India / Burma

Indian authorities reopen Mizzima News headquarters

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

China

Uighur activist detained, severely beaten, convicted of sedition and sentenced to nine years in prison for disseminating Internet articles

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

Kyrgyzstan

Journalists assaulted, injured while covering demonstration by opposition groups

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 14 April 2007, Aziz Egemberdiyev, a reporter for the news agency 24.kg; Sanzhar Hamidov and Bobozhon Tuganov, a camera crew for the Russia-based television channel NTV; and Nina Gorshkova, a photojournalist for the newspaper "Slovo Kyrgyzstana", were all injured by protesters while covering an opposition demonstration in the central square of Bishkek, the capital city.

Sri Lanka

High government official threatens newspaper editor over coverage of conflict

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 17 April 2007 FMM press release:

Palestine

Journalists injured during Gaza demonstration in support of kidnapped British journalist

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemned the use of violence by parliamentary security guards in Gaza to disperse a 17 April 2007 demonstration by Palestinian journalists demanding the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, who has been held hostage since 12 March. Three journalists were injured in the course of scuffles.

Malawi

Private radio stations censored over political coverage

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

Pakistan

Sixteen journalists injured while covering demonstration in support of Supreme Court president

(RSF/IFEX) - A total of 16 journalists were physically attacked, mainly by lawyers, while covering a demonstration organised by the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) on 12 April 2007 in Karachi in protest against the dismissal of Supreme Court president Iftikar Mohammed Chaudhry, said Reporters Without Borders, condemning the violence.

Egypt

Blogger arrested and held for reporting on torture of detainees

(RSF/IFEX) - Voicing concern about increasingly repressive policies towards online dissent, Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of blogger Abdul-Moneim Mahmud, who was arrested on 14 April 2007 at Cairo airport. He has been charged with membership of an "illegal organisation" (the Muslim Brotherhood), but his arrest seems to be linked to the photos and reports about the torture of detainees that he has posted online.

Mexico

Newspaper editor abducted by heavily armed group in Sonora state

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called for a rapid response from the federal authorities to the abduction, on the night of 16 April 2007, of Saúl Martínez Ortega, the editor of the "Diario de Agua Prieta" newspaper, in Agua Prieta, in the northwestern state of Sonora. He is the second newspaper journalist to disappear in suspicious circumstances in Mexico in 2007, following "Tabasco Hoy" reporter Rodolfo Rincón Taracena in the southeastern state of Tabasco in January (see IFEX alerts of 31 and 29 January 2007).

Kazakhstan

Critical journalist disappears in Almaty after receiving death threats; colleagues and family suspect foul play

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - Adil Soz has expressed its alarm over the disappearance of Oralgaisha Zhabaktaikyzy, a journalist with "Zakon I pravosudie" newspaper.

Uzbekistan

Journalist's forced detention in psychiatric hospital, in apparent retaliation for his reporting, extended for six more months

(WiPC/IFEX) - Dzamshid (Jamshid) Karimov, held under psychiatric detention since September 2006, has reportedly had the order extended for a further six months and is now not due to be released until mid-September. The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN fears that Karimov is apparently held in retaliation for his reporting on human rights issues and for his criticism of the government. It is calling for his release.

Indonesia

Court clears "Playboy Indonesia" editor of indecency charges, says press law should have been used

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On 5 April 2007, a district court in south Jakarta acquitted "Indonesia Playboy" editor-in-chief Erwin Arnada of publishing indecent material, ruling that pictures of scantily-clad women "could not be categorised as pornography".

Russia

Police break up peaceful protest, detain hundreds, beat dozens "to silence dissent", says Human Rights Watch

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

Uzbekistan

Government "trying to silence us", says Human Rights Watch; trial date of journalist Niazova set

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

Mexico

President signs landmark defamation law, CPJ urges state governments to follow federal example

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

Iran

New crackdown on women journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - A recent crackdown on women journalists in Iran has seen two arrested and held for nearly two weeks and five others summoned before the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Still another, who works for the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), has been barred from leaving the country.

Liberia

Football official suspended for assaulting journalist

(MFWA/IFEX) - The Liberian Football Association (LFA) on 9 April 2007 suspended its secretary general, Napoleon Japloe for one month for assaulting Julu Johnson, sports editor of the independent Monrovia-based the "News" newspaper.

Egypt

Journalist's residence in Alexandria raided in attempt to arrest him

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo fears for the life of the journalist blogger Abdel Men'em Mahmoud, whose residence in Alexandria was broken into at dawn on 13 April 2007 by security forces seeking to arrest him. The incident appears to be part of a campaign carried out by the police in Cairo and Alexandria to arrest 42 Egyptians suspected of belonging to the Muslim Brothers Group.

Haiti

Second journalist in three months murdered

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has expressed shock over the brutal murder of the correspondent of the weekly "Haïti Progrès", Johnson Edouard, in the northwestern city of Gonaïves on 12 April 2007.

India / Burma

Indian authorities seal Mizzima News headquarters

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The headquarters of Mizzima News, a SEAPA partner and interim member of International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), was sealed by New Delhi police and municipal officers on 16 April 2007, reports its editor-in-chief Soe Myint.

Morocco

CAPSULE REPORT: Courts, press law undermine press freedoms, says CPJ

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 6 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Colombia

Highway security personnel assault cameraman, threaten journalists, obstruct media work

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 8 April 2007, journalist Omar Jaimes and cameraman Rodrigo Piñeros of Canal CRN television were mistreated by a security guard of the company CIVIG Ltd., at a toll booth on the Bogotá - Girardot highway in the municipality of Chinauta.

Serbia

Journalist's home bombed in assassination attempt following coverage on criminal activities and war crimes

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

Palestine

Deep concern over BBC correspondent's fate after militant group claims it killed him

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is extremely concerned about the fate of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston after a hitherto unknown group calling itself "The Monotheism and Jihad Brigades" issued a statement on 15 April 2007 claiming it had executed him and condemning the British and Palestinian governments for ignoring its calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Ethiopia / Somalia

Two Eritrean journalists captured in Somalia held with "foreign fighters"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Somali and Ethiopian governments to explain why two Eritrean state TV journalists have been held in secret after being arrested late last year along with several Somalis and foreigners near the border with Kenya.

Azerbaijan

Appeals court upholds criminal libel sentence of two journalists

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

Namibia

MISA considers media freedom at stake as national broadcasting employees strike for better working conditions

(MISA/IFEX) - On 13 April 2007, employees of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), held a peaceful demonstration to show their dissatisfaction with working conditions and empty promises of salary increases.

Uzbekistan

Imprisoned journalist Umida Niyazova subject to inhumane treatment, faces possible 15-year sentence

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

Russia

Prosecutors classify journalist's death, hours after broadcast on prior attack, as suicide; relatives and colleagues suspect foul play

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

Afghanistan

Retransmission of Al-Jazeera International TV programmes banned

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has criticised as "unacceptable" the information and culture ministry's censorship of Al-Jazeera International's TV programmes and demanded that the ban be lifted at once. Minister Abdul Karim Khurram accused the pan-Arab station of "inflicting a killer blow to the cultural and the legal authority of the government" and said the local station Lemar TV was retransmitting them illegally.

Thailand

Internet users spooked as "glitch" temporarily blocks Google, other sites; government expands efforts to block web content that insults monarchy or threatens national security

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Internet users in Thailand reported sporadic blocking of popular websites on 11 April 2007, as the country's Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (MICT) widened its efforts to limit access to websites with content deemed insulting to the monarchy and threatening to national security.

Sri Lanka

Health minister says media is "rabid" and needs medical help, following critical coverage of health ministry

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 12 April 2007 statement by FMM and other organisations:

Jordan

TV crew members assaulted, briefly detained, their camera confiscated

(AAI/IFEX) - On Saturday 7 April 2007, a cameraman and a reporter who work for Al Ghad TV, a new television station in its pilot stage, were assaulted by Jordanian General Security officers while covering a strike by bus drivers at a bus station south of Amman.

Brazil

Arson attack on offices of critical newspaper in Minas Gerais state

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF strongly deplores a fire that swept through the offices of the fortnightly newspaper "Tribuna do Povo", in Várzea da Palma (300 km north of Belo Horizonte, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais) on 9 April 2007 and called for those responsible to be arrested and punished.

Egypt

Prosecutors obstruct appeal of blogger Karim Amer's conviction

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo is asking the prosecutor-general to order members of the prosecution in East Alexandria Integral Court to stop hindering the procedure to appeal the conviction of Egyptian blogger Karim Amer.

Thailand

Two talk show hosts sentenced to prison, fined for defamation after alleging official corruption

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

Zambia

Anti-graft officers raid radio station, seize materials, intimidate staff

(MISA/IFEX) - On 30 March 2007, officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) searched the office of Radio Mano, a community radio station in Zambia's Northern Province in Kasama.

Sri Lanka

Newspaper closures show how government is abusing anti-terrorism law to silence criticism, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 12 April 2007 Human Rights Watch press release:

Peru

Journalist assaulted while covering strike in Chimbote

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 11 and 12 April 2007, journalist Augusto Riera was beaten and insulted by activists of the Civil Construction (Construcción Civil) union, while he was covering a protest called by the Front for the Defence of Santa Province (Frente de Defensa de la Provincia del Santa) and the Front for the Interests of the People of Huaraz (Frente por los Intereses del Pueblo de Huaraz), which took place in the city of Chimbote, Ancash region, in northwestern Peru.

The Gambia

Magistrate says court has jurisdiction to hear case in setback for journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh

(MFWA/IFEX) - A magistrate in Kanifing, a district in Serrekunda, Gambia's largest city, ruled on 11 April 2007 that his court had the jurisdiction to hear a criminal case against US-based Gambian journalist, Fatou Jaw Manneh, after her lawyer argued that the case fell outside the court's jurisdiction.

Mexico

Two men arrested in connection with murder of journalist Amado Ramírez Dillanes, colleague flees Acapulco

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 11 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Peru

Journalists from Huanuco threatened with death by leader of coca growers as attacks on journalists increase throughout country

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF calls on the Peruvian government to monitor the soaring violence against the media, and said the country had accumulated one of the worst press freedom records in the Americas so far in 2007, with at least 50 attacks and threats documented.

Poland

New "vetting" law may have serious impact on media, says IPI

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

Switzerland

Three journalists face trial by military court for publishing secret service document

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

Peru

Journalist receives death threats after broadcast showing police firing on demonstrators in Chimbote

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 11 April 2007, journalist Sandor Renilla Horna, producer of Canal 31 television station's programme "Punto 31", received two death threats, moments after having broadcast video footage in which police are seen firing on a crowd of demonstrators from the Front for the Defence of Santa Province (Frente de Defensa de la Provincia del Santa) and the Front for the Interests of the People of Huaraz (Frente por los Intereses del Pueblo de Huaraz), which had taken place that day in Chimbote, Ancash region, in northwestern Peru.

Thailand

Government unblocks web forum, cautions criticism must be "within limits"; YouTube offers to teach authorities to block individual videos rather than entire site

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The military-installed government in Thailand has lifted a ban on a popular political chat room that was blocked over concerns of "national security", warning however that while the administration remains tolerant of public criticism, it must be "within limits" and should not damage "national security".

Nigeria

Security forces close radio and TV stations three days before state elections

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the federal authorities to permit the reopening of two new, Lagos-based broadcast media, Link FM and GTV, which were abruptly closed by the security forces on 11 April 2007, three days before elections for state governors and state parliaments.

Brunei

Official warns media to follow guidelines, respect government secrecy

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Brunei media, already subservient to the ruling royalty in the oil-rich nation of 380,000 inhabitants, have been warned to respect the government's withholding of certain sensitive information.

Venezuela

Minister ratifies non-renewal of broadcasting license for RCTV television station

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 29 March 2007, information and telecommunications minister Jesse Chacón confirmed in a press conference that the broadcast concession of the private television station RCTV would not be renewed.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Prosecutor calls for death sentence against alleged assassins of journalist Franck Ngyke

(JED/IFEX) - During the 4 April 2007 public hearing of the Kinshasa/Matete Military Court, the prosecution requested death sentences for the alleged assassins of journalist Franck Ngyke and his wife Hélène Mpaka, assassinated in their home on the night of 2-3 November 2005.

International

IACHR recommends that governments pass legislation on community radio stations, reserve part of the spectrum for their use

(AMARC/IFEX) - The following is an 11 April 2007 AMARC press release:

Honduras

"Multiple violations" of freedom of expression and right to information in 2006, according to C-Libre report

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - The following is a 10 April 2007 PROBIDAD press release:

International

Overbroad provisions of draft OAS anti-racism convention would unduly limit free expression, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an 11 April 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Burma

Military bans recitation of poems written by famous late poet Zaw Gyi at public event

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a 10 April 2007 statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:

Peru

Radio journalist convicted in Utcubamba of defamation, fined, given suspended sentence over broadcast on land dispute

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 27 March 2007, journalist José Flores Burgos, director of the public affairs programme "Sin Censura" on La Voz de Bagua Grande radio station, was convicted of defamation for having accused, on his programme, lawyer Roberto Montalvo Cuba of being connected to the usurping of a municipal plot of land for which the title is in dispute. Flores Burgos was given a suspended sentence of two years and fined 4,200 nuevos soles (approx. US$1,300).

Ethiopia

Eight journalists acquitted on anti-state crimes, released after 17 months in prison; exiled president of banned journalists' association also acquitted

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

Iraq / United States

CPJ renews call for release of Iraqi AP photojournalist held by US without charge for a year

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Nepal

Armed insurgents threaten broadcast journalists with physical assault over reporting

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES is gravely concerned over serious threats that armed insurgents active in the south-east issued to journalists from Image Channel network.

Tunisia

Video-sharing website Dailymotion blocked

(RSF/IFEX) - Omar Mestiri, the editor of the opposition online newspaper "Kalima", is the victim of judicial harassment, Reporters Without Borders has said of a libel suit that could result in a three-year prison sentence (see IFEX alert of 2 April 2007). The organisation also called on the authorities to stop blocking the video-sharing site Dailymotion ( http://www.dailymotion.com ), which has been inaccessible in Tunisia since 1 April.

China

Access to websites Dailymotion and Canalblog blocked

(RSF/IFEX) - Access to the French video-sharing website Dailymotion ( http://www.dailymotion.fr ) and the French blog-tool Canalblog ( http://www.canalblog.com ) has been blocked by the Chinese government.

Syria

Kurdish cyber-dissident held in secret for nearly a week; two others still in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of arrested human rights activist Ibrahim Zoro, who regularly posts material on foreign-based opposition websites. It noted that two other people were in prison in Syria for posting similar material.

Somalia

TV crew arrested by order of presidential official; ministry bans "unauthorised" conferences, lectures and public events

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has expressed concern about press freedom in Somalia after a presidential spokesman ordered the arrest of a TV crew and the authorities in Puntland, a stronghold of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, and banned journalists from holding professional meetings without permission.

Philippines

Imprisoned radio journalist faces danger of reprisal from fellow inmates over past crime reporting

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 April 2007 IFJ media release:

Kazakhstan

Independent newspaper's printing press facilities set afire following critical articles

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 8 April 2007, a group of unidentified men broke into the printing press building of the independent weekly "Lada" in Aktau, western Kazakhstan, and set fire to the facility, causing extensive damage.

Cameroon

Journalist arrested, detained, faces criminal charges over "homosexual scandal" story

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Tunisia

Fourth TMG report launched worldwide: "Freedom of Expression in Tunisia: The Siege Holds"

(IFEX-TMG) - The following is an IFEX-TMG press release:

Mexico

Death threat made against murdered journalist's colleague, their programme taken off air

(RSF/IFEX) - The news programme "Al tanto", that had been hosted by journalist Amado Ramírez on Radiorama Acapulco before he was murdered on 6 April 2007, was taken off the air on 9 April after the station received threats. Ramírez, who was also correspondent for the Acapulco television station Televisa, was killed during a wave of reprisals by drug-traffickers.

Mexico

Journalist executed in Acapulco after receiving death threats; CPJ urges president to end attacks on press

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 April 2007 CPJ letter to the Mexican president:

Malaysia

Government plans to force bloggers to register

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about a 4 April 2007 statement by Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor, that in order to prevent the spread of "negative or malicious content," bloggers will soon have to register with the government. While claiming it does not intend to censor bloggers, the government has warned that bloggers are not above the law when they "disturb peace and harmony" in Malaysia.

Peru

Two suspects in journalist's murder in Jaén arrested, but crime still not solved, says IPYS

(IPYS/IFEX) - The following is a 7 April 2007 IPYS statement:

Turkey

Journalist, event organiser on trial, face possible imprisonment, for "insulting, humiliating security forces" in discussion panel

(BIANET/IFEX) - Ersen Korkmaz, the owner of the local newspaper "Demokrat Iskenderun", has been on trial for four years and a half over a paper he wrote entitled "They caught the leader of the Kurds and gave him to the fascists", for a panel organized by Turkey's Communist Party (TKP).

Uzbekistan

Second Deutsche Welle journalist charged with "working without licence"

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

Kyrgyzstan

Newspaper editor receives death threats following critical articles; another threatened against covering "negative events"

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

Turkey

Kurdistan TV correspondents in Diyarbakir harassed, spied on and threatened by authorities

(BIANET/IFEX) - Northern Iraq-based Kurdistan TV's correspondents in Diyarbakir claim that they face arbitrary discrimination by local officials and receive random threats.

Zimbabwe

Journalist released on bail, hospitalised after beatings in police custody

(RSF/IFEX) - Gift Phiri, a contributor to the London-based weekly "The Zimbabwean", was released on bail on 5 April 2007 and immediately hospitalized for treatment to injuries resulting from the beatings he received during four days in police custody.

Russia

Magazine publisher and son harassed, threatened for reporting on illegal wiretapping by Omsk region's organised crime prevention unit

(CJES/IFEX) - Sergei Suslikov, the owner of the Omsk publishing house TTIES and founder of the magazine "Biznes Kurs", has written an open letter to the Omsk region's prosecutor, Sergei Kazakov, saying he is being pressured by officials from the local department for the prevention of organized crime over articles criticizing the department.

Pakistan

Journalist reportedly escapes captors as family members massacred

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced shock on learning that militants killed four members of the family of Din Muhammad, a journalist based in the northwestern Waziristan region, and kidnapped three others on 27 March 2007. A reporter for the Urdu-language newspaper "Inkishaf", Muhammad is one of the few journalists working in this mountainous region next to the Afghan border.

Thailand

Government suspends online forum, orders two other websites to monitor content, over alleged "national security" concerns

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The suspension of a popular online forum in Thailand raises the alarm for a deteriorating environment for free expression in the country.

Colombia

Diagnóstico de la libertad de prensa, enero - marzo de 2007

Russia

Critical television journalist, previously threatened and attacked, fears for his life

(CJES/IFEX) - Fyodor Bykhanov, a journalist with the television and radio company RIF based in Biisk, Altai territory, announced on the 5 April 2007 broadcast of the programme "Zloba Dnya" that he is afraid that his life is in danger.

Tunisia

Al-Jazeera journalist barred repeatedly from covering events, roughed up by police

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 April 2007 IFJ press release:

Turkey

Government tries to block pro-Kurdish television channel; 56 mayors face prosecution for opposing these efforts

(BIANET/IFEX) - Fifty-six mayors, most of them members of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), are being prosecuted for sending a joint letter to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, urging that he reject Turkey's efforts to close down pro-Kurdish satellite television channel Roj TV. They face possible punishments of up to 15 years' imprisonment.

Syria

Outspoken political activist, imprisoned in inhumane conditions, faces possible life sentence for peacefully expressing opinions

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

Iran

Five more women's rights activists arrested over petition campaign, two of them still in detention, as prosecutions continue

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

Russia

Television journalist, previously attacked over his work, found dead

(CJES/IFEX) - Vyacheslav Ifanov, a cameraman with the television station Novoye Televideniye Aleiska (NTA), was found dead in his car in Aleisk, Altai territory, in the early hours of 5 April 2007. The journalist's colleagues believe he was murdered.

Russia

Six months after "Novaya Gazeta" reporter Anna Politkovskaya's murder, RSF awaits findings of investigation

(RSF/IFEX) - Since "Novaya Gazeta" reporter Anna Politkovskaya's murder in Moscow six months ago, on 7 October 2006, the prosecutor-general's office has revealed no details about the progress of its investigation. Reports of developments in the press have not been confirmed. Reporters Without Borders has voiced frustration with the lack of visible progress in the investigation and said the campaign on her behalf should not let up.

Iraq

Suicide bombing of television station kills two journalists, injures others; radio journalist killed; abducted newspaper reporter found dead

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 6 April 2007 IFJ media release:

Afghanistan

Taliban kill kidnapped Afghan journalist

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 April 2007 IFJ media release:

Liberia

Sports official assaults journalist over coverage

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 31 March 2007, Julu Johnson, sports editor of the "News", an independent Monrovia-based newspaper, was assaulted by Napoleon Japloe, assistant secretary of the Liberia Football Association (LFA).

Egypt

HRinfo director, two bloggers, accused of "insult" and "defamation", detained for questioning as harassment campaign against the organisation continues

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo has announced that it will not be terrorised into giving up its right to sue Judge Abdel Fattah Mourad for violating HRinfo's copyrights.

Russia

"Krasny Sever" newspaper editor and journalist forced to resign, black-balled by local authorities

(CJES/IFEX) - Vladimir Voloshin, editor-in-chief of the Salekhard newspaper "Krasny Sever", and Pavel Razuvayev, a journalist with the newspaper, have been forced to resign. They resigned shortly after the elections to the Yamal region's parliament, which were held on 28 March 2007.

Iraq

Iraqi journalist kidnapped and killed; a second journalist abducted, following threats

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

Thailand

Draft act on computer-related offences poses serious problems for freedom of expression, says ARTICLE 19

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

Russia

"Delovoi Petersburg" photojournalist beaten, injured, by pig farm security guards

(CJES/IFEX) - Andrei Kulgun, a photojournalist with the newspaper "Delovoi Peterburg", was beaten in St. Petersburg on 3 April 2007.

Venezuela

Suspected mastermind of journalist's 2004 murder detained in Monagas

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 5 March 2007, Judge Ilsia Pérez, the fifth supervisory judge of the criminal circuit (juez Quinta de Control del Circuito Judicial) of Monagas state, ordered Ceferino García arrested; he is charged with masterminding the 1 September 2004 murder of journalist Mauro Marcano in Maturín, the capital of Monagas, in eastern Venezuela.

Libya / Algeria

Appeals court suspends prison sentences for two journalists sued by Gaddafi for defamation

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders voiced relief at an Algiers appeals court's decision on 4 April 2007 to give two journalists suspended sentences of six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 dinars (approx. 530 euros) instead of the 12-month jail terms and fine of 500,000 dinars (approx. 5,300 euros) requested by the prosecutor. The appeal court also rejected the prosecutor's request for the newspaper to be suspended for a year.

South Africa / Zimbabwe

South African response to Zimbabwe's freedom of expression crisis "grossly inadequate," says FXI

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 4 April 2007 FXI press statement:

Malaysia

Journalists verbally and physically attacked by members of ruling party

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Two journalists covering a legislative assembly by-election in Malaysia were verbally and physically attacked by supporters and members of the incumbent political party, reports the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a local free expression group and SEAPA partner.

East Timor

Political party militants attack and injure journalist

(SEAPA/IFEX) - In a violence-marred presidential election campaign in Timor Leste (East Timor), militants from the incumbent party assaulted a journalist for taking their photographs while they were being searched at a security checkpoint, reports the Timor Lorosa'e Journalists Association (TLJA), a SEAPA partner based in the capital city, Dili.

Iraq

Journalist kidnapped and beaten by uniformed men in Kurdish region

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has joined the Kurdistan Journalists Union in condemning the 3 April 2007 abduction of Nabaz Goran in the northern city of Erbil and the beating he received for several hours before being set free. Goran contributes to several media in Iraq's Kurdish region.

Burma

Court acquits retiree of "incitement against public" over satirical article posted on fence

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A retiree, who had posted on his fence a biting satire he had written, slamming inflated prices of essential commodities in Burma, has been acquitted of inciting others to commit offences against the public.

The Gambia

Journalist released on bail, charged with sedition over critical commentary, ordered to surrender travel documents

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 4 April 2007 CPJ press release:

International

CAPSULE REPORT: ARTICLE 19 outlines freedom of expression concerns in region

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 29 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 letter to the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister:

Chile

Supreme Court rescinds controversial restrictions on press reporting

(RSF/IFEX) - The Supreme Court has rescinded the decree it issued on 26 March 2007 restricting the movements of journalists within courthouses and their ability to conduct interviews while there.

South Africa

Court ruling protecting right to privacy in HIV-status case will have no chilling effect on freedom of expression, says FXI

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

Haiti

Seven years of impunity for killers of journalist Jean Dominique

(RSF/IFEX) - On the seventh anniversary of radio Haïti Inter owner and manager Jean Dominique's murder on 3 April 2000 in Port-au-Prince, Reporters Without Borders notes with regret that the investigation that was re-launched two years ago has still not yielded any results and impunity continues to prevail in this case.

Liberia

Government maintains ban on newspaper, instructs printing houses not to print

(CEMESP/IFEX) - It was a success story for "The Independent" newspaper last week when the Supreme Court of Liberia ordered both parties to the case to return to "status quo ante."

United States

Freelance journalist Josh Wolf released after 224 days in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced relief on learning of the 3 April 2007 release of freelance journalist and blogger Josh Wolf, who had been held for 224 days in California in a case involving source confidentiality. A second attempt at judicial mediation by federal Judge Joseph Spero with Wolf and his lawyers concluded successfully after two days. On 3 April, Wolf posted all of the video files requested by Judge William Alsup on his website and promised to hand them over after obtaining the prosecutor's assurance that he will not be compelled to testify before a federal court.

Peru

Funcionario agrede a periodista en Ayacucho

(IPYS/IFEX) - El 2 de abril de 2007, el reportero José Atauje, de la televisora Canal 4, fue agredido por Max Torre, presidente de la Beneficencia Pública de Ayacucho, región al sur del país. Torre le dio un puñete en el rostro al reportero para evitar que cubriera la detención de su sobrino en la comisaría por cometer disturbios y resistirse a la autoridad en la ciudad de Ayacucho.

Thailand

Government blocks YouTube website over video ridiculing king

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Thai government has blocked the video-sharing site, YouTube, following failed attempts to have the website take down a clip ridiculing the country's much revered king, reported the international news agency Reuters on 4 April 2007.

Zimbabwe

Cameraman abducted and murdered; killing may be linked to politically sensitive footage of injured opposition leader

(MISA/IFEX) - According to reports by Britain's "The Independent" newspaper, a Zimbabwean freelance cameraman, Edward Chikombo, was abducted from his home in the Glenview township outside Harare. His body was discovered on the weekend near the village of Darwendale, 80 kilometres west of the capital, Harare.

Argentina

Journalist's home robbed of documents on case of alleged corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 27 March 2007, three armed men entered the home of journalist Carlos Russo, editor of "Perfil" weekly. After locking him in a room with his wife and daughter, the intruders went through his papers and stole, among other things, Russo's notebook and documents on a corruption case he has been investigating since mid-2006.

Zimbabwe

Attacks on journalists continue; IFJ condemns violence and harassment by police

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 April 2007 IFJ media release:

Peru

Journalist in Huaraz receiving daily death threats over reporting

(IPYS/IFEX) - Since 23 March 2007, journalist Marcelo Sánchez Oliva, producer and host of the public affairs programme "Miramar en la Noticia" on Radio Miramar radio station, has been receiving daily death threats on his cell phone. The source of the threats is unknown.

Palestine

Palestinian journalists on three-day strike for release of BBC correspondent

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 April 2007 IFJ media release:

India

Female journalist brutally beaten on the job

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

Serbia

Neo-Nazis threaten to kill independent journalist over coverage of their activities

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 April 2007 CPJ press release:

Pakistan

Journalist's family massacred in South Waziristan in apparent retribution for his work

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

Colombia

"El Heraldo" journalist assaulted and injured by individuals alleging authorities would also go after him

(FLIP/IFEX) - Barranquilla-based "El Heraldo" newspaper photojournalist Johnny Olivares was assaulted at mid-day on 1 April 2007 while covering recent cases being dealt with by the national forensic medicine institute (Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal). Two people threw stones at him, knocking him unconscious. His camera was damaged in the incident and Olivares was rendered unable to work for the next two weeks (see photographs of the incident at http://www.flip.org.co ).

Kyrgyzstan

Broadcast journalist assaulted by pro-government demonstrators in Zhalalabat

(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On 31 March 2007, Talanbek Sopuyev, a journalist for local television and radio company Sentyabr, was assaulted in Zhalalabat, a city in southern Kyrgyzstan, during a demonstration staged by the political movement For Political Stability and Unity and the political parties Zhany Kyrgyzstan and Eldik Birimdik, in support of the current president.

Zimbabwe

Journalist hospitalised after beating in detention

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has expressed outrage at the arrest of a journalist working for a privately-owned Zimbabwean daily published outside the country and the hospitalisation of the former editor of the now-closed paper "The Daily News", after he was beaten in prison, and called for an international campaign to stop the government's violence.

Azerbaijan

Prison authorities deny ailing journalist Sakit Zahidov medical treatment

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the authorities to allow imprisoned journalist and writer Sakit Zahidov to receive the medical treatment he needs. When his wife, Rena Zahidova, visited him at N14 prison, 75 km from Baku, on 26 March 2007, she found that his health had deteriorated and that he was suffering from stomach and heart pains.

Central African Republic

President of private press group sentenced to prison

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

Somalia

Five journalists attacked by armed men, equipment stolen; three journalists released

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

Zimbabwe

Reporter of independent weekly "The Zimbabwean" jailed, beaten; paper threatened over coverage

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

International

Human Rights Council passes resolution supporting limits on free speech

(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is a 30 March 2007 Freedom House press release:

Nepal

Political group intercepts newspaper delivery, burns copies in protest over content

(FNJ/IFEX) - Members of the Madheshi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) set ablaze copies of the daily newspaper "Kantipur", which were being transported in a vehicle of Kantipur publications on 2 April 2007, in Saptari, an eastern district of Nepal.

Spain

Opposition party refuses to give interviews to PRISA group media outlets after criticism

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 30 March 2007 WPFC letter to the president of opposition party Partido Popular:

Moldova

Police arrest, briefly detain and threaten journalists, damage their equipment, for covering political event; newspaper copies seized

(IJC/IFEX) - The following is a 27 March 2007 declaration by IJC and other organisations:

Brazil

Eight suspects in journalist's 2003 murder awaiting trial, masterminds still free

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

Ghana

Cameraman harassed by prison guard and sympathisers of jailed opposition parliamentarian

(MFWA/IFEX) - Philip Katsriku, a cameraman of TV3 Network, an Accra-based independent television station, was on 29 March 2007 physically mistreated by a prison guard and sympathisers of a jailed opposition Member of Parliament for taking photographs of the MP.

Burkina Faso

Journalist detained for 48 hours, forced to disclose source, for article allegedly defaming police official

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 26 March 2007, Thierry Nabyoure, a journalist with the privately-owned, Ouagadougou-based newspaper "San Finna", was detained by police for allegedly defaming Colonel Mamadou Traoré, chief of staff of the National Gendarmerie.

Ecuador

Journalist sentenced to 60 days in prison for quoting comments critical of Pujilí mayor

(RSF/IFEX) - The 60-day prison sentence passed by the high court of the central province of Cotopaxi on Nelson Fueltala, correspondent of "La Gaceta" daily newspaper and of the radio station Radio Latacunga, for allegedly insulting the mayor of Pujilí, was disproportionate and is liable to encourage self-censorship, says RSF.

Philippines

Journalist receives four and a half year prison sentence for article on congressman's alleged love affair

(CMFR/IFEX) - For failing to defend himself in court because he could not afford a lawyer, a radio broadcaster from Davao has been convicted of libel and is now serving time in jail. Davao is a province located south of Manila.

China

French website blocked for warning of risks of investing in China

(RSF/IFEX) - The blocking of access to the Observatoire International des Crises website ( http://www.communication-sensible.com ) within China since late February 2007 after it posted an article, entitled "Shangaï, my love," warning companies about the risks of trading with China, shows that Chinese online censorship is by no means limited to "subversive" political content, Reporters Without Borders has said.

Central African Republic

Charges brought against imprisoned editor in conflict with media regulator

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

Tunisia

Journalist Omar Mestiri prosecuted for defamation

(OLPEC/IFEX) - On 29 March 2007, the managing editor of the online newspaper "Kalima", Omar Mestiri, was summoned by the deputy public prosecutor of the republic, Zied Souidane, to respond to an alleged defamation offence under the Press Code following a complaint filed by lawyer Mohamed Baccar.

Afghanistan

ARTICLE 19 urges National Assembly to respect free expression in new media law

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 30 March 2007 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Burma

Retiree released on bail, still faces charges for lampooning state-controlled newspapers

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A retired Burmese sailor, imprisoned for criticising government propaganda through an article which he posted on his fence, was released on bail on 28 March 2007, reports Mizzima News, a SEAPA partner based in New Delhi, India, run by exiled Burmese journalists.

Afghanistan

Taliban threaten to kill kidnapped fixer Adjmal Nasqhbandi; body of murdered driver returned to family

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced the hope that Afghan President Hamid Karzai will intercede on behalf of Afghan journalist Adjmal Nasqhbandi, the fixer of "La Repubblica" correspondent Daniele Mastrogiacomo. Aged 25, Nasqhbandi is still being held in the southern province of Helmand by Taliban under the command of Mullah Dadullah, who has threatened to kill him.

United States

Prosecutors claim imprisoned blogger Wolf is not a journalist, federal guidelines do not apply to his case

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

Turkey

Two more suspects in Dink murder arrested; "Agos" editors' charges still pending; publisher avoids court hearing for fear of safety

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

Ukraine

Broadcast journalists harassed by political party supporters while filming their departure on train

(IMI/IFEX) - The following is a 30 March 2007 statement from IMI, an interim member of IFEX:

South Africa

Public broadcaster pressured into delaying television programme over content

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is a 30 March 2007 FXI media release: