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Alerts - 2008 - January-March

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International

Attacks on journalists and media outlets have intensified, says IAPA

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 30 March 2008 IAPA press release:

Cuba

Access impeded to Internet platform hosting popular blogs, other websites

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is concerned that Cuban Internet users face impediments when seeking access to blogs on the http://www.desdecuba.com platform that hosts, among others, one of the most popular blogs in the country, "Generación Y", run by Yoani Sánchez.

United States

Barring entry to UK author on grounds of "moral turpitude" sets a dangerous precedent, says PEN American Center

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

Colombia

Barrancabermeja photojournalist receives threat, judge interferes in his work

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 18 March 2008 in Barrancabermeja, Santander department, "Vanguardia Liberal" newspaper photojournalist Alfredo Estévez was impeded in his work by a judge who made him erase photographs he took at a public hearing. The day after, he received a threat from an unidentified source.

China

Classified memo reveals government strategy for "managing" foreign journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has obtained a classified memo from Chinese sources that sets out the behaviour that government officials should adopt with foreign journalists before and during the Beijing Olympic Games. It tells them to display openness but also to try to control and influence the international media's coverage.

Libya

Political prisoner jailed for criticising government still requires urgent medical treatment; psychiatric pretext for his confinement dubious, says doctor

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 29 March 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Mexico

Local media critical of municipal government in La Piedad subjected to harassment campaign, says newspaper editor

(CEPET/IFEX) - Jesús Lemus Barajas, editor of the La Piedad-based newspaper "El Tiempo", asserts that the municipal government of La Piedad, under mayor Ricardo Guzmán Romero of the National Action Party (Partido Acción Nacional, PAN), who took office on 1 January 2008, is conducting a harassment campaign against local media outlets critical of City Hall. La Piedad is a city based in the western state of Michoacán.

Nepal

Maoists threaten, attempt to besiege radio station in Achham

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 30 March 2008, Communist Party of Nepal (CPN)-Maoist cadres in Achham threatened to seize the only FM radio station operating in the district, Radio Ramaroshan. Achham is located in a far-western region of Nepal.

Afghanistan

Privately-owned radio station attacked by gunmen, equipment destroyed

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

Greece

Greek Helsinki Monitor under criminal investigation for denouncing anti-Semitic articles

(GHM/IFEX) - GHM is under criminal investigation following a complaint filed by a neo-Nazi who was convicted following a GHM complaint.

Kuwait / Gender

More transgender people arrested, mistreated in detention as dress-code crackdown continues

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

The Gambia

RSF marks second anniversary of police raid that effectively banned independent weekly

(RSF/IFEX) - On the second anniversary of a police raid on the privately-owned weekly "The Independent", Reporters Without Borders calls on the government to lift the illegal and unofficial ban that has prevented the newspaper from publishing since March 2006.

Belarus

Lithuanian journalists among those beaten in Minsk; "collaborators" with "insulting" cartoons of president being hunted; strong diplomatic reactions to crackdown

(WiPC/IFEX) - A number of journalists are among the up to 100 people arrested during demonstrations in Belarus on 25 March 2008, of whom 26 have since been sentenced to prison terms of between five and 15 days. Many more suffered beatings by police. WiPC has long been concerned by the repression of free expression and the harassment and arrests of Belarus journalists. These recent events are further cause for concern. International PEN is calling on the Belarus authorities to end attacks on the media and to release all those detained for the non-violent practice of their right to freedom of expression and association.

Afghanistan

Imprisoned journalist facing death sentence transferred to Kabul ahead of appeal

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomed the transfer to Kabul on 27 March 2008, ahead of his appeal hearing, of young Afghan journalist Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, who has been sentenced to death.

Guinea

Journalist suspended for interviewing government critics

(MFWA/IFEX) - Francois Ifono, a journalist from the state-owned Guinea Broadcasting Corporation (RTG) was on 21 March 2008 suspended indefinitely by the stations director, Alpha Kabinet Keita, for alleged "gross misconduct".

Mauritania

Two newspaper journalists arrested, one released, the other held incommunicado

(MFWA/IFEX) - Mohamed Salem Ould Mohamed, reporter with "Assiraj", an Arabic language newspaper, was on 25 March 2008 arrested and detained at the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Mauritanian police.

The Gambia

Journalist dismissed for serving in union executive position

(MFWA/IFEX) - Buya Jammeh, journalist with the pro-government "Daily Observer" newspaper, was on 25 March 2008, dismissed by the newspaper's management, after he was elected as an executive member of the Gambian Press Union (GPU).

Chad

N'Djamena's privately-owned press starts publishing again for first time since state of emergency proclaimed

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders provided financial support for the publication in N'Djamena, on 28 March 2008, of a "newspaper of newspapers," a single issue combining most of the independent Chadian weeklies that have not appeared since a state of emergency was proclaimed on 15 February. It calls for the repeal of a press law imposed by decree on 20 February.

Syria

Imprisoned academic, rights activists in urgent need of medical care; Arab League Secretary urged to press for detainees' release

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

Guatemala

Journalists threatened, a press vehicle stolen, by armed drug-traffickers in Zacapa

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 25 March 2008, a group of journalists travelling to the capital city by bus from the town of Rio Hondo, in the eastern department of Zacapa, was held at gunpoint and threatened by two men affiliated with Mexican and Guatemalan drug cartels. Four other armed men robbed "Siglo XXI" newspaper journalists of their work vehicle.

Bolivia

Anti-government protestors vandalise two public broadcasters; one off-air due to damage

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns the attacks by gangs of hooded rioters who, on 25 March 2008, stoned the premises of the public radio station Patria Nueva and of the public television channel Canal 7 Televisión Bolivia, both located in the country's constitutional capital, Sucre.

Mexico

Radio Bemba case transferred to Sonora authorities; transparency organisation denied information on project, its director harassed

(ARTICLE 19/CENCOS/IFEX) - The Governance Secretariat's (Secretaría de Gobernación) undersecretary in charge of judicial and human rights issues has transferred the cases regarding the harassment of workers of the Radio Bemba community radio station and of Sonora Ciudadana, a civil society organisation, to the relevant agencies of the state of Sonora.

Nepal

Journalist beaten, injured by police officer while covering clashes in Chainpur

(FNJ/IFEX) - Deepak Oli, president of FNJ's Bajhang chapter and district correspondent of "Gorkhapatra" daily newspaper, was attacked by a police officer at around 1:00 p.m. (local time) on 28 March 2008 at Chainpur, the headquarters of the Bajhang district in far western Nepal.

Albania

Prime minister labels journalists "mercenaries of mafia"

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 27 March 2008 press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Azerbaijan

Two journalists seek ECHR recourse following criminal defamation conviction, suspension of their constitutional rights

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 19 March 2008 WPFC press release:

Egypt

Judge dismisses six additional cases against convicted editor; CPJ condemns jail sentence

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Croatia

Journalist petitions authorities for protection, an end to ongoing harassment by intelligence agency

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Lebanon

Award-winning Iranian movie banned by authorities

(MAHARAT/IFEX) - On 22 March 2008, the Directorate General of the General Security banned "Empire Theaters" (Circuit Empire) from screening a French version of the animated movie "Persepolis" of Iranian writer Marjane Satrapi. The movie is based on the autobiographical bestselling graphic novel about an Iranian girl growing up in Iran during the Iranian revolution.

Belarus

Photojournalist covering rally brutally beaten, charged; another charged, in jail; various journalists' homes, media outlets searched by KGB

(Norwegian PEN/IFEX) - The following is a joint letter from Norwegian PEN and four other organisations:

Philippines

Suspected masterminds of Esperat killing granted temporary restraining order

(CMFR/IFEX) - The Cebu City Court of Appeals issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on 25 March 2008 in the trial of the suspected masterminds in the killing of a journalist. Cebu is a province approximately 562 km south of Manila.

Turkey

Access to Indymedia-Istanbul and YouTube websites blocked by court orders

(BIANET/IFEX) - Access to the Indymedia-Istanbul website has been blocked following a court decision. Access to the Wordpress and YouTube websites is also currently blocked. Turkey continues to close down whole sites because of individual contributions, a measure which has been condemned by both BIANET and Reporters without Borders (RSF).

Serbia

Newspaper editor, assistant receive death threats from "red berets"

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Somalia

NAFEO protests problematic press bill, urges president not to give his assent

(MFWA/IFEX) - The following 25 March 2008 statement has been forwarded by MFWA on behalf of the Network of African Free Expression Organisations (NAFEO):

Zimbabwe

Supreme Court declares ban against journalist null and void

(MISA/IFEX) - On 26 March 2008, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku set aside and declared the state-controlled Media and Information Commission's (MIC) ban against senior journalist Brian Hungwe null and void.

Bolivia

National press organisation takes complaint about new Constitution to the OAS; problematic broadcasting measure struck down

(IPYS/IFEX) - There were two significant developments regarding legal threats to press freedom in the third week of March 2008. A national press organisation protested to the OAS about a problematic article in the new Constitution, and widespread opposition to a problematic measure by the broadcasting regulator led to the measure's revocation.

Mexico

Puebla government denies three online newspapers advertising contracts following critical coverage

(CEPET/IFEX) - For two months, three Puebla state-based online newspapers have been denied advertising contracts with the state government, apparently in reprisal for their critical editorial lines. As well, access from all Puebla state government computers to the same three publications has been blocked.

Morocco

Record damages award against editor of leading daily in libel suit

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is shocked by a Rabat court ruling on 25 March 2008 ordering Rachid Nini, editor of the daily newspaper "Al-Massae", to pay a total of 6 million dirhams (approx. 550,000 euros) in damages and a 120,000 dirham (approx. 11,000 euros) fine in lawsuits brought by four deputy prosecutors accusing him of libel and "public insult."

China

Human rights campaign leader sentenced to five years in prison; one activist held incommunicado, another sent by force to psychiatric hospital

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders had called for the immediate release of human rights activist Yang Chunlin, the leader of the "We want human rights not Olympic Games" campaign, who was sentenced to five years in prison followed by two years without civic rights by an intermediate court in the northeastern city of Jiamusi on 24 March 2008 on a charge of inciting subversion of state authority.

Egypt

Newspaper editor given suspended six-month sentence for reporting on rumours regarding president's health

(HRinfo/IFEX) - On 26 March 2008, HRinfo denounced the judgment issued by Boulak Abu Al-Ela Court of Misdemeanor, which was held in New Cairo Courts Assemblage, against Ibrahim Issa, the editor-in-chief of "Al-Dostour" independent newspaper, in which he was fined 200 L.E. and given a suspended sentence of six months in prison. This was in regards to a lawsuit filed by a lawyer and two state security police officers with respect to the well-known case of "the president's health."

Zimbabwe

Intelligence organisation tries to gag newspaper

(MISA/IFEX) - On 20 March 2008, Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) sought a High Court order to bar publication of the private weekly, "Zimbabwe Independent", which was about to disclose details relating to the organisation's director-general, Happyton Bonyongwe.

Azerbaijan

Imprisoned editor starts hunger strike to protest jailing of journalists

(IRFS/IFEX) - On 26 March 2008, Eynulla Fatullayev, imprisoned editor-in-chief of the "Realny Azerbayjan" and "Gundalik Azerbayjan" newspapers, began a hunger strike.

Sri Lanka

Journalist, press owners still detained by TID without explanation

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

Russia

Two journalists charged with slander; newspaper harassed, threatened with possible closure

(CJES/IFEX) - Alexei Kalganov and Viktor Demenev, journalists with the newspaper "Leninskaya Smena", have been charged with slandering a law enforcement officer.

Mexico

Journalist's home fired upon in Manzanillo following articles critical of public officials

(CENCOS/IFEX) - On 21 March 2008, the house of journalist Javier Montes Camarena came under gunfire. At 4:45 a.m. (local time), two unidentified individuals fired a 9 mm Luger handgun seven times at the façade of his house and at his car. Two bullets lodged in the front wall of the house, one penetrated into a room, and four hit his car.

Zimbabwe

Several international media outlets denied accreditation, journalists blacklisted

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Zimbabwean government's refusal to allow several leading international news media to cover the 29 March 2008 general elections although it has signed international conventions that require it to guarantee "total access to national and international media."

Mexico

Freelance reporter threatened by peasant leader in Morelos

(CEPET/IFEX) - Andoni Mújica Murias, a freelance reporter in the central Mexican state of Morelos, reports that Jesús Escamilla Casarrubias, a leader of a peasant organisation affiliated with the leftist Social Democrat Alternative Party (Partido Alternativa Social Demócrata) threatened to kill him.

Nepal

ARTICLE 19 condemns imprisonment of pro-Tibet demonstrators, silencing expression of political opinions

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

Egypt

Journalist in hiding, home raided

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

The Gambia

Journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh's case remains in limbo

(MFWA/IFEX) - The fate of Fatou Jaw Manneh, a US-based Gambian journalist accused of sedition, is uncertain as her case file has gone missing.

Tibet (China)

Twenty-nine Chinese intellectuals appeal to government to allow free expression in Tibet

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

India / Bangladesh

Threatened Bangladeshi feminist writer leaves India for Europe

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC has been informed that Taslima Nasrin left India for Europe on 19 March 2008. WiPC continues to urge the Indian authorities to publicly condemn the violence and death threats against Nasrin.

Turkey

Journalist detained for two days, his home raided: "crude attempt to intimidate critics," says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 24 March 2008 IFJ media release:

Bangladesh

Cartoonist released after six months in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release on 20 March 2008 of Arifur Rahman, a cartoonist who was arrested in September 2007 because of a cartoon that contained a play on the name of the Prophet Mohammed. He was freed because the plaintiff repeatedly failed to come to court.

Russia

Ingush legislators call for end to broadcasts by RenTV, station says in retaliation for critical coverage

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is concerned about a request by parliamentarians in the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia for an end to broadcasting in the region by RenTV, a Russian TV station based in Moscow. In an open letter to the Russian parliament, the prosecutor general, the FSB security service and the interior ministry on 18 March 2008, the Ingush parliamentarians also said RenTV reporters were no longer welcome in Ingushetia.

Somalia

UN expert says media's rights being violated by all in conflict

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 March 2008 NUSOJ press release:

Sri Lanka

Former general's appointment to key media post signifies militarisation of media, threat to state media's independence, says FMM

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 21 March 2008 FMM press release:

Philippines

Venue of journalists' murder trials changed following successful petition by CMFR and other organisations

(CMFR/IFEX) - On 18 March 2008, the Philippine Supreme Court granted a petition by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) to transfer the venue of the trials of suspects in the killings of two Aklan-based journalists to another branch of the Regional Trial Court (RTC). Aklan is approximately 345 km south of Manila.

Paraguay

Presidential candidate publicly berates, intimidates critical journalist

(SPP/IFEX) - The SPP firmly repudiates the irresponsible, malicious and absurd accusations made by presidential candidate Lino Oviedo against "ABC Color" newspaper journalist Roberto González.

Zimbabwe

One week ahead of elections, African observers urged not to minimise importance of government control of media

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 21 March 2008 RSF press release:

Sri Lanka

Notorious government minister threatens violence against television journalists

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 22 March 2008 FMM press release:

Rwanda

Newspaper editor charged, in hiding, home raided

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Nigeria

Lagos-based daily's cartoonist attacked at home by armed intruders

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns an attack on "The Guardian" newspaper's cartoonist Obe Ess, who was hit by armed intruders in his home in the Lagos suburb of Ipaja on 19 March 2008 for unknown reasons. Based in Lagos, "The Guardian" is a privately-owned daily.

Yemen

Two publications censored, website blocked

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is worried about a series of blows to press freedom in Yemen. The authorities banned distribution of the monthly "Abwab" and the weekly "Al-Sabbah" on 14 March 2008. The website http://www.aleshteraki.net , the press mouthpiece of the main opposition party, has been inaccessible since 12 March. At the same time, the daily "Al-Sharea", its editor, Nayef Hassan, and freelance journalist Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani are being prosecuted for disseminating reports "liable to undermine army morale."

Burma

Censors ban veteran journalist's writings for one week

(Mizzima/IFEX) - Burma's censorship board has reportedly rescinded a short-lived "ban" on the writings of veteran journalist Ludu Sein Win, according to sources in the Burmese literary community.

Russia

Two journalists covering volatile North Caucasus murdered, motives uncertain

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 March 2008 CPJ press release:

China

Deux autres journalistes étrangers expulsés du Tibet; Les utilisateurs d'Internet menacés de sanctions

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters sans frontières condamne l'expulsion, le 20 mars 2008, de Lhassa de Georg Blume, journaliste allemand des quotidiens "Die Zeit" et "Taz", et Kristin Kupfer, correspondante du magazine autrichien "Profil" et de l'agence EPD. "Un haut responsable nous a menacés d'annuler nos visas en Chine", a expliqué Georg Blume à l'agence de presse DPA. Ils ont été contraints de quitter le Tibet par le train, après avoir résisté pendant cinq jours aux demandes pressantes de la police de quitter le Tibet. Cette semaine également, le correspondant de "The Economist", James Milles, et un groupe d'une quinzaine de reporters de Hong Kong avaient été contraints de quitter Lhassa sous la contrainte.

Tibet (China)

Two more foreign journalists expelled from Tibet; Internet users threatened with sanctions

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemned the expulsion from Lhasa of German journalist, Georg Blume, of the dailies "Die Zeit" and "Taz", and Kristin Kupfer, correspondent for the Austrian magazine "Profil" and the EPD news agency on 20 March 2008. "A top official threatened to cancel our visas for China", Blume told the German news agency DPA. They were forced to leave Tibet by train, after holding out for five days against insistent police demands to go. The same week, the correspondent for "The Economist", James Milles, and a group of around 15 reporters from Hong Kong were forced out of Lhasa.

Saudi Arabia

Cleric issues religious edict calling for trial, death of two writers for "heretical articles"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Mexico

Publisher of local daily in Veracruz receives death threats, police officer suspected

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is worried about death threats made on 18 March 2008 against Auricela Castro García, the director of "El Mundo de Orizaba", a daily based in Orizaba, in the southeastern state of Veracruz. The aim of the threats appears to have been to deter the newspaper from reporting that a local police inspector helped the town's former police chief evade arrest.

Iran

Several websites inaccessible; website director detained, released on bail

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a fresh upsurge in censorship of the Iranian press in the immediate aftermath of 14 March 2008 legislative elections, in which conservative candidates retained control of parliament.

Chad

French journalist forced to leave country after authorities "definitively" withdraw her accreditation

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

Argentina

Journalist's murder not work-related, say his lawyer and court; FOPEA urges exhaustive investigation

(FOPEA/IFEX) - Journalist Juan Carlos Zambrano, news chief of Canal 7 television station in San Salvador de Jujuy, capital of Jujuy province in northwest Argentina, was shot dead at close range in the wee hours of 19 March 2008. So far, there is no hard evidence indicating the motives for the killing.

Iraq

Hundreds of journalists forced into exile in five years since start of US-led invasion

(RSF/IFEX) - The first-ever detailed report on the plight of Iraqi journalists who have been forced into exile was released by Reporters Without Borders on 19 March 2008, the eve of the fifth anniversary of the start of the US-led invasion of Iraq. Most of these journalists fled to Jordan or Syria after receiving threats or surviving murder attempts. Hundreds are trying to live a normal life again in Amman or Damascus, or in some cases in cities in Europe and North America.

Syria

Head of free expression organisation charged with "libelling state bodies" over article on January 2008 riots

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo is appalled by the Syrian authorities' insistence on having a military tribunal examine charges against journalist Mazen Darwish, head of the Syrian Centre for Media Freedom and Freedom of Expression. He is accused of "libelling and defaming the state's bodies" by publishing a feature report about the January 2008 riots in Damascus, and for criticising the security bodies' failure to protect the citizens killed in those riots.

Chile

Santiago-based television station receives call criticising coverage, warning of a bomb

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 19 March 2008, security staff of the television channel Chilevisión received an anonymous telephone call warning them that a bomb had been placed on the station's premises.

Peru

National police harass, threaten to sue journalist over article on corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 18 March 2008, Mariela Balbi, a columnist for the "El Comercio" newspaper, reported that on 10 March, the Peruvian National Police (Policía Nacional del Perú, PNP) sent her a notorised letter demanding that she provide proof of an allegation in one of her articles within 72 hours, and threatening legal action if she fails to do so.

Venezuela

Journalist assaulted, his videotape seized by protestors in Ciudad Guayana

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 4 March 2008, freelance journalist Carlos Gómez was assaulted as he filmed several buses set on fire during a street protest by workers of the Siderúrigica del Orinoco (SIDOR) steel company in Ciudad Guayana, State of Bolívar, in southern Venezuela.

International

CAPSULE REPORT: Silencing of journalists with criminal defamation laws continues in 2008, says WiPC

(WiPC/IFEX) - The following is a WiPC capsule report:

China

Hu Jia's trial "extremely troubling"; friends and colleagues reportedly detained to prevent their talking to media

(PEN/IFEX) - The following is an 18 March 2008 PEN American Center press release:

Sri Lanka

IFJ concerned as retired general appointed to senior position at state broadcaster SLRC

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

Afghanistan

CAPSULE REPORT: IFJ concerned for detained journalists, trend of press repression

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ capsule report:

Tibet (China)

Authorities obstruct foreign journalists, step up controls and propaganda in Tibet

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the methods being used by the Chinese authorities to obstruct foreign journalists trying to cover the situation in the Tibetan regions, and calls for the immediate and unconditional return of the foreign press to Tibet and to nearby provinces with a sizable Tibetan population.

International

Human Rights Council's proposed change to freedom of expression mandate "an unjustifiable limitation", says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2008 ARTICLE 19 statement:

Canada

Appeals court dismisses citation, fine against journalist for protecting source

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 17 March 2008 CJFE press release:

Croatia

Journalist receives death threats

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2008 press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Iran

Censors ban nine lifestyle and cinema magazines, warn 13 others

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Indonesia

Nine activists arrested, charged for displaying flag, expressing support for independence

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Argentina

Threatened journalist gunned down in Jujuy, colleagues believe murder work-related

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced its revulsion at the murder on 19 March 2008 of Juan Carlos Zambrano, host of the programme "Con la gente" broadcast by the local television station, Canal 7, in front of his home in San Salvador de Jujuy in north-western Argentina.

Azerbaijan

Two journalists threatened over their work

(IRFS/IFEX) - IRFS is concerned about two recent, separate incidences of journalists receiving threats related to their work.

Iraq

On war's fifth anniversary, ARTICLE 19 urges authorities to provide journalists protection, not graves

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

Sri Lanka

Three journalists released by Terrorist Information Department; two remain in custody

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

Argentina

Journalist held without trial for eight months

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF calls for the immediate release of Córdoba province-based journalist Néstor Pasquini, who has been held without trial for eight months on spurious charges of inciting violence, aggravated arson and causing minor injuries during a riot he was covering in a small town.

Ukraine

Journalist critical of mayor badly beaten; photographer assaulted by manager of sports stadium

(IMI/IFEX) - In two separate recent incidents, journalists were badly injured in assaults related to their work.

Turkey

Academic given 15-month suspended sentence for comments about Ataturk

(BIANET/IFEX) - An Izmir court has sentenced Prof. Atilla Yayla to a suspended 15-month prison sentence for saying that Kemalism was "more regressive than progressive." He was sentenced under Law No. 5816, which protects the memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Turkey

CAPSULE REPORT: Flood of "insult" lawsuits contradicts army's professed tolerance of criticism

(BIANET/IFEX) - The following is a 13 March 2008 BIANET capsule report:

Thailand

Retail giant files absurdly large defamation lawsuits against columnist and former MP over criticisms

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Tesco Lotus, one of the biggest retailers in Thailand, has filed two staggering defamation cases against a Thai columnist and a former Member of Parliament, sending a strong message to civil society and the press to tread carefully before criticising the retailing giant in Thailand.

Turkey

Publisher faces possible prison sentence at upcoming trial hearing

(WiPC/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 17 March 2008 International PEN press release:

Jordan

Five journalists given three-month prison sentences over critical articles

(AAI/IFEX) - On 16 March 2008, in two separate legal cases, five journalists were sentenced to three months in prison by the Court of First Instance in Amman for alleged violations of the penal code.

Sri Lanka

Army seizes control of public SLRC television: staff put on "compulsory vacation"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for an explanation from President Mahinda Rajapakse after the army took control of public Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) television on 17 March 2008.

India / Bangladesh / Gender

Growing concerns for the health and safety of controversial feminist Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin in Delhi

(WiPC/IFEX) - International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee is increasingly concerned for the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, who has been under government protection in a safe house in Delhi since 21 November 2007. Her health is said to be rapidly deteriorating and there are concerns about her treatment in confinement and reported lack of full access to medical care. PEN is alarmed at reports of Nasrin's deteriorating health, and demands that she be given full access to all medical care as a matter of urgency.

Mexico

Police impede coverage of environmental conflict by Hermosillo community radio station

(CEPET/IFEX) - Radiobemba FM - a radio station with a cultural focus, based in the city of Hermosillo in Sonora, a northern state, and also a member of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) - reports that the work of its reporters has been impeded on three different occasions by municipal police. According to a Radiobemba FM press release, the incidents occurred while the station's reporters were trying to cover a conflict between activists opposing the construction of a commercial corridor in a treed area and the municipal and state authorities. "All the incidents have occurred during operations to evict citizens opposing the construction of a business and cultural project on 3.5 hectares of a park with about 600 trees," says the press release, posted at the station's website.

Mexico

Suspect in shooting attack on journalist Jesús Blancornelas arrested

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 17 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Swaziland

"Times of Swaziland" newspaper sued by Speaker of the House of Assembly for alleged defamation

(MISA/IFEX) - The privately-owned "Times of Swaziland" newspaper is being sued by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Prince Guduza, for 2,000,000 Euros for alleged defamation. Guduza is brother to King Mswati III.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Location of journalist in detention now known, authorities deny family visit, access to lawyer, doctor

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the detention of Nsimba Embete Ponte, the editor of "L'Interprète", a small-circulation fortnightly newspaper, for no known reason since 7 March 2008. He is being held incommunicado in a building used by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) in Kinshasa.

Burma

Weekly newspaper suspended for reporting on murders; another warned

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The Burmese Press Scrutiny and Registration Board has suspended the "7 Days News" journal for a week for reporting on a multiple-murder case in its 13 March 2008 issue.

Mexico

Prizewinning journalist's dismissal, allegedly due to pressures on newspaper, narrows informational pluralism

(ARTICLE 19/CENCOS/IFEX) - Journalist Sanjuana Martínez Montemayor has been informed that her services will not longer be required by the daily "Milenio", in Monterrey, due to a "restructuring of the newspaper." The last article published by the journalist was entitled "Ernestina: a year of ignominy" in the newspaper's "A Bocajarro" column. In the article, Martínez Montemayor criticised the federal government's handling of the case of Ernestina Ascención Rosario, a 72-year-old indigenous woman who died, allegedly after being gang-raped by Mexican soldiers. The article was published on 29 February 2008, one week before the journalist's dismissal.

Palestine / Israel

Journalist Hasan Abdel Jawad arrested; intimidation of press in West Bank growing, says IFJ

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

Mauritius

Two radio journalists held for three hours

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the detention of Radio One editor Karishma Beeharry and Humaira Ali, a member of the privately-owned station's staff, on 14 March 2008 after they broadcast a report that the cabinet would not meet that day because the prime minister was apparently ill. The report was denied. The two journalists were released after being questioned for three hours.

Brazil

Two television journalists harassed, threatened by policeman in Paraná while investigating childcare shortage

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

Russia

New charges brought against "Fakty s Argumentami" newspaper's editor-in-chief over article criticising Elets mayor

(CJES/IFEX) - The Lipetsk region's prosecutors on 4 March 2008 ruled criminal proceedings are to be opened against Nikolai Sokolov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Fakty s Argumentami", under Article 319 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, pertaining to "insulting an authority."

Azerbaijan

Amid flood of media freedom abuses, two "Nota Bene" journalists sentenced for criminal defamation

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2008 ARTICLE 19 press briefing:

Mexico

Radio host beaten in Chihuahua, his coverage the suspected motive

(CEPET/IFEX) - Juan Enrique López Aguirre, host of the city of Chihuahua-based Antena 760 radio station's "No le cambie" news programme, was assaulted by two unidentified assailants on 7 March 2008 when he arrived at his residence. The incident occurred in the La Joya neighbourhood of the city of Chihuahua, in the northern Mexican state of the same name.

Kenya

Three journalists mistreated by soldiers operating against militia in Mount Elgon region

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Kenyan army's abuse of authority and physical mistreatment of journalists trying to cover a military sweep against a civilian militia in the western Mount Elgon region, and calls on the civilian authorities to ensure that the rights of the media are respected.

Pakistan

New coalition government leaders pledge to remove media constraints within 100 days; Musharraf supports national dialogue to ease media-government confrontation

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a combined 14 and 15 March 2008 IFJ media release:

Sri Lanka

Journalists' home ransacked

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

Ukraine

Three former policemen convicted of murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze

(RSF/IFEX) - Ending a trial begun in January 2006, a Kiev court on 15 March 2008 found three former police officers - Mykola Protasov, Oleksandr Popovich and Valeri Kostenko - guilty of carrying out the 2000 murder of investigative journalist Georgiy Gongadze. As requested by prosecutors, Protasov was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The other two were sentenced to 12 years.

Tibet (China)

Journalists from six Hong Kong media outlets ordered out of Lhasa, placed under escort

(HKJA/IFEX) - On 17 March 2008, journalists from at least six Hong Kong media outlets were placed under escort and ordered out of Lhasa, Tibet.

Venezuela

Informal street vendors burst into newspaper's offices in Anzoategui, intimidate reporter following critical article

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 10 March 2008, a crowd of approximately 50 informal street vendors burst into the headquarters of the newspaper "La Prensa de Anzoategui" to complain about an article the newspaper had published denouncing the problems caused by informal street commerce in the city of Puerto La Cruz, state of Anzoategui, in northeastern Venezuela.

Tibet (China)

Authorities clamp down on information in Tibet, expel journalists in wake of eruption of violence

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

Mexico

Local newspaper harassed, denied advertising contracts by representative of Mexico City's Benito Juárez district

(CENCOS/IFEX) - "Libre en el Sur", a local free monthly newspaper distributed in the Benito Juárez district (DBJ) of Mexico City, has been harassed and pressured by the district's delegate, Germán de la Garza, and members of his team, for publishing interviews and articles critical of his administration and of the use of public funds. "Libre en el Sur" has a circulation of approximately 12,000, was founded in 2003, and is distributed in various neighbourhoods in DBJ. The district is home to an economically well-off segment of the population; therefore, its governance has considerable economic and political repercussion.

Pakistan

Gang raids Karachi Press Club as attacks on journalists continue

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 March 2008 IFJ media release:

Albania

Journalist assaulted, threatened by public official over article on false academic credentials

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2008 press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Sri Lanka

Threatened journalist's father, sister seriously injured by attackers threatening to kill her if she returns from hiding

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

Algeria

Journalist who wrote about alleged corruption charged, placed under judicial control

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is worried about a court decision in the city of Annaba (600 km east of Algiers) on 4 March 2008 to formally charge the national Arabic-language daily "Ennahar"'s correspondent, Noureddine Boukraa, and place him under judicial control as a result of a complaint by the region's public security chief.

Philippines

Suspects behind killing of journalist Marlene Esperat elude arrest

(CMFR/IFEX) - Two government officials suspected to be the intellectual authors of the killing of a journalist in 2004 have eluded arrest despite three week-old warrants for their arrest.

Uganda

Police warn station after court lifts ban on political radio shows; host, panelists charged with "defamation", "inciting violence"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 March 2008 CPJ press release:

The Gambia

Sedition trial against journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh delayed further

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 11 March 2008, the sedition trial against Fatou Jaw Manneh, a US-based Gambian journalist, was delayed further at the Kanifing Magistrate Court as the Magistrate, Babu Jawo, failed to show up in court.

Yemen

Newspaper banned; ARTICLE 19 condemns recurring attacks on free expression

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

Guinea-Bissau

Journalist detained briefly, interrogated by intelligence services following publication of article on army's involvement in police force promotions

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 11 March 2008, Atizar Mendes Pereira, journalist and director of "Última Hora", a privately-owned Bissau-based newspaper, was arrested and detained by the Intelligence Service of the Ministry of Interior of Guinea Bissau.

The Gambia

US-based online paper inaccessible from Gambia, deliberate blocking by government suspected

(MFWA/IFEX) - Since the beginning of March 2008, Gambians have been unable to access the "Freedom Newspaper" (http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/ ), an online Gambian newspaper based in the United States of America, which has been very critical of the administration of President Yahya Jammeh.

Argentina

Last member of French documentary crew allowed to leave country after paying bail

(RSF/IFEX) - On 12 March 2008, Bernaud Chaudot, producer of the "Vu du Ciel" television programme on the public network France 2, returned to France after being authorised to leave Argentina in return for paying 10,000 euros in bail. He was part of photographer and documentary-maker Yann Arthus-Bertrand's film crew, a dozen members of which were arrested on 20 February in Puerto Iguazú in northeastern Argentina.

Gabon

Newspaper suspended over report on president's wealth

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Palestine

Journalist arrested, held overnight by authorities as media workers increasingly at centre of dispute between Fatah and Hamas

(RSF/IFEX) - Journalists are being used to an unprecedented degree by the main political factions in the Palestinian Territories and around 10 have been arrested since the start of the year 2008. The media are at the centre of the dispute between the Islamist party Hamas, controlling the Gaza Strip and President Mahmoud Abbas' party, Fatah, in the West Bank.

Philippines

Supreme Court grants first writ of amparo ordering protection of journalist target of murder plot

(CMFR/IFEX) - On 11 March 2008, in a four-page resolution, the Supreme Court, sitting en banc, issued a writ of amparo in behalf of Nilo Baculo Sr., publisher of the community newsletter "Traveler's News" in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, a province about 140 kms south of Manila.

Burma

Cyber-dissidents continue activities despite barriers, threat of jail

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2008 Mizzima News press release:

Sri Lanka

IFJ rejects government's proposed national media policy, stresses need for independent media framework

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 11 March 2008 IFJ media release:

Sri Lanka

Another SLRC journalist attacked, admitted to hospital with injuries

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

Mexico

Demonstrators assault photographer covering march in Ecatepec

(CEPET/IFEX) - Jesús Agustín Martínez García, a photographer for "El Universal Gráfico" newspaper, was assaulted by demonstrators from the citizens' group Movimiento El Barzón Popular during a protest in the municipality of Ecatepec, in Mexico state in central Mexico on 10 March 2008.

Azerbaijan

Journalist, previously beaten over article on logging, stabbed in chest

(IRFS/IFEX) - On 13 March 2008, at 7:50 p.m. (local time), "Azadlig" newspaper correspondent Agil Khalil was stabbed in the chest as he was leaving the Azerbaijan Publishing House where his office is located.

Iran

CAPSULE REPORT: RSF appeals to future Parliament on eve of elections

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders urges those who win the 14 March 2008 elections for the unicameral parliament, the eighth since the Islamic revolution, to respect the international treaties ratified by Iran including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which it adopted in 1975. Press freedom is constantly being violated and eight journalists are currently detained, making Iran the Middle East's biggest prison for the press.

Iraq

Media executive shot to death in Baghdad street

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

Kuwait

Court strips two weekly newspapers of their licences, fines editors

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders deplores a Kuwait City criminal court's decision to withdraw the licences of two weekly newspapers, "Al-Abraj" and "Al-Shaab", in separate cases on 8 March 2008. The court fined "Al-Abraj" editor Mansur Ahmad Muhareb Al-Hayni and "Al-Shaab" editor Hamed Turki Abu Yabes 9,000 dinars (approx. 21,000 euros) each.

Malawi

Journalist arrested, briefly detained, his photographs confiscated

(MISA/IFEX) - A journalist working for Blantyre Newspapers Limited was arrested on 12 March 2008 and detained by the Police in Mzuzu for taking pictures of a group of people that had gathered outside offices of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), after a police officer was arrested.

Niger

Government suspends RFI over day of solidarity with imprisoned correspondent

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders regrets the 12 March 2008 decision by the High Council for Communication (CSC) to suspend local FM retransmission of the French public radio station Radio France Internationale (RFI) for three months for "discrediting" Niger's institutions by holding a day of solidarity with its imprisoned correspondent, Moussa Kaka, on 10 March.

Sri Lanka

Detained Tamil journalists badly beaten by police

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the fate of five Tamil journalists arrested by anti-terrorist police in Colombo in the past six days and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to explain why they are being held.

Turkey

"Günlük Evrensel" newspaper, BIANET facing charges for article on ultranationalist group; charges against "Cumhuriyet" for violating ban dismissed

(BIANET/IFEX) - Prosecutor Muhittin Ayata in Istanbul has ruled that the prohibition on publishing or printing articles on the operations against the ultranationalist group Ergenekon is "unjustified"; he also ended legal proceedings against "Cumhuriyet" newspaper for violating the ban.

Turkey

Various Diyarbakir authorities charged for publishing information in Kurdish or allowing language's use at public events

(BIANET/IFEX) - A number of municipalities and local mayors in Diyarbakir are facing criminal proceedings for using Kurdish in their communications with the public, or even for simply allowing it to be used by citizens during public events.

The Gambia

State agents fail to appear before regional court investigating journalist's arrest

(MFWA/IFEX) - Five state agents of The Gambia, who were summoned by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria in the ongoing case of a "disappeared" Gambian journalist on March 11, 2008, defied the court's order and failed to make an appearance.

Senegal / The Gambia

Exiled Gambian journalist escapes kidnapping attempt in Senegal

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 10 March 2008, Yahya Dampha, a Gambian journalist who is in exile in Senegal, escaped a kidnapping attempt by suspected agents of the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA) of The Gambia.

Burma

CAPSULE REPORT: ARTICLE 19 urges UN to act; criticism of draft constitution will net harsh penalties; "Myanmar Nation" journalists charged

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

Somalia

New media law contravenes international standards, says NUSOJ report

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - NUSOJ has released a report on the new media law that was passed by Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament on 8 December 2007.

International

UNESCO withdraws patronage for Online Free Expression Day

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2008 RSF press release:

Pakistan

Taliban order news vendors in North Waziristan to stop selling two daily newspapers containing "immoral photographs of women"

(PPF/IFEX) - The Taliban in Pakistan's Tribal Area bordering Afghanistan have warned newspaper vendors to stop selling two daily newspapers which they claim were publishing "un-Islamic and immoral photographs of women."

Pakistan

Journalists beaten while covering demonstration

(PPF/IFEX) - Journalists and camera operators were assaulted while covering clashes during a demonstration by women demanding the restoration of the judiciary. The demonstration was held in front of the Karachi Press Club on 12 March 2008.

Malaysia

Election results reflect voters' demand for democratic reforms and freedom of expression, says SEAPA

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The following is a SEAPA media statement:

Venezuela

Government sympathisers insult and hit journalists covering march in Valencia for peace in Colombia

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 6 March 2008, journalists from several media outlets were pushed around and hit by a group of supporters of President Hugo Chavez while covering a student demonstration for peace in Colombia. The event took place in the city of Valencia, in the state of Carabobo.

Iraq

French reporter stabbed in Kurdish region

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

United States

Appeals court delays imposition of punitive fines on reporter who refused to reveal sources

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

Democratic Republic of Congo

RSF denounces "disgraceful" appeal hearings in Maheshe murder trial

(RSF/IFEX) - The hearings in the appeal of four persons against their conviction for the murder of journalist Serge Maheshe are being conducted in a "disgraceful" manner by a military court in Bukavu, in the eastern province Sud-Kivu, Reporters Without Borders said on 12 March 2008. The news editor of UN-backed Radio Okapi's regional office, Maheshe was gunned down on a Bukavu street on 13 June 2007.

Bolivia

Ruling party sympathisers threaten to rape journalist in La Paz

(IPYS/IFEX) - The senior management of "La Razon" newspaper reported to IPYS that on the night of 6 March 2008 one of their journalists - whose name they preferred to keep confidential - was surrounded and threatened by a group of the ruling party's sympathisers, while she was covering a violent clash between members of President Evo Morales's party and anti-government demonstrators in a square in La Paz, the capital.

China

Another attack on Hu Jia's lawyer as authorities prepare for activist's trial

(RSF/IFEX) - Reiterating its call for the immediate and unconditional release of activist Hu Jia, Reporters Without Borders urged the international community, on 12 March 2008, to keep up the pressure in order to prevent him from being tried on a charge of inciting subversion of state authority.

Ethiopia

Marking its 16th anniversary, EFJA denounces dismal conditions for press freedom

(EFJA/IFEX) - The following is a 10 March 2008 EFJA press release:

Peru

Journalist assaulted in Huancabamba over coverage of mining conflict

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 March 2008, journalist Guillermo Guevara, host of the "Contacto Informativo" programme, broadcast on La Voz del Rondero radio station, was assaulted by a woman, apparently a member of the Segunda and Cajas United Front (Frente de Unidad de Segunda y Cajas), who threw stones at him. The incident took place in the city of Huancabamba in Piura region, currently the scene of a serious conflict over large-scale mining.

Mexico

CAPSULE REPORT:"Parallel powers" behind one third of attacks on free expression in 2007, says CEPET

(CEPET/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 10 March 2008 CEPET press release:

Afghanistan

Imprisoned journalist facing death sentence "in constant danger," says brother

(RSF/IFEX) - On 11 March 2008, Journalist Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi gave a news conference at Reporters Without Borders headquarters in Paris about the plight of his brother, Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, a fellow journalist who is under sentence of death in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan.

United States

Judge imposes severe fines in attempt to force journalist to reveal her sources; another journalist faces contempt of court charges

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns US federal judge Reggie Walton's decision on 7 March 2008 in Washington DC to fine former "USA Today" reporter Toni Locy up to US$5,000 a day to make her reveal her sources for stories in 2003 naming a former army scientist as a suspect in a series of anthrax attacks.

Brazil

Regional human rights commission should review illegitimate restrictions to freedom of expression, say ARTICLE 19 and others

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

Colombia

Television journalists mistreated in Medellín and Bucaramanga while covering marches against violence

(FLIP/IFEX) - On 6 March 2008, during the "March against violence" - a day of marches in different parts of the country, organised to protest against violence - several news crews covering the events of the day were assaulted or abused in other ways by some of the demonstrators, who shouted insults against the media and tried to damage their equipment.

Jordan

New restrictions on Internet cafés and violations of users' privacy

(HRinfo/IFEX) - HRinfo has denounced decisions announced by the Jordanian ministry of the interior increasing restrictions on internet cafés in Jordan, on the pretext of maintaining security, through installing cameras to monitor users of these cafés. HRinfo also emphasized that these procedures are a real retreat from freedom to use the Internet and the right to exchange information.

China

Human rights lawyer released after 41 hours of questioning; previously imprisoned activist prevented from giving interviews; writer forced to leave Beijing

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

Peru

Journalist detained by police; another assaulted by mayor

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 7 March 2008, journalist Raúl Sánchez, of the "Perú 21" newspaper, was detained for half an hour by police lieutenant Manuel Ríos Alvarado. The incident occurred at the gates of the Diroes Military Base in Lima, where the trial of former president Alberto Fujimori is being held.

Iran

Appeals court orders that novelist serve full term in prison; risk of re-arrest

(WiPC/IFEX) - WiPC has learned with alarm of the threat of re-arrest of novelist Yaghoub Yadali. He was sentenced on charges of "insult" in September 2007 to one year in prison, and nine months of the term were suspended. However, on 24 February 2008 an appeals court ordered that he serve the term in prison.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Editor of private newspaper abducted, detained in secret location following publication of articles about president's health

(JED/IFEX) - On 7 March 2008, Nsimba Embete Ponte, the editor of the privately-owned twice-weekly newspaper "L'interprète", published in Kinshasa, was abducted by unidentified armed men near a bus stop in the Kinshasa neighbourhood of Masina.

Guatemala / Gender

CERIGUA laments lack of women's participation in and access to the media

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2008 CERIGUA press release:

Guatemala

President may declassify military archives to shed light on fate of "disappeared" journalists

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 25 February 2008, during an event marking National Victims' Day, President Álvaro Colom broached the possibility of declassifying a number of military documents that would shed light on the fate of thousands of Guatemalans who disappeared during the years of internal armed struggle in the country. The president said his initiative is supported by a number of high-ranking military officers.

Sierra Leone

Journalists' group challenges libel laws used to silence critics

(MFWA/IFEX) - The following is a 3 March 2008 MFWA press release:

Peru

Journalists who investigated Chosica mayor threatened and harassed

(IPYS/IFEX) - Journalists Elizabeth Salinas, Raúl Vento and Rosanna Rivera, of the weekly newspaper "Conoeste", based in Chosica, eastern Lima, told IPYS that since 2004 they have been the victims of threats, surveillance and persecution by members of the district municipality of Lurigancho-Chosica. Mayor Luis Bueno Quino is reportedly behind the threats and intimidation.

Iran / Gender

Editor of Afghan women's magazine arrested, held without charge

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

Egypt

Website director detained in latest wave of media repression

(HRinfo/IFEX) - "The systematic campaign launched by the Egyptian government against opposition candidates and the Muslim Brotherhood to prevent them from running in the next local elections in Egypt should not divert attention from the increase in the number of prisoners of conscience," as stated on 9 March 2008 by HRinfo.

Burma

Problems with Internet access, international telephone communications coincide with UN mission, reports SEAPA

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Sources in Rangoon are reporting problems accessing the Internet in recent days. Exiled Burmese are also reportedly having a more difficult time than usual in calling into the country.

Guatemala

Seven journalists assaulted while covering police raid in Quetzaltenango

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On the night of 7 March 2008, correspondents Mynor Toc, of "Prensa Libre" newspaper, José Cancinos, of "El Metropolitano" local newspaper, Carlos Ventura of "Nuestro Diario" newspaper, Vinicio Tan, of radio station Stereo 100, Walter Albillo, of the Cable DX on-line news publication programme "Primera Línea", Antonio Uluan, of the "Noti7" news programme and Diego López of Canal 9 television station's "TVO" programme, were assaulted by members of the National Civil Police (Policía Nacional Civil) while they were covering a story about a police operation involving a raid on a home in Quetzaltenango department, 190 kilometers from the capital, Guatemala City.

Nicaragua

Sentence reduction for journalists' murderers concerns IAPA

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 7 March 2008 IAPA press release:

Nepal

Militants angered by coverage attack press vehicle, burn newspapers, injure worker

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES condemns an act of vandalism directed at a vehicle transporting newspapers for distribution in southern Nepal.

Sri Lanka

Journalists detained and questioned by Terrorist Investigations Department

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is an 8 March 2008 FMM press release:

China

Co-author of letter denouncing human rights violations reportedly abducted

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an 8 March 2008 HRW press release:

Canada

Four news media organisations appeal news blackout on terrorism case

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders supports the appeals against a news blackout on an alleged terrorism case which four Canadian and US news organisations brought before the Ontario court of appeal this week. The reporting restrictions, imposed by a Toronto judge, concern the ongoing bail hearings of 17 people who were arrested in 2006 on suspicion of participating in a terrorist plot.

International / Gender

ARTICLE 19 profiles women speaking out despite taboos and censorship

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

Sudan

Authorities restore censorship; RSF condemns "illegal and saddening" decision

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

Philippines

Suspect in 2004 killing of journalist surrenders as witness retracts testimony

(CMFR/IFEX) - The suspect in the 2004 killing of radio broadcaster Herson Hinolan surrendered on 5 March 2008 to the Kalibo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 7 in Aklan, after a key witness retracted his earlier testimony against the suspect. Aklan is approximately 345 km south of Manila.

Azerbaijan

"Azadlig" newspaper editor-in-chief sentenced at secret hearing to four years in prison for alleged "hooliganism"

(IRFS/IFEX) - IRFS condemns Yasamal District Court Judge Sudaba Mammedova's decision to imprison "Azadlig" newspaper editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahid for four years.

United Kingdom

House of Lords votes to abolish common law crimes of blasphemy and blasphemous libel

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 6 March 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Brazil

Police detain cameraman, confiscate equipment during land protest at frontier with Uruguay

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

Kenya

Due to fear, media "low-key, even timid" in their reporting on political crisis, says fact-finding mission report

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) -The following is a 4 March 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Sierra Leone

Publisher detained briefly, accused of "ridiculing" president

(MFWA/IFEX) - Silvia Blyden, publisher of "The Awareness Times", a privately-owned daily newspaper based in Freetown, was arrested and detained on 5 March 2008 by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the police in Sierra Leone for allegedly ridiculing President Ernest Bai Koroma.

China

Human rights activists Yu Changwu and Wang Guilin sentenced to "re-education through labour"; Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser prohibited from traveling

(RSF/IFEX) - On 8 March 2008 there will be exactly five months left to the start of the Beijing Summer Olympics but RSF is still awaiting evidence of real progress in human rights and press freedom such as the release of large numbers of prisoners of conscience and an end to the censorship of the news media and the Internet.

Sri Lanka

Media denies women voice, fails to inform public on women's issues, survey shows

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

Belarus

Newspaper under imminent threat of closure as appeals court upholds defamation verdict, high damages

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2008 CPJ letter to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko:

Ethiopia

Three journalists detained for 13 days on criminal defamation charges, their newspapers' equipment confiscated

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 6 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Brazil

Four military police officers arrested in journalist's murder

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF welcomes the announcement that four members of the military police were arrested on 4 March 2008 in connection with the May 2007 murder of Luiz Carlos Barbon Filho, a journalist based in Porto Ferreira, in São Paulo state, who contributed to the " Jornal do Porto", "JC Regional" daily and Radio Porto FM.

France

IPA condemns call for boycott of Paris Salon du Livre international book fair

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

China

Government steps up efforts to combat pollution through enabling access to environmental information

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Niger

Newspaper editor gets one-month prison sentence for comparing two court decisions

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders again reiterates its call for the release of Aboubacar Gourouza, the editor of the independent bimonthly "L'Eveil Plus", after a Niamey court sentenced him on 6 March 2008 to a month in prison for allegedly "discrediting" a court decision in an article in his newspaper by comparing the decision with one taken in a similar case.

Turkey

Lawyers demand change of judge in murder trial of three Zirve Publications employees

(BIANET/IFEX) - On 25 February 2008, hearings were held in the murder case of journalist Hrant Dink and in the separate case of three employees of Zirve Publications, also known as the "Malatya murders". The future of Turkey's democracy will be determined by the extent to which the shady connections in these murders are able to emerge.

China / Gender

Banned women writers continue to denounce injustices, risking arrest and lengthy imprisonment, says WiPC

(WiPC/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 4 March 2008 WiPC press release:

Venezuela

Television camera operator beaten by Aragua police for filming their assault of demonstrating taxi driver

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 3 March 2008, Globovision television station camera operator Carlos Caraballo was assaulted by 10 policemen while he covered a protest march organized by taxi drivers in the city of La Victoria, located in the state of Aragua, central Venezuela.

Nepal

Maoist cadres threaten to break legs and spine of "Nayen" weekly's chief editor

(FNJ/IFEX) - Nawaraj Pathik, chief editor of "Nayen" weekly, published in Ramechhap, was threatened with having his legs and spine broken by Maoist cadres on 5 March 2008 at Manthali, the district headquarters of Ramechhap district, in the eastern region of Nepal.

Pakistan

Live transmission of Supreme Court speech blocked in Karachi

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

Turkey

Suspects in journalist Hrant Dink's murder and their lawyer removed from court after anti-Armenian hate speeches, interference with testimony

(BIANET/IFEX) - At the fourth hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial on 25 February 2008, the court finally reacted to the intolerable behaviour of the defendants and their lawyer, Fuat Turgut.

Nepal

FNJ condemns mistreatment of five journalists by UN Mission staff in Bethan

(FNJ/IFEX) - Bhola Thapa, president of FNJ's Kavre chapter, Jagat Nepal and Khagendra Bhandari, news correspondents of Kantipur Television, Deep Rayamajhi, cameraperson of Kantipur Television, and Tika Bhatta, of "Kantipur Daily", were mistreated by the staff of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) on 3 March 2008, at Bethan in the Ramechhap district, located in the eastern region of Nepal.

Egypt

New proof of innocence of blogger imprisoned for insulting president

(HRinfo/IFEX) - On 3 March 2008, one year after blogger Kareem Amer was sent to prison, HRinfo stated that the campaign launched by some independent newspapers has proven that Kareem Amer is innocent of the charge for which he was convicted: insulting the president. Amer was sentenced to one year's imprisonment over an article that reported on an Islamic charity assembly in Damanhour city of Delta, stating that this assembly had described the president of the Republic as the "prince of believers" (like a Khalifa in old Islamic history).

Nepal

UN Mission staff abuse journalists in Bethan; community radio station vandalised in Panchthar

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES - a Kathmandu-based freedom of expression monitoring group - is concerned by the reports of abuses committed against journalists in Bethan by staff of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), and by an attack on a community radio station in Panchthar.

Sri Lanka

Librarian of state-owned television station SLRC wounded in razor attack

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

Algeria

Two journalists sentenced to prison, fined for criticising local official in appeal decision

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

Malaysia

Government restraints on expression ahead of elections will deny citizens a fair vote, says Human Rights Watch

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

Turkey

Writer on trial for referring to Armenian genocide, urging others to do the same

(BIANET/IFEX) - During a protest gathering to condemn journalist Hrant Dink's murder, writer Temel Demirer called on others to commit the same "crime" as Dink: to recognise the factuality of an "Armenian genocide." He is now facing trial under Articles 301 and 216.

Cuba

CPJ urges release of 22 imprisoned journalists in compliance with international accords recently signed

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Canada

PEN Canada concerned about parliamentary bill provisions that could subject film and television productions to censorship

(PEN Canada/IFEX) - The following is a 4 March 2008 PEN Canada letter Canadian Senator W. David Angus:

Russia

Freedom of expression remains under severe threat following presidential elections, says ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 4 March 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Philippines

Authorities prevent aerial coverage by television news network of rally against president

(CMFR/IFEX) - The governmental Air Transport Office (ATO) prevented aerial news coverage by a local television news network of one of the largest protest rallies against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on 29 February 2008. ATO declared the air space above Makati City, where the rally was held, a "no fly zone".

Serbia

Independent broadcaster's editor receives death threats as harassment campaign continues

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 4 March 2008 CPJ letter addressed to Serbian President Boris Tadic:

The Gambia

Criminal charges reinstated against former "Daily Observer" editor

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 25 February 2008, Mam Sait Ceesay, a former editor in chief of the "Daily Observer", a Banjul-based pro-government newspaper, was again arraigned before a Banjul Magistrate Court over charges of publishing false information.

Mexico

Journalists and allies in Culiacán protest impunity in colleague's murder, government inaction on violence in Sinaloa state

(CEPET/IFEX) - Journalists and social leaders recently demonstrated in Culiacán, Sinaloa state, northeastern Mexico, protesting against lack of safety in the area and demanding that the authorities do something about the situation. The demonstration was organised by the "7th of June" Journalists' Association (Asociación de Periodistas y Comunicadores "7 de Junio") and it also served to remind the federal and state authorities that the murder of journalist Oscar Rivera Inzunza remains unsolved. Rivera Inzunza was shot by unidentified individuals with high calibre weapons in Culiacán in September 2007. Although he was the Sinaloa state government's spokesperson on security issues at the time of his murder, Rivera Inzunza was also well known locally for his work as a journalist and was respected by his media colleagues because in his government position he facilitated their work and provided them with valuable information for their stories.

Iran

If she loses appeal, convicted Iranian-American journalist must choose between losing elderly mother's home and returning to serve sentence

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Canada

CJFE relieved by swift resolution to Lon Appleby subpoena case

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 3 March 2008 CJFE press release:

Tunisia

Police detain and beat journalists Sihem Bensedrine and Omar Mestiri

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has strongly condemned police who detained and beat Tunisian journalist, Sihem Bensedrine, president of the working group on press freedom in North Africa, and her husband, Omar Mestiri, managing editor of the newspaper "Kalima" on their arrival at la Goulette port on 3 March 2008.

Mexico

Journalist Brad Will's family conducting independent investigation into his killing, says official hypothesis "irrational"

(CEPET/IFEX) - Faced with a lack of progress in the investigation into their son's death, photojournalist Brad Will's parents announced at a 27 February 2008 press conference in Mexico City that they will begin their own investigation in order to find out what happened.

Armenia

Media ordered to cite only government sources; three websites, one radio station blocked

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Turkey

Lawyer and human rights activist on trial for statements made to German newspaper "denigrating the army"

(BIANET/IFEX) - The General Staff has charged lawyer and human rights activist Eren Keskin for "denigrating the army" under Article 301, and asked the Istanbul Bar Association to carry out a disciplinary investigation against her.

Mexico

Charges against Veracruz journalist to be dropped; federal police's abuses of him and colleague to be investigated

(CEPET/IFEX) - The federal Public Security Secretariat (Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, SSP) has announced in a press release that it would drop the charges filed against photojournalist Gabriel Huge Córdoba. The journalist, who works for the "Notiver" newspaper, distributed in the port city of Veracruz, capital of the state of the same name on the Gulf of Mexico, had been accused of "abusing authorities".

Cameroon

Newspaper publisher held incommunicado, reporters attacked as government steps up media crackdown

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns an escalation in repression of the privately-owned media with the 3 March 2008 arrest of Jacques Blaise Mvié, the publisher of the "La Nouvelle Presse" weekly, and several cases of physical violence against journalists covering a wave of street demonstrations against increases in the prices of fuel and basic staples.

Turkey

Owner and editor of Turkish-Armenian newspaper face prison sentences for "attempting to influence the judiciary"; their lawyers reject biased court

(BIANET/IFEX) - Lawyers for the Turkish-Armenian "Agos" newspaper have demanded that the case against owner Serkis Seropyan and editor Aris Nalci be heard by a different court, arguing that the current one "cannot be independent and neutral" because two of its judges were involved in sentencing Seropyan and Arat Dink in a case under Article 301.

Niger

Government refuses visa to RSF secretary-general

(RSF/IFEX) - The government of Niger has refused to provide Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard with a visa for a trip he was to have made to Niamey to participate in a special day of solidarity with the organisation's imprisoned correspondent, Moussa Kaka, which Radio France Internationale (RFI) is organising on 10 March 2008.

Chad

Presidential decree increases jail terms for press offences; IFJ calls for end to media crackdown

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 March 2008 IFJ media release:

Colombia

Venezuelan newspaper journalist assaulted by Maicao merchants

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 16 February 2008, journalist Daniela Bracamonte Rodríguez, correspondent in Colombia for the Venezuelan newspaper "Panorama", was hit and insulted by a group of merchants when she was working on a report on the lack of certain basic foodstuffs on the border area between Colombia and Venezuela. The incident took place in Maicao, Guajira department, northern Colombia.

Iran

Two journalists sentenced to prison, two others released on bail; monthly suspended

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release of Abolfazl Abedini Nasr of the weekly "Bahar Khozestan" on 18 February 2008 and Said Matinpour, a contributor to the weekly "Yarpagh", on 26 February, but condemns the prison sentences passed on 1 March on journalists Bahaman Ahamadi Amoee and Parnaz Azima, and the monthly "Asar Panjshanbeh"'s suspension by the Press Surveillance and Authorisation Commission.

Peru

Death threats and attempted frame-up of journalist linked to his investigation of drug lord Fernando Zevallos

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has appealed for more vigilance from the authorities, especially the Interior Ministry, following telephoned death threats against Miguel Ramírez of the Lima-based daily "El Comercio". Ramírez was also accused of "extortion" on 22 February 2008 by Luis Dávila, a detainee charged with drug trafficking who is believed to be in the pay of convicted drug kingpin Fernando Zevallos.

Argentina

French documentary crew's departure from country delayed for six days by suspicious legal wrangle; producer obliged to remain

(RSF/IFEX) - On 20 February 2008, French photographer and documentary film-maker Yann Arthus-Bertrand and ten members of his film crew were detained at the Puerto Iguazú airport, northeastern Argentina. The team was in the country to film a feature for the "Vu du Ciel" television programme, broadcast on France 2. They were brought before a judge who advised them that a complaint had been filed against them for fraud and prevented them from leaving the country.

Armenia

Opposition news agency sealed off; journalist arrested; non-government broadcasts to be severely curtailed, Internet and satellite reception cut, under state of emergency

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an abbreviated version of a 2 March 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Pakistan

Journalist killed in Swat valley suicide bombing, another injured and hospitalised

(RSF/IFEX) - Siraj Uddin, a correspondent of the English-language newspaper "The Nation", was one of at least 40 people who were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the funeral of a slain police officer on 29 February 2008, in Mingora, a city in the troubled Swat valley of the North-West Frontier Province that has been under a curfew since the start of 2008.

Peru

Journalists detained for videotaping police officers sleeping on duty at Iquitos jail

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 20 February 2008, reporter Carlos Vargas and cameraman Victor del Castillo, of Canal 19 television station, were detained by police captain Luis Sandoval while videotaping two police officers sleeping in a squad car while on duty at a jail in the city of Iquitos, Loreto region, northeastern Peru.

Mongolia

Civil servant blocks journalist's attempt to broadcast news

(Globe International/IFEX) - On 16 January 2008, a meeting was held at the State Center for Civil Registration in Bayan-Ulgii to discuss printing equipment that had been out of commission for a month. During the meeting, responsibility for the problem was placed on I. Lazat, the officer in charge of passport issues, and finance officer B. Saule.

Mexico

Police officers aim guns at photojournalist, interfere with him taking photographs of crime scene in Chihuahua

(CEPET/IFEX) - On the morning of 26 February 2008, State Ministerial Police (Policía Ministerial) officers threatened and aimed their guns at David Alvídrez López, a photojournalist for "El Diario" newspaper, which is published in the northern city of Chihuahua, capital of the state of the same name. At the time of the incident, Alvídrez López was covering the murder of Ricardo Chacón Ruiz, a ministerial police commander. The murder took place in a public area and is presumed to have been carried out by hired assassins.

Liberia

Radio journalist beaten by police officers, detained briefly

(CEMESP/IFEX) - Officers of the Liberia National Police assigned to the provincial city of Tubmanburg in Bomi county on 1 March 2008 flogged and briefly detained journalist Edwin Clarke of Truth FM Radio, located in Liberia's capital Monrovia.

Somalia

Armed forces raid offices of three radio stations, seize equipment, beat reporter; rocket hits station's building

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - The following is a 2 March 2008 NUSOJ press release:

Bolivia

Two journalists narrowly escape lynching in Cochabamba

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced alarm after privately-owned television station Red Bolivisión's reporter, Limberth Sánchez, and cameraman, Edson Jiménez, who were covering a village riot that ended in the lynching of three police officers, narrowly escaped the same fate themselves.

Tanzania

Detention of two website editors reportedly tied to posting of contested energy contract

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

Brazil

Federal Supreme Court opens way to final repeal of 1967 press law

(RSF/IFEX) - The judges of Brazil's highest legal jurisdiction, the Federal Supreme Court (STF), meeting in plenary session on 27 February 2008 confirmed their decision described as preliminary, proposed by judge Carlos Ayres Britto, on 21 February to suspend the application of 20 of the 77 articles of the 1967 press law. This law, inherited from the military dictatorship, provides for prison sentences for offences of "insult, denigration and defamation". The law is no longer applied at the federal level since it conflicts with the 1998 Constitution, but is still used effectively against journalists in some states. Reporters Without Borders welcomes this historic decision which marks an irreversible step towards decriminalisation of press offences.

Ecuador

Former editor of "El Telégrafo" tortured, murdered; robbery ruled out as motive

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF calls on the authorities to shed light on all aspects of the murder of newspaper editor Carlos Navarrete, who was found dead in his home in the southwestern city of Guayaquil on the night of 24 February 2008. The police originally thought robbery was the motive, but they have now ruled that out.

The Gambia

Magistrate court frustrates journalist's appeal

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 28 February 2008, an Appeal court in Banjul adjourned, for the second time, the case of Lamin Fatty, a Gambian newspaper journalist who has been convicted of publishing "false information".

Sri Lanka

Two more journalists targeted over coverage, criticism of December 2007 assault on state broadcaster

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

Colombia

Disturbing surveillance of Barrancabermeja journalist couple was preceded by scaling-back of security measures by interior ministry

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 16 February 2008, the bodyguards for Diro Cesar González and his wife, Tatiana Sánchez, the editor and manager, respectively, of the weekly "La Tarde", informed the police that the two journalists were being subjected to surveillance by a group of unidentified individuals. The incident took place in the municipality of La Mesa de los Santos, in Santander, northeastern Colombia, while the journalists were conducting an investigation for their newspaper. The authorities captured two men who claimed they were farmers. The two men were released after being questioned.

Paraguay

Journalists prevented from covering prosecutor general's meeting with opposition politicians about a murder

(SPP/IFEX) - The SPP condemns the actions taken by the national prosecutor's office (Fiscalía General del Estado) and the National Police against Diana González, of "Última Hora" daily newspaper, and Eduardo Quintana, of the daily "ABC Color". The organization regards the actions as a violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Tunisia

Journalist Slim Boukhdir's health getting steadily worse in Sfax prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is very worried about imprisoned journalist Slim Boukhdir's state of health after he staged an eight-day hunger strike in protest against the conditions in which he is being held. Arrested on 26 November 2007, the Al-Arabiya website's ( http://www.alarabiya.net ) correspondent is serving a one-year sentence in Sfax prison (230 km south of Tunis).

Colombia

Honda city councillor assaults woman television station director

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - On 27 February 2008, journalist Sandra Patricia Troncoso was assaulted by city councillor Osvaldo Martínez, in the city of Honda, Tolima department. The incident occurred at 1:15 p.m. (local time) just after Troncoso began videotaping the council session.

India

Armed vigilantes attack newspaper van, destroy entire cargo of the day's edition, set van ablaze

Armed vigilantes attack newspaper van, destroy entire

Niger

Editor charged and held in custody for defamation and "contempt of justice"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has protested at the arrest of Aboubacar Gourouza, editor of the independent bi-monthly "L'Eveil Plus" on 26 February 2008 by judicial police in Niamey, in connection with two articles, one relating to an alleged plot against the former prime minister.

Russia

Editor-in-chief of "Fakty s Argumentami" charged with criminal libel over critical articles about Elets mayor

(CJES/IFEX) - Criminal charges for "libel disseminated by a mass medium", a violation under Article 129 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, have been filed against Nikolai Sokolov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Fakty s Argumentami".

Russia

Reporters stranded at airport for two days, harassed

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Cameroon

Third broadcaster closed within a week over coverage

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Mexico

Photojournalist charged after being illegally detained and assaulted by PFP agents in Veracruz

(ARTICLE 19/CENCOS/IFEX) - On 24 February 2008, at about 2:00 p.m. (local time), Gabriel Huge Córdoba, a photojournalist for the NOTIVER news agency, was detained by the Federal Preventive Police (Policía Federal Preventiva, PFP) after covering an automobile accident involving PFP officers. Huge Córdoba was held for nearly four hours and subjected to physical violence as well as psychological pressure. He was accused of having abused the authorities. The incident took place in the state of Veracruz, which is located on the Gulf of Mexico. At the time of the incident, Huge Córdoba was covering an accident between a car and a PFP vehicle transporting individuals accused of murder.

Nepal

Four media professionals assaulted, injured in Gaur while covering police operation

(FNJ/IFEX) - Madan Thakur, a member of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Rautahat chapter, Arun Yadav of "Pratik Daily", Ramgir Mukhiya of "Matribhumi Daily" and Dinesh Sah of NTV television station were attacked by officers of the Armed Police Force on 26 February 2008 at Gaur, Rautahat district, located in the central region of Nepal.

Colombia

Journalist kidnapped in La Guajira while covering literacy group's activities; motives unknown; FARC deny responsibility

(FLIP/IFEX) - On the morning of 27 February 2008, an individual who identified himself as "Silfredo", spokesman for the 59th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Colombia's largest and oldest guerrilla group, called Caracol Radio station in Riohacha, capital of the department of Guajira, and stated that the FARC were not holding Mario Alfonso Puello, a journalist kidnapped 10 days earlier in that area, in northern Colombia.

Liberia

Legislative assistant sentenced to prison for expressing his views on bribery scandal

(MFWA/IFEX) - Without a legal counsel, Darius Dillion, assistant to Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, was on 26 February 2008 sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the Liberia House of Representatives, for expressing his views on a bribery scandal in the Lower House.

Serbia

Several journalists assaulted, injured in violent incidents following Kosovo's declaration of independence

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

Burma

Authorities charge detained editor, manager, for possessing UN report on Burma, video of protests

(Mizzima/IFEX) - A newspaper editor-in-chief and a manager who have been detained by Burmese authorities since 15 February 2008 were charged under the Printers and Publishers Registration Act and moved to the notorious Insein prison on 25 February, family members said.

Russia

Government steps up pressure to close down journalists' union

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Swaziland

Court stays execution of defamation judgement on magazine

(MISA/IFEX) - "The Nation" magazine of Swaziland has recorded a rare media victory in the country through a High Court decision to grant the publication a reprieve in a case in which they had been ordered to pay over US$15,000 for defamation.

Canada

Journalist subpoenaed to turn over notes for 1998 article

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2008 CJFE press release:

Fiji

Publisher's deportation linked to report on government minister's alleged tax evasion; PM warns media of limitations to constitutional guarantees on press freedom

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Zambia

Opposition party officials assault journalists, erase photographs from camera

(MISA/IFEX) - On 25 February 2008, two journalists from "The Post" newspaper were harassed by officials from a major opposition party, the United National Independence Party (UNIP), for allegedly covering wrangles that had ensued at the political party's headquarters in Lusaka.

Russia

For second time, reporter barred from entering country

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Chad

New press law, adopted by decree, increases penalties for offences and obstacles to starting a newspaper

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Chadian government's adoption of a new press law by decree on 20 February 2008. Instead of abolishing prison sentences for press offences, it makes them much longer, and it makes it harder to launch a newspaper.

Iraq

Head of Iraqi Journalists Syndicate dies from injuries sustained from targeted shooting

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Argentina

E-mail of journalist in Santa Rosa allegedly intercepted, his newspaper's website hacked

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has termed "an outrageous abuse of press freedom" a violation of the privacy of the e-mails of journalist Fernando Ayude, of the daily "La Arena" in Santa Rosa, La Pampa province in central Argentina.

Mexico

Military tell journalist not to write about their abusive raid on his home in Michoacán

(CEPET/IFEX) - Journalist Ignacio Roque Madriz, a Michoacán-based correspondent for "La Crónica de Hoy" newspaper, has complained that fifteen soldiers raided his home on 14 February 2008, during an apparent search for a kidnap victim. "La Crónica de Hoy" is published in Mexico City.

East Timor

Journalist beaten by security forces lodges formal complaint; government apologises for unjustified use of force

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

East Timor

Journalist and photographer detained, threatened by international peacekeepers; another photographer manhandled

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the action of the police in arresting and beating Agostinho da Costa, a "Timor Post" journalist, on the night of 22 to 23 February 2008 as he was travelling to the location in Kaikoli, near Dili, where his daily is printed in order to help prepare the next issue. He was freed the next day (see previous IFEX alert of 27 February 2008).

United States / Afghanistan

Afghan journalist designated "unlawful enemy combatant", no evidence disclosed by US military

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Brazil

Evangelical church loses two more lawsuits against São Paulo daily

(RSF/IFEX) - "A Folha de São Paulo" won two more court victories on 22 February 2008 against the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD), one of Brazil's most influential evangelical churches, which has launched some 60 lawsuits against the daily in a total of 20 states.

Central African Republic

Editor freed after receiving presidential pardon

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders hails Faustin Bambou's release on 23 February 2008 following an announcement on the national radio station that he had been pardoned by President François Bozizé. The editor of the privately-owned weekly "Les Collines de l'Oubangui", Bambou spent six weeks in prison.

East Timor

Security forces beat, detain media worker overnight for breaking curfew

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is alarmed to learn that East Timor security forces detained and assaulted a layout artist with a local daily, who violated the night curfew imposed after a state of emergency was declared following attacks on the country's top two leaders.

India

Two journalists ordered out of their car at gunpoint, subjected to full-body searches

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

Mexico

Federal police harass reporters in Chihuahua

(CEPET/IFEX) - Reporter Dulce Ramos and photojournalist and cameraman Marco Antonio Mendoza, of "El Diario" newspaper, were threatened by members of the Federal Preventive Police (Policía Federal Preventiva), who took away their video camera and aimed guns at them, when the two were covering a police operation in the city of Delicias, in Chihuahua, a state in northern Mexico, reported "El Diario" director Rubén Valles Mata to CEPET.

China

Serious health concerns for long-detained writers Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai; reports of ill-treatment

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned by recent reports of deteriorating health and lack of sufficient medical treatment for detained writers Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai, who are all serving lengthy sentences on subversion charges for their critical writings. PEN calls for them to be given all necessary medical care as a matter of urgency, and is alarmed at reports that two of the four have been ill-treated in detention. International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee considers all four to be detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

Croatia

Accused war criminal sues newspaper for alleged defamation; newspaper claims death threats linked to his release on bail

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a 26 February 2008 WAN letter to Croatian President Stjepan Mesić:

Peru

Journalist receives death threats, is falsely accused of attempting to blackmail jailed drug trafficker

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 23 February 2008, "El Comercio" newspaper, based in Lima, reported a failed attempt to implicate one of its journalists in blackmail. The attempt was carried out by Luis Dávila Melgarejo - an alleged drug trafficker currently in prison - and was directed at journalist Miguel Ramírez of the newspaper's investigative reporting unit.

Turkey

Two "peace mothers" detained for several hours by police after trying to talk to press

(BIANET/IFEX) - Two "peace mothers" were taken into custody by police on 14 February 2008 after trying to make a press statement in Taksim. They were released six hours later, after activists called for their release.

Zimbabwe

Government steps up hounding of independent press ahead of presidential elections

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced serious concern over a growing government crackdown on independent media with one month to go before presidential elections in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008.

Fiji

Newspaper editor deported

(PINA/IFEX) - The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has strongly condemned the deportation to Australia of "Fiji Sun" Editor in Chief Russell Hunter, by Fiji's interim government.

Sri Lanka

Authorities confiscate computer belonging to NGO head to check for "controversial" correspondence

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 25 February 2008 FMM press release:

Togo

Journalist "definitively suspended" from radio station for critical reporting

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 25 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Kyrgyzstan

Probe into journalist's murder suspended, conflicting reasons given

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2008 CPJ letter to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev:

Palestine

"Al Ayyam" manager receives suspended jail sentence over controversial cartoon; IPI calls on Hamas-led government in Gaza to lift distribution ban on newspaper

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 25 February 2008 IPI press release:

Niger

Three journalists interrogated following airing of story on kidnapped civilian

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 16 February 2008, Raliou Ahmed Assaleh, director of Radio Sahara, an independent radio station based in Agadez, a northern town 1000km from Niamey, and two other journalists, Moussa Inne and Ben Issoufou Mohammed were subjected to hours of interrogation by the Agadez Gendarmerie over a story the station had aired two days earlier.

Peru

Two "Jornada" newspaper journalists receive death threats in Ayacucho

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 February 2008, journalists Rocío Paredes and Walter Condorpusa, of "Jornada" newspaper, received an e-mail message threatening them with murder because of the way they had covered the violent acts that took place during the 20 February agrarian strike in the Ayacucho region, southern Peru, which ended with one hundred wounded civilians and four dead farmers.

Sri Lanka

Police assault TV journalist covering bomb blast in Colombo, refuse to register complaint

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 24 February 2008 FMM press release:

France

Appointment of minister's wife as head of international public broadcaster criticised

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2008 media release from the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), an IFJ regional group:

Brazil

Twenty Press Law articles deemed incompatible with constitution

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Mexico

Newspaper in Ciudad Juárez informed of bomb threat, only weeks after death threat against one of its journalists

(CEPET/IFEX) - Employees of the newspaper "Norte de Ciudad Juárez", based in the border city of Juárez in the state of Chuihuahua, were obliged to evacuate the daily's facilities on 19 February 2008, due to a bomb threat, CEPET has learned from its editor-in-chief, Guadalupe Salcido.

Nepal

Eighteen publications in Jhapa stop operations after strike disrupts access to materials; journalist in Rautahat injured by police while covering clashes

(FNJ/IFEX) - The FNJ has called for action from the authorities on two separate developments, one in the Terai region and the other in the Rautahat region.

Chad

Au moins trois journaux en grève et le syndicat des radios appelle à suspendre leur programmation en signe de protestation contre l'état d'urgence

(RSF/IFEX) - Après une semaine d'état d'urgence, instauré le 15 février 2008, Reporters sans frontières constate le bilan désastreux des mesures prises par le gouvernement et leurs conséquences dramatiques pour la presse indépendante. Comité de censure des médias, grève des journaux privés, suspension de certains programmes radiophoniques sur des stations privées, propos agressifs du ministre de la Communication envers la presse indépendante: même après le retrait des rebelles de la capitale N'Djamena, la répression gouvernementale continue de sévir.

Pakistan

Independent broadcaster Aaj TV briefly shut down again

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Brazil

"A Tarde", "Extra" and their journalists also targets of barrage of lawsuits by evangelical church's members; IAPA warns of attempt to silence media

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 20 February 2008 IAPA press release:

Belarus

Supreme Court reduces editor's jail sentence but maintains conviction on charges of inciting religious hatred

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Indonesia

"Time" magazine appeals US$106 million damages award in Suharto defamation suit

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders urges Indonesia's Supreme Court to act logically and to quickly quash a September 2007 decision ordering "Time" magazine to pay the now deceased former dictator Suharto US$106 million in damages. "Last year's ruling in favour of Suharto has undermined the ability of the courts to defend press freedom and this must be restored as quickly as possible," the organisation said.

Argentina

Arson attack on radio news programme host's car a "gangster-style message", says victim

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns an arson attack on the car of news programme host Carlos Carvallo of FM Show radio station in Garupá, in the northeastern province of Misiones, who has often spoken on the air about shady financial dealings allegedly involving the mayor of a neighbouring town. The car was dowsed with petrol and set on fire on 19 February 2008 while parked in the garage of his home.

Azerbaijan

Journalist assaulted while investigating environmental destruction

(IRFS/IFEX) - IRFS is concerned about the beating and alleged attempt to kill "Azadlig" newspaper correspondent Agil Khalil.

Iraq

Journalists' union leader shot following criticism of attacks on media by extremists

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 23 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Serbia

Independent broadcaster B92 threatened, besieged

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Malaysia

Newspapers compelled to engage in self-censorship of election campaign coverage by delays in licence approvals

(SEAPA/IFEX) - SEAPA is concerned that the fate of two newspapers in Malaysia is being left hanging by the authorities following the expiration of their licences, and that this has had a debilitating effect on their coverage of news in the run-up to the nationwide elections.

Russia

Journalist faces possible criminal charges for comparing Putin to Hitler

(CJES/IFEX) - On 18 February 2008, the Federal Service for the Supervision of Mass Media, Communication and Protection of Cultural Heritage (Rossvyazokhrankultura) asked the prosecutor's office to file criminal charges against Igor Averkiyev, the author of an article entitled "Putin: Our Good Hitler," and the newspaper "Za Cheloveka", which published the article.

Venezuela

Portuguesa state police shoot at and beat journalists to prevent coverage of violent suppression of demonstration in Ospino

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 19 February 2008, police in Portuguesa state, central Venezuela, shot at the journalists who were covering a demonstration by informal small businessmen in the city of Ospino. The police were in the process of violently quelling the demonstration, during which over 40 were wounded, including the mayor of Ospino. The press went to interview the wounded. An unidentified police major then ordered the police to fire upon the journalists. Journalist Iliana Arias, of the newspaper "Diario Cantaclaro", was chased and shot at, but was not harmed. Journalist Carlos Quintero and camera operator Neiber Guillén, of the Portuguesa Televisión station, were beaten by the police.

Nigeria

Newspaper editor reportedly harassed by police following publication of allegedly defamatory advertisement

(MRA/IFEX) - On 21 February 2008, the management of a Lagos-based national daily newspaper, "The Nation" alleged that its editor, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho was being harassed by policemen. The legal adviser of the newspaper, Folake Adeoye, said the policemen came from Ekiti State in South-west Nigeria.

Liberia

War crime activist arrested to prevent him from petitioning visiting US president

(CEMESP/IFEX) - On 21 February 2008, police in Monrovia arrested and briefly detained an activist seeking to petition visiting US President George W. Bush to promote the establishment of a war crimes court for Liberia.

Somalia

Soldiers raid newspaper office, confiscate equipment

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has condemned the attack carried out by armed forces of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) on the offices of "Waayaha Press", a Mogadishu-based privately-owned weekly newspaper.

Armenia

Journalists beaten, prevented from taking photographs in violence at polling stations

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

Palestine

"Al-Ayyam" editor and cartoonist receive suspended six-month sentences for cartoon deemed offensive; distribution of newspaper banned in Gaza

(RSF/IFEX) - On 20 February 2008, Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard wrote to the Hamas government's Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, about a ban on the daily "Al-Ayyam" in the Gaza Strip:

Cameroon

Communication minister suspends privately-owned TV station

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the government to explain the suspension of Equinoxe TV, a privately-owned station based in the commercial capital of Douala, on 21 February 2008. Communication minister Emmanuel Béyiyi Bi Essam said it was being shut down for failing to pay the required bond of 100 millions CFA francs (approx. 150,000 euros) for an operating licence.

Egypt

Information minister bans distribution of four foreign newspapers

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Egyptian government's decision on 19 February 2008 to ban four foreign newspapers that reprinted some of the cartoons that were published by 17 Danish newspapers on 13 February in a show of solidarity on the issue of freedom of expression.

Afghanistan

Security officials at prison threaten journalists with guns; weekly forced to relocate following death threats

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

Brazil

Teacher sentenced for publishing article criticising prison conditions

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 21 February 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Turkey

Prime minister sues magazine over satirical illustration of him; previous lawsuits against four others struck down

(BIANET/IFEX) - The weekly satirical cartoon magazine "Leman" has again been targeted by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Nepal

Kantipur media group's vehicle and newspapers torched by FLSC activists in retaliation for coverage

(FNJ/IFEX) - A vehicle of Kantipur Publications and 8,000 copies of "Kantipur" and "The Kathmandu Post" dailies were burnt by cadres of the Federal Limbhuwan State Council (FLSC) at around 5 a.m. (local time) on 20 February 2008 on the Surunga - Birtamod road, in the eastern region of Nepal.

Turkey

Publisher sentenced to five months' imprisonment for writing Kurdish-language petition, also on trial for publishing book

(BIANET/IFEX) - The Istanbul First Criminal Court of Peace has sentenced publisher Mehdi Tanrikulu of Tevn Publications to five months' imprisonment because he wrote a petition in Kurdish complaining about a prosecutor in Diyarbakir, and because he spoke Kurdish at his trial. He will appeal the sentence.

Fiji

Court summons editor and activist over article criticising appointment of judges

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Fiji appeal court's harassment of Leone Cabenatabua, the editor of the "Fiji Sun", and Virisila Buadromo, the head of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement, who were summoned and warned by the court on 12 February 2008 because of an article quoting Buadromo in that day's issue criticising the military-led government's appointment of new judges to the court.

Morocco

Journalist Mostapha Hurmatallah sent back to prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced dismay on learning that reporter Mostapha Hurmatallah of the Arabic-language weekly "Al Watan Al An" was sent back to prison on 19 February 2008 as a result of a decision by the country's court of final appeal on 13 February confirming a seven-month prison sentence. Hurmatallah had been on conditional release.

Nigeria

Newspaper reporter freed on bail after being held for 12 days

(RSF/IFEX) - Tunde Raheem, "The Sun" newspaper's correspondent in the southwestern state of Ondo, was freed on bail on 19 February 2008 after being unjustly detained for 12 days, Reporters Without Borders has learned.

China

Police step up surveillance of jailed human rights activist's family

(RSF/IFEX) - After imprisoned human rights activist Hu Jia was formally charged on 29 January 2008, police stepped up surveillance of the home he shares with his wife in a Beijing apartment building. The police took over an apartment (No. 552) near the couple's apartment (No. 542) and three security cameras were installed in the grounds of the complex. Between four and eight policemen continue to be stationed permanently at the entrance of the building.

Sri Lanka

Police say murdered journalist was paid military informant; FMM demands open investigation

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 19 February 2008 FMM press release:

Russia

Human Rights Watch executive denied entry visa

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Sudan

Two editors held overnight; five others summoned

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 20 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Sierra Leone

Editor detained briefly, released on bail

(MFWA/IFEX) - Jonathan Leigh, managing editor of the "Independent Observer", a Freetown-based newspaper, was arrested and briefly detained in a police cell on 15 February 2008, for allegedly defaming Minister of Transport and Aviation Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay. The journalist was detained following a court order.

Philippines

Government warnings not to air president's wiretapped conversation an impermissible restraint on press freedom, says Supreme Court

(CMFR/IFEX) - The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that threatening statements from the Justice Secretary and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) warning media not to air a wiretapped conversation between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and an elections commissioner constituted "impermissible forms of prior restraints on the right to free speech and press."

Cameroon

Two newspaper journalists freed after being held for five days

(RSF/IFEX) - Jean-Bosco Talla, the deputy editor of the privately-owned weekly "Le Front", and Hervé Kémété, a trainee journalist, were released on 15 February 2008 after being held for five days. They were arrested on 10 February in the southern town of Zoétélé while investigating property owned by several senior politicians.

Grenada

Information minister steps in, prevents Jamaican journalist from being expelled

(RSF/IFEX) - Grenadian information minister Einstein Louison announced on 18 February 2008 that he intervened personally to allow Jamaican journalist Tenesha Thomas of the regional news agency Caribupdate to continue working in Grenada.

Cuba

Four dissidents arrested during "Black Spring", including a journalist, released

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release on 15 February 2008 of four dissidents who were arrested during the "Black Spring" crackdown of March 2003. They include independent journalist Alejandro González Raga, 48, who was serving a 14-year prison sentence. The four arrived in Madrid on the afternoon of 17 February.

Philippines

Judge upholds court's jurisdiction over Esperat murder case

(CMFR/IFEX) - A Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge denied on 18 February 2008 a motion by two defendants accused of masterminding the murder of journalist Marlene Esperat. The motion sought to quash the charges filed by the state prosecutor against them on 1 February 2008. Cebu is a province located approximately 562 km south of Manila.

Belarus

Government frees opposition writer Andrei Klimau

(RSF/IFEX) - Writer and opposition activist Andrei Klimau was released on 15 February 2008, well before completion of a two-year sentence, in what appears to be a government gesture aimed at improving relations with the European Union.

Azerbaijan

Prosecutor requests five-year sentence for detained editor of leading opposition newspaper

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is shocked to learn that a prosecutor has called for a five-year jail sentence for Ganimat Zahidov, the editor of one of the leading opposition dailies, "Azadlig", on a charge of "aggravated hooliganism" under article 127.2.3 of the criminal code. Zahidov's trial began in Baku on 8 January 2008.

International

CIHRS condemns satellite broadcast regulatory principles adopted by Arab League

(CIHRS/IFEX) - The following is an 18 February 2008 CIHRS press release:

Colombia

Two journalists victims of suspicious and intimidating surveillance in Barrancabermeja

(FLIP/IFEX) - Diro César González and his wife, Tatiana Marcela Sánchez, respectively the director and manager of "La Tarde" weekly newspaper, which is based in the city of Barrancabermeja, an oil port in Santander department, report that they were followed in a suspicious manner on 16 February 2008. This incident occurred amid irregularities in the operation of the couple's protection programme.

Mexico

Sinaloa State Prosecutor not to press charges in case of journalist's harassment by military officers

(ARTICLE 19/CENCOS/IFEX) - The following is a joint 15 February 2008 ARTICLE 19 and CENCOS press release:

Burma

CAPSULE REPORT: Arrests, detentions of journalists, activists highlight junta's intolerance of free expression, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 19 February 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Turkey

Journalist released after two nights in jail for "insulting" former vice-governor of Mus province

(BIANET/IFEX) - A journalist sentenced to a jail term of one year and nine months for alleging the involvement of former Mus Vice-Governor Ibrahim Kücük in corruption, has been released after spending only two nights and a day in prison following a court review under the new Turkish Penal Code, which pronounced him not guilty. Mus is a province in eastern Turkey.

Russia

CAPSULE REPORT: New NGO regulations are "choking" independent activism, dissent, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 20 February 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Uganda

Community radio presenter raped and killed

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is deeply shocked by the death of Rebecca Wilbrod Kasujja, the presenter of a morning show on community radio station Buwama FM in the central district of Mpigi. The Uganda Journalists Union said she was raped and killed by unidentified assailants on the morning of 17 February 2008.

China

Activist detained for past eight months, allegedly tortured, on trial for petition against illegal land seizures

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 19 February 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Mexico

Two journalists assaulted in Oaxaca, accused of spying for government, as press climate continues to deteriorate

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - Photographers Hugo Velasco and Jorge Luis Plata, of the newspapers "Periódico Noticias de Oaxaca" and the "Imparcial", respectively, were assaulted by a group of protestors belonging to section 22 of the national educators union (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación, SNTE).

Croatia

Journalist investigating war crimes receives death threat

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Pakistan

Curbs on journalists hamper election reporting, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 16 February 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Venezuela

Radio journalist beaten by crowd angered by his linking of local resident to Colombian guerrilla group

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 6 February 2008, journalist Rafael Mejía was beaten by a group of 15 people while he was broadcasting his radio programme "Para estar allá", in which he reads and comments upon the news as printed by local newspapers. His programme is carried on the station Radio Mara Ritmo 900 AM of Maracaibo, in the state of Zulia, northwestern Venezuela.

Philippines

Judge denies petition by journalists seeking to prevent media arrests during crisis situations

(CMFR/IFEX) - On 8 February 2008, a Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge denied a petition by journalists to extend a previously granted 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the police, the military and other government agencies from threatening or arresting journalists and media practitioners during crisis situations.

Peru

Two journalists assaulted, others harassed or their work impeded, in different regions

(IPYS/IFEX) - IPYS is concerned about various acts of aggression, intimidation and obstruction of access committed against journalists in different regions of the country between 7 and 16 February 2008.

Sri Lanka

Journalist target of intimidation, surveillance following reports on corruption

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 17 February 2008 FMM press release:

Mexico

Federal police oblige reporter to erase photographs of their activities in Saltillo

(CEPET/IFEX) - Federal Investigations Agency (Agencia Federal de Investigaciones, AFI) agents briefly detained reporter Jorge Sosa del Bosque, of the Saltillo-based newspaper "El Heraldo", and Raúl Coronado Garcés, of the Torreón-based newspaper "La Opinión Milenio", on 12 February 2008, and obliged them to erase from their digital cameras photos that they had taken of the police agents rounds on the streets of Saltillo, the capital of northern state Coahuila.

Colombia

Critical radio journalist receives death threat in Cartagena

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - "If you don't shut up, we'll kill you!" was the telephoned message journalist Alberto Borda Martelo received on 14 February 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (local time) in the city of Cartagena. The caller mentioned a series of criticisms the journalist had made on irregularities in the previous municipal government, especially in the building of hospitals.

Burma

Two newspaper journalists arrested, their offices searched, material seized

(Mizzima/IFEX) - Two journalists from the Rangoon-based weekly publication "Myanmar Nation" were arrested on 15 February 2008. Local authorities from Thingangyun Township, Rangoon, came to the publication's offices and took away chief editor Thet Zin and manager Sein Win Maung.

Cambodia

Newspaper editor seriously injured in hit-and-run attack following threats over article on illegal gambling

(SEAPA/IFEX) - SEAPA is concerned to learn that an editor of a weekly newspaper in the capital, Phnom Penh, was seriously injured in an attack apparently over his work.

Afghanistan

Local journalist detained by U.S. military forces for almost three months without charge

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Nigeria

Journalist arrested while investigating murder, still detained 12 days later

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF calls for the release of Tunde Raheem, "The Sun" newspaper's correspondent in the southwestern state of Ondo, who has been held by police in the neighbouring state of Ekiti since 6 February 2008.

Thailand

Popular radio programme cancelled after host refutes prime minister's version of crackdown; government plans task force to monitor news

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 15 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Sri Lanka

FMM protests abuse of journalists by police, civil defense committees

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 13 February 2008 FMM letter to Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police Victor Perera:

Egypt

Released by the courts, novelist continues to be held under new charges

(HRinfo/IFEX) - The El Arish Partial Court issued a decision on 16 February 2008 to free the novelist and activist Musaad Suleiman Hassan, a.k.a. Musaad Abu Fagr. This is the third such court ruling within a week.

Nepal

Journalists attacked in four separate incidents involving security personnel, political groups

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 13 February 2008, Ganesh Sah, a news correspondent with Janaki FM, was attacked by security personnel in Golbazar, Siraha, a district in the east.

China / International

RSF decries Slovenian sports minister's recommendation that Olympic athletes avoid talking about human rights in Beijing

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is outraged by Slovenian sports minister Milan Zver's recommendation, made on 14 February 2008 in an interview for the Associated Press, that Olympic athletes avoid talking about human rights while they are in Beijing.

Sudan / Chad

Privately-owned press caught up in proxy war

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned harassment and censorship of the privately-owned press by the governments of Chad and Sudan after rebels, which N'Djamena accuses of being in the pay of Khartoum, launched an offensive against the Chadian capital.

Sierra Leone

WAN welcomes government's announcement that it will decriminalise libel

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

Slovakia

ARTICLE 19 urges authorities to remove content restrictions, revise system of corrections/replies in draft press law

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

Venezuela

Protestors assault journalists in Valencia

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 12 February 2008, a group of reporters was assaulted by a crowd of protesters that burst into the State of Carabobo's Legislative Council in the town of Valencia, central Venezuela. The demonstrators were interrupting the Council session to demand that the legislators approve the granting of credit for the construction of homes.

Azerbaijan

Journalist receives death threats following publication referring to high-ranking officials' crimes

(IRFS/IFEX) - "Nota Bene" newspaper journalist Faramaz Allahverdiyev (Novruzoglu), who was recently released from prison on a presidential pardon, has now received death threats related to his writing.

Grenada

Jamaican journalist detained briefly, faces expulsion order

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has expressed shock at the treatment of Jamaican national, Tenesha Thomas, of the regional news agency Caribupdate, who was arrested on 14 February 2008 on the grounds that her visa had expired and told she would be expelled on 15 February.

Cameroon

Two journalists held incommunicado after trying to photograph homes of top politicians

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the detention of Jean-Bosco Talla, the deputy editor of the privately-owned weekly "Le Front", and one of his reporters, Hervé Kémété. They have been held incommunicado since their arrest on 10 February 2008 in the southern town of Zoétélé, to which they had gone to photograph the property owned by several senior officials and politicians including the defense minister.

Sri Lanka

Thousand-strong march to protest escalating attacks "the strongest show of solidarity for media freedom in recent times," says IFJ

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

Mexico

Journalist disappears in Michoacán state

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 14 February 2008, the disappearance of reporter Mauricio Estrada Zamora, of two Michoacán state-based newspapers - "La Opinión de Apatzingán" and "La Opinión de Michoacán" - in southern México, was reported.

Philippines

Vice president "jokes" about killing reporter

(CMFR/IFEX) - The Philippine's second highest government official said that he was "just joking" when he ordered his bodyguard to kill a tabloid reporter on 13 February 2008, after the latter repeatedly asked whether he was ready to assume the presidency if President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo resigned or was removed from office.

Thailand

CPJ concerned about proposed new media task force, minister's comments on new public broadcaster

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ letter to Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej:

Burundi

Group of demobilised soldiers raids privately-owned radio station

(JED/IFEX) - On 1 February 2008, a group of individuals including five demobilised soldiers of the Burundian army raided Radio publique africaine (RPA), a privately-owned radio station based in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. Witnesses told JED that "the demobilised soldiers belonged to the faction of the Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie-Force pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD-FDD)", the ruling party.

Sierra Leone

Journalist charged with defamation under repressive law that government had pledged to amend

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders deplores the transport and aviation minister's use of a repressive law - which his government promised to amend - to prosecute Jonathan Leigh, the editor of the Freetown-based weekly "The Independent Observer".

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist sentenced to one-year prison term and fined for making "damaging allegations"

(JED/IFEX) - On 12 February 2008, Justin Kabasele, a journalist with Radio-Télévision Kasaï Horizons (KHRT), a privately-owned broadcaster based in Mwene-Ditu, the second largest city of eastern Kasaï province (central DR Congo) was sentenced to a one-year prison term and a 750,000 CF (approx. US$1,400) fine for making "damaging allegations" by a Mwene-Ditu court.

The Gambia

Sierra Leonean freelance journalist flees country following death threats, attacks, prior imprisonment and torture

(MFWA/IFEX) - Muhamed Oury Bah, a Sierra Leonean journalist and former reporter of the banned Banjul-based "The Independent" newspaper, has fled The Gambia in the face of persecution by agents of the notoriously feared National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He was in the country as a refugee, working as a freelancer.

Bangladesh

Journalist Tasneem Khalil released after brutal torture by military; government not addressing endemic torture, warns Human Rights Watch

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

International

RSF criticises lack of public commitment to press freedom, fears upcoming anti-media violence

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 13 February 2008 RSF press release:

United States

Freedom House concerned about eavesdropping law, attempt to make it permanent

(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is a 13 February 2008 Freedom House press release:

Venezuela

Legislators allege Globovisión television station is "damaging the image" of president, call for investigation

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Liberia

CEMESP calls for further investigation of murder plot against journalist as details emerge of corruption and bribery during probe

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

Mauritania

Appeals court upholds one-year prison sentence for editor accused of defaming businessman

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 11 February 2008, an appeals court in Nouakchott confirmed the one-year prison sentence imposed on Abdel Fettah Ould Abeidna, managing editor of the "Al-Aqsa" newspaper, for defaming businessman Mohamed Ould Bouammatou.

International

Arab Charter for satellite TV a major setback to press freedom in region, says ARTICLE 19

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

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist released after spending 34 days in Kinshasa central prison

(JED/IFEX) - Maurice Kayombo, a journalist with "Les Grands Enjeux", an investigative magazine published in Kinshasa, was released on 12 February 2008, after spending 34 days in detention. The journalist told JED that he was released by order of the new justice and human rights minister.

Pakistan

Bomb blast injures five journalists as tensions rise in lead-up to national elections

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

Iran

Writer and student leader Amin Ghazaei detained, fears of ill-treatment and health concerns

(WiPC/IFEX) - The WiPC of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of writer and activist Amin Ghazaei, who has been held incommunicado without charge since 14 January 2008. He is among scores of student activists to have been detained in December 2007 and Janaury 2008. WiPC fears that he may be detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to free expression.

Mexico

ARTICLE 19 concerned over silence of government, UN human rights commissioner, in light of press freedom deterioration

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 12 February 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Turkey

State connections to murder of journalist Hrant Dink being ignored, warns BIANET; defamation case against Dink's lawyer dismissed

(BIANET/IFEX) - There is continuing reluctance by the authorities to link the different trials in Trabzon, Samsun and Istanbul concerning the murder of journalist Hrant Dink. Senior police and gendarmerie officers are still not on trial.

Yemen

Security forces lay siege to editor's home

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Denmark

Arrests foil plot to assassinate creator of controversial cartoon

(CRN/IFEX) - The following is a 12 February 2008 CRN press release:

Iraq

Abducted journalist found dead

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 February 2008 CPJ press release:

France

Plan to strip broadcaster of commercial revenue promotes fears for future of public broadcasting

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

Bolivia

IAPA concerned over article of draft Constitution calling for media "truthfulness and responsibility"

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is an 11 February 2008 IAPA press release:

Mexico

Newspaper director accuses congressman of harassment over critical article in Hidalgo

(CEPET/IFEX) - Edmundo Pineda, director of the Pachuca, Hidalgo-based local newspaper "El Reloj", has accused federal congressman Daniel Ludlow Kuri of harassment following the 11 February 2008 appearance of graffiti and posters on the walls of his newspaper's office building.

Rwanda

Two independent journalists sentenced for alleged defamation

(JED/IFEX) - On 8 February 2008, a Nyarugenge court sentenced Charles Kabonero and Didas Gasana, managing editor and editor-in-chief, respectively, of "Umuseso", a privately-owned weekly newspaper published in Kigali, the capital city, to a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years, and a one million Rwandan franc (approx. US$2,000) fine.

Colombia

Journalist receives death threat, is repeatedly harassed, following critical articles on Melgar mayor

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - At 11:00 p.m. (local time) on 7 February 2008, journalist Rogelio Prado Rodríguez found an envelope containing four death notices inviting him to his own funeral. These kinds of notes are commonly understood to be death threats. The notes, similar in appearance to the posters commonly posted in public in Colombia to announce funerals, were sent to him at his apartment in Ibagué, capital of Tolima department, where he had taken refuge after being threatened in the town of Melgar.

Niger

In "baffling" decision, appeals court keeps journalist Moussa Kaka in detention and gives green light to prosecutors

(RSF/IFEX) - On 12 February 2008, a Niamey criminal appeal court rejected a request for the release of journalist Moussa Kaka and ruled that the transcripts of controversial telephone taps can, after all, be used as evidence against him, allowing prosecutors to proceed with their case, one of his lawyers, Moussa Coulibaly, said.

Colombia

Presentadora radial Vicky Dávila amenazada en oleada de agresiones contra periodistas

(SIP/IFEX) - Lo que sigue es un comunicado de prensa de la SIP, con fecha del 11 de febrero de 2008:

Colombia

Radio news anchorwoman Vicky Dávila threatened amid flood of aggression against journalists

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is an 11 February 2008 IAPA press release:

Yemen

Syrian singer receives violent warning against performing concert; harassment and blockage of website continues

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

Burma

Censorship board warns print media not to post material online without approval

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The Press Scrutiny Board, a division under Burma's Ministry of Information, recently summoned periodical and journal editors to its office in the former capital Rangoon to warn them from inserting in their web edition articles and news reports that have not been checked by the censors.

India

Television station director fired upon; IFJ urges investigation

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

Cuba

Student arrested after asking critical questions at public event

(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is an 11 February 2008 Freedom House press release:

Burma

Without free expression referendum on new Constitution will be a sham, says Human Rights Watch

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an 11 February 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Iraq

Two CBS News journalists missing in Basra

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 11 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Turkey / Gender

Media group sues nationalist newspaper for making two of its women journalists public targets of hatred

(BIANET/IFEX) - The Dogan media group is filing a suit against the nationalist "Halka ve Olaylara Tercüman" ("Interpreter of the People and Events") newspaper for making two of its journalists, Perihan Magden and Ece Temelkuran, public targets of hatred.

Turkey

Journalist Ibrahim Tig acquitted after five-year trial

(BIANET/IFEX) - After questioning the expenditures of a district governor in the Devrek district of Zonguldak, journalist Ibrahim Tig, who writes for "Bölge Haber" ("Regional News"), published in the same district, faced a five-year long trial before being acquitted on 30 January 2008.

Egypt

Appellate court upholds conviction of Al-Jazeera reporter but strikes down prison sentence

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

Peru

Journalist threatened with murder after criticising Puno's regional president

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 8 February 2008, three hooded persons burst into the broadcasting booth of Radio Sudamericana radio station and threatened to kill journalist Pedro Mamani Zela while he was on air hosting his programme "Noticiero Sudamericano". According to Mamani Zela, one of the assailants carried a gun. The journalist was warned that if he did not stop criticizing Puno's regional president, Hernán Fuentes Guzmán, he would be killed. The same three antagonists also threatened the journalist's family. The incidents took place in the city of Juliaca, Puno region, southeastern Peru.

United Kingdom

ARTICLE 19 and RSF appeal to British Olympic Association not to restrict athletes' freedom of speech

(ARTICLE 19/RSF/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by ARTICLE 19 and RSF:

Chad

Journalists flee to neighbouring countries in wake of failed rebellion; authorities harass and arrest reporters

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is very concerned by attempts to arrest several journalists in N'Djamena in the wake of an abortive military assault on the capital by a rebel coalition at the start of February 2008.

Colombia

FLIP's annual report documents 162 violations of press freedom in 2007

(FLIP/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2008 FLIP press release:

Pakistan

Interim information minister threatens to shut down broadcasters that break code of conduct

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

Peru

Three journalists receive death threats, the house of one fired upon in Yurimaguas

(IPYS/IFEX) - Early in the morning of 8 February 2008, a group of unidentified men fired five times into the home of journalist John Isuiza Inauma. The bullets hit a vehicle stored by Isuiza Inauma in the living room, which prevented them from reaching the journalist's wife and children. Isuiza, host of a radio programme on MBR radio, was not home at the time of the shooting. The incident took place in the city of Yurimaguas, Alto Amazonas province, northeastern Perú.

France

President Sarkozy files suit against website for "falsification and use and procurement of false documents"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns President Nicolas Sarkozy's use of the "toughest way" to sue the website of the "Nouvel Observateur" newspaper. "The president is suing the newspaper under criminal law when he could well have brought a civil suit for violation of privacy," the press freedom organisation said.

Tunisia

Comedian jailed for imitating President Ben Ali

(OLPEC/IFEX) - The following is a 9 February 2008 OLPEC press release:

Colombia

Threatened radio journalist flees home in Anzoátegui

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2008 CPJ press release:

China

Newspaper director released

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release of Yu Huafeng, the former president of the liberal Guangzhou-based newspaper "Nanfang Dushi Bao", after his sentence was reduced for the third time. He ended up serving four years of what originally was a 12-year sentence on corruption charges.

Colombia

Radio journalist murdered in Algeciras on Colombia's Day of the Journalist

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - Journalist Manuel Arturo Macías Cerrera was shot in the head at 9:30 p.m. (local time) as he was going home on 9 February 2008 in Algeciras, a town in the department of Huila in central Colombia. Taken to a local clinic, he died 10 minutes later. The assassins melted into the crowds gathered for a fireworks display celebrating the Feast of the Virgin of Lourdes.

Peru

Journalist, previously threatened over article, victim of alleged sabotage

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 31 January 2008, journalist Antonio Azalde, editor of the newspaper "El Guerrero", told IPYS that he suffered a motorcycle accident as a result of sabotage. Azalde alleges that the bolts that held the wheels in place were deliberately loosened, and that this was likely done in reprisal for articles he published about the arrest of a drug-dealer, Wilson Valcázar Piña, and the alleged connection of Casma mayor Luis Lomparte Monteza to him. The journalist suffered wounds to face and body.

Malawi

Journalist and managing editor charged with "publishing false news"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned charges laid against Mike Chipalasa, of the privately-owned "Daily Times", and its managing editor, James Mphande, for "publishing false news likely to lead to a breach of public order".

Russia

Police raid another newspaper over "pirated" software and seize computers, forcing shutdown

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Russia

IFJ urges Microsoft to reach deal with journalists as government uses anti-piracy campaign as cover for media intimidation

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Pakistan

Columnist and photojournalist killed in Quetta

(PPF/IFEX) - Dr. Abdus Samad Chishti Mujahid, a photojournalist and columnist for the Urdu-language weekly "Akhbar-e-Jehan", was fatally shot on 9 February 2008 by a gunman in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan. He was 55.

Mexico

Father and son journalists gunned down outside town hall in state of Mexico

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is outraged by the fatal shootings of Bonifacio Cruz Santiago, the publisher of the weekly "El Real", and his son, Alfonso Cruz Cruz, its editor, on 7 February 2008 outside the town hall of Chimalhuacán, in the central state of Mexico. According to local reports, the gunmen may have mistaken Bonifacio Cruz Santiago for a municipal legal advisor with whom the two journalists had an appointment.

Gabon

Freelance journalist arrested after investigating corruption, his home searched and documents confiscated

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the Gabonese authorities to explain why Repé Kabamba, a Congolese freelance journalist, was arrested on 7 February 2008 by members of a government security unit known as B2 when he went to interview the head of the Office of Ports and Harbours (OPRAG), in Libreville, about allegations of embezzlement.

Pakistan

Newspaper reporter and his brother beaten by Punjab police

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns the severe beating which reporter Aoun Sahi of "The News" daily newspaper and his brother, Ali Muslim, received from police in Daska, in the eastern province of Punjab, on 5 February 2008.

Niger

Two journalists sentenced to one month in prison for libel, another released

(IFJ/IFEX) The following is a 7 February IFJ media release:

Guatemala

"Prensa Libre" correspondent in Jalapa assaulted

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 6 February 2008, Hugo Oliva, correspondent in the department of Jalapa for the Guatemalan morning daily "Prensa Libre", was assaulted by unidentified individuals who stopped him on the street in the Jalapa capital. Jalapa is in eastern Guatemala, 98 kilometres from Guatemala City, the national capital.

Bahrain

Postal authorities suspend union activist for speaking to media

(BCHR/IFEX) - On 6 February 2008, another union activist was punished for expressing her views on labour rights to the media. The Bahraini Postal Directorate of the Ministry of Transport suspended postal unionist Mrs. Najeya Abdulghaffar for 10 days without pay, on the allegation that she disclosed "job secrets".

Niger

Journalist Ibrahim Manzo Diallo released conditionally

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 6 February 2008 RSF press release; please note that since the publication of this press release, Ibrahim Manzo Diallo's release was confirmed:

Lesotho

Radio broadcaster facing charges read offending letter under threat of imminent death

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 6 February 2008 WPFC press release:

Mexico

Newspaper journalist murdered in Tamaulipas; colleagues await investigation

(CEPET/IFEX) - Francisco Ortiz Monroy, a reporter for the Mexico City-based daily "Diario de México", was shot dead by hitmen in the municipality of Camargo, in Tamaulipas, a state near the US border, on 5 February 2008.

Burma

"Missing" blogger reportedly in detention, facing charges and possible imprisonment

(Mizzima/IFEX) - Police in Rangoon have reportedly charged blogger Nay Phone Latt, previously thought to be missing and now believed to be in detention, under an article of the Emergency Provision Act that could land him up to seven years of imprisonment.

Argentina

Journalist receives death threat after investigating secret dictatorship-era detention centre

(FOPEA /IFEX) - On 24 January 2008, journalist Andrea San Esteban received a death threat as she walked down a street in Rosario, a city in the province of Santa Fe, in central Argentina. She had recently published articles in the newspaper "Rosario/12"on her investigation into a secret detention centre used by the most recent military dictatorship.

Philippines

Arrest warrants issued for alleged masterminds of journalist Marlene Esperat's murder

(CMFR/IFEX) - A Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge in Cebu City, Cebu province, issued arrest warrants on 4 February 2008 for the two alleged masterminds behind the killing of journalist Marlene Esperat. Cebu is a province approximately 562 kilometres south of Manila.

Malaysia

CAPSULE REPORT: Free expression declines in 2007 with increased executive interference, persecution, says CIJ report

(SEAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 7 February 2008 SEAPA alert:

Malta

In "craven act of self-censorship," website bans political reporting ahead of general elections

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

Pakistan

Government suspends independent broadcaster Aaj TV for more than 12 hours

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

Ukraine

Respected critical anchor of public affairs programme removed from post by Channel 5 television station

(IMI/IFEX) - Ehor Sobolev, a prominent journalist and anchorman of the news magazine programme "Chas" (Time) at Channel 5 television station, was suspended on 28 January 2008.

Egypt

Political blogger, popular novelist jailed; 12 human rights organisations call for his release

(HRinfo/IFEX) - The following is an abbreviated version of a joint statement by HRinfo and several other Egyptian human rights organisations:

International

Ninety-five journalists killed worldwide in 2007, reports WAN

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

Kuwait / Gender

New censorship law threatens freedom of expression and opinion, says HRinfo

(HRinfo/IFEX) - On 6 February 2008, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) stated that the new website censorship law the Kuwaiti government intends to present to the parliament is contradictory to the dominant trend in most democratic countries, where an increase of freedom of expression, especially on the internet, is recommended.

Côte d'Ivoire

Government suspends RFI indefinitely

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Slovenia

Defamation charges filed against initiators and signatories of petition highlighting concerns over press freedom climate

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

International

CAPSULE REPORT: Criminal defamation, insult and libel laws used to silence African journalists, says WiPC report

(WiPC/IFEX) - The following is a 29 January 2008 WiPC report:

Ethiopia

Government lifts restrictions preventing two freed journalists from launching new publications

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 6 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Uzbekistan

Government releases five human rights activists ahead of EU meeting

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 5 February 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Colombia

Buenaventura journalist forced by guerrilla group to broadcast message

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 25 January 2008, members of the guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) contacted journalist Luis Suárez demanding he meet with Erminson Gutiérrez, a.k.a. "Mincho", leader of the Bloque 30 division of the FARC, in Buenaventura, western Colombia. Suárez is director and host of the programme "Todo por Buenaventura" on Telemar Canal 2 television station.

Mexico

Journalist Cecilia Vargas Simón receives death threat, her home ransacked

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF expressed its concern after Carlos Huerta Muñoz, crime correspondent on the daily "Norte de Ciudad Juárez", in Chihuahua state, northern Mexico, was forced to flee the country, after receiving death threats from a drug cartel (see IFEX alert of 14 February 2007). His newspaper's management decided the day after his departure, on 30 January 2008, to drastically reduce its coverage of drug-trafficking and to stick to official information on the subject.

Cambodia

CAPSULE REPORT: Defamation decriminalised, but attacks on journalists increase in 2007, says CAPJ free expression report

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

Afghanistan

President Karzai reassures delegation over fate of young journalist sentenced to death

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the undertakings given on 6 February 2008 by President Hamid Karzai as regards Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, the young journalist who has been sentenced to death on a trumped-up charge of distributing information that insulted Islam. Karzai told a delegation of Afghan journalists that they had no reason to worry about him.

Peru

Municipal officials harass, threaten journalist for filming meeting

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 23 January 2008, four municipal officials from the District Municipality of Maquía chased and threatened journalist Miguel Rojas Panduro, a cameraman for Canal 27 television station, when they realised he was filming a get-together attended by the district mayor, Gonzalo Flores, to celebrate the acquittal of municipal administrator Walter Ríos, who had been accused of corruption and profiteering. Maquía is located in Loreto, northeastern Perú.

Russia

Police confiscate newspaper's computers

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 February 2008 CPJ press release:

Colombia

Córdoba newspaper employees receive death threats over reports on corruption

(FLIP/IFEX) - According to William Salleg Taboada, editor of the "El Meridiano de Córdoba" newspaper, which is distributed in a number of departments along Colombia's northern coast, he and other employees of the newspaper have been receiving threats.

Colombia

Radio station shuts down following death threats from FARC guerrillas

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a joint 5 February 2008 press release by CESO-IFJ and the Colombian Journalists' Federation (Federación Colombiana de Periodistas, FECOLPER):

Cambodia

Police attempt to stop journalists from photographing land dispute

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Two journalists who were reporting on a land dispute in a village were harassed by police for taking pictures of the incident, according to the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists (CAPJ), a SEAPA partner based in the capital Phnom Penh.

Azerbaijan

Detained opposition journalist begins another hunger strike

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the state of health of imprisoned journalist Sakit Zahidov, who began a hunger strike on 3 February 2008 to protest against his conditions of detention and to demand medical attention. He has been detained since 23 June 2006.

Pakistan

CAPSULE REPORT: Clear bias in favour of Musharraf allies in state TV's election campaign coverage

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

Philippines

Journalist seeks court protection from would-be assassins

(CMFR/IFEX) - An Oriental Mindoro-based journalist filed a petition for a writ of amparo before the Supreme Court on 4 February 2008 after discovering a plan to kill him, allegedly by people involved in anomalies he had exposed. Oriental Mindoro is about 140 km south of Manila.

Kenya

Government lifts ban on live broadcasting, cautions foreign correspondents against "inflammatory" reporting

(Media Institute/IFEX) - On 4 February 2008, the Kenya government unconditionally lifted the month-long ban imposed on live broadcasting.

India

Journalist killed, police protect state minister from allegations of involvement

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for a thorough investigation into the murder of journalist Pramod Kumar Munna in the northeastern state of Jharkhand, in which the police are ignoring evidence pointing to the possible involvement of a minister in the state government. Munna was shot dead in the city of Deoghar on 16 December 2007, after being threatened.

China

Journalist Ching Cheong released

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is relieved that Hong-Kong based journalist Ching Cheong, a correspondent of Singapore's "Straits Times" newspaper, was freed on parole on 5 February 2008 from a prison in the southern city of Guangzhou where he was serving a five-year sentence on a spying charge. He arrived back in Hong Kong on 5 February. Arrested on 22 April 2005, he had just over two years of his sentence still to serve.

China

Journalist Li Changqing, winner of WAN's Golden Pen award, freed after three years in jail; WAN calls for further releases

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

Kosovo (Serbia)

Closure of TV Mitrovica "unduly undermines freedom of speech," says SEEMO

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Malaysia

Commission on judicial scandal threatens critics with contempt charges

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A Royal Commission of Inquiry into a video clip that implied interference in senior judicial appointments in Malaysia is threatening to hold in contempt a human rights organisation and an opposition leader over their criticisms about the ongoing hearing.

Burma

Three youths detained for four days, interrogated for allegedly distributing human rights pamphlets; missing blogger spotted in ministry office

(Mizzima/IFEX) - A Burmese writer and blogger, Nay Phone Latt, who has been missing since 29 January 2007, was spotted at the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Rangoon on 3 February 2008, said youth members of the pro-democracy party, National League for Democracy (NLD).

China

Journalist Lü Gengsong sentenced for "inciting subversion of state power"

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

Syria

Another detained in crackdown on democracy advocates; at least eight allegedly beaten, forced to confess

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

Iraq

Editor of weekly released on bail, trial postponed; five journalists arrested, one beaten, another mistreated

(RSF/IFEX) - Five journalists were stopped and questioned by Kurdish security forces after braving a ban on travel to Iraq's border with Turkey, while the trial of the independent weekly "Hawlati"'s editor, Abid Aref, accused of defaming President Jalal Tabani, for which he faces up to one year in prison, opened on 4 February 2008.

Mexico

Judge orders 13 Fox officials arrested over illicit exclusion of critical publisher from contracts

(CEPET/IFEX) - A federal judge has ordered the arrests of 13 former officials of the National Free Books Commission (Comisión Nacional de Libros Gratuitos, CONALITEG), including its ex-director Jorge Velasco y Félix, for the crime of abuse of power to the detriment of publisher Armando Prida Huerta, owner of "Síntesis" newspaper, which is sold in the cities of Puebla, Hidalgo and Tlaxcala. All of the officials worked under the Vicente Fox administration, and two of them allegedly are still government employees.

Honduras

Government security agent and security company employee captured, charged with 2006 murder of human rights lawyer

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - Honduran authorities have apprehended two suspects in the December 2006 murder of human rights lawyer Dionisio Díaz García, who worked for the Tegucigalpa-based Association for a More Just Society (Asociación por una Sociedad Más Justa, ASJ).

International

From violence in Iraq to jailings in China and Cuba, CPJ recounts a troubling year in annual report

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

Bolivia

President's criticism of media in reaction to spying scandal worrisome, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is stunned by President Evo Morales' comments, made on 30 January 2008, six days after it was revealed that 18 politicians and a journalist had been illegally spied on. They contradict the reassuring statements about press freedom made earlier by Ivan Canelas, the leader of the ruling Movement to Socialism (MAS) block within the House of Representatives (Cámara de Diputados).

Kenya

Two journalists shot while covering riots, another assaulted and her camera taken, several others threatened with death

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Burma

Blogger mysteriously missing; authorities deny arresting him

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The Burmese blogger, Nay Phone Latt, allegedly arrested by the police on 29 January 2008, has mysteriously gone missing, according to his mother, Daw Aye Aye Than.

Peru

Radio journalist threatened and assaulted in Tingo María following coverage of allegations of governor's corruption

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 30 January 2008, journalist Alejandro Rupay, host of Radio FM 98's programme "La Voz de Oriente", and correspondent for INFOREGIÓN news agency, reported that he had been attacked and threatened the same day while he was broadcasting his programme live in Tingo María, Huánuco region, central Peru.

Mexico

Death threat to journalist in Chihuahua forces him into exile, his newspaper to limit coverage of organised crime

(CEPET/IFEX) - The newspaper "Norte de Ciudad Juárez", which circulates in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, has announced that it will now limit its coverage of news about organised crime, given the lack of action by federal, state and municipal authorities to protect the newspaper's right to do its work. The decision was taken by the newspaper's managers after reporter Carlos Huerta Muñoz received a death threat on the night of 30 January 2008 from an individual who identified himself as a member of "La Federación", an organisation grouping several of Mexico's drug cartels.

Nepal

Journalist assaulted on his way to cover strike

(FNJ/IFEX) - A motorcycle belonging to Brij Raj Kusawa, news correspondent of Kalika FM, was vandalized by a group of assailants on 3 February 2008 at around 5 p.m. (local time) at Mahendra highway, Nawalparasi, a western district of Nepal.

Nepal

Mob attacks newspaper office, alleging untruthful reporting on police incident

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 3 February 2008, a mob attacked "Narayani Today", a newspaper based in Birgunj, Parsa, in the central region of Nepal.

Turkey

Access to YouTube website blocked three times in January over content "disrespectful of Turkishness"

(BIANET/IFEX) - After courts in Ankara and Sivas blocked access to the international video-sharing website YouTube in mid-January 2008, a court in Izmir blocked access to the site again on 30 January. The ban was subsequently lifted.

Chile

Court excludes press from hearing of domestic violence case involving judge

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 25 January 2008, Judge Fernando Valderrama forbade the press access to the rooms in which hearings were to be held in a family violence case. The defendant in the case, Ricardo Blanco, is an appeals court judge for the district of San Miguel in Santiago, the capital.

Azerbaijan

CAPSULE REPORT: "Freedom of expression is in the worst state ever," says IRFS

(IRFS/IFEX) - The following is an IRFS letter to OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Finnish Foreign Minister Ikka Kanerva:

Nepal

Two IFEX members offer analysis of new access to information act

(ARTICLE 19/FNJ/IFEX) - The following is a joint press release by ARTICLE 19 and FNJ:

China

Two reporters and one photographer remain detained for denouncing official corruption

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a WAN letter to Premier Wen Jiabao:

Palestine

Journalist Omar Al-Ghul freed after being held by Hamas for 49 days

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the release on 1 February 2008 of Omar Al-Ghul, a columnist with the pro-Fatah newspaper "Al-Hayat Al-Jadida", who had been held by the Islamist party Hamas for 49 days. Another of the newspaper's journalists, Gaza bureau chief Munir Abu Rizq, is still being held by Hamas.

Tunisia

RSF asks Justice Ministry to improve prison conditions of dissident journalist Slim Boukhdir

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on Tunisian justice and human rights minister Beshir Tekkari to improve the prison conditions of jailed journalist Slim Boukhdir and to review his trial and year-long prison sentence.

Vietnam / Gender

Two sentenced to six years in jail for allegedly distributing anti-government leaflets; woman writer released

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

China

Authorities block circulation of report on Internet censorship and ban list of search engine keywords

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and the organisation Chinese Human Rights Defenders have obtained a copy of a directive issued by the authorities responsible for Internet censorship in an attempt to prevent online circulation of the report "Journey to the Heart of Internet censorship ( http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23924 ), which the two organisations issued on 10 October 2007.

Ukraine

Twenty-one years after Chernobyl disaster, limited access to environmental information prevails, reports ARTICLE 19

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

Saudi Arabia

News channel director fired after airing critical comments; Information minister bans live programmes on state television

(RSF/IFEX) - Information minister Iyad Madani announced a nationwide ban on all live broadcasts on Saudi public TV channels on 30 January 2008, two days after angry viewers made unflattering comments about senior officials, including King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, during a phone-in programme on the news channel Al-Ikhbariya. The station's director, Mohammed Al-Tunsi, was fired.

Eritrea

New revelations about Eiraeiro prison camp; journalist Seyoum Tsehaye held in hellish conditions

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of a 30 January 2008 RSF report:

United States

"Oakland Post" publisher target of murder plot amid complications in probe of editor's murder

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is very concerned for the safety of Paul Cobb, the publisher of the "Oakland Post", a weekly based in Oakland, California, who was given police protection on 16 January 2008 after being told a contract had been put out for his murder. The threat to Cobb appears to be linked to the August 2007 murder of the newspaper's editor, Chauncey Bailey. A 19-year-old youth confessed to carrying out the murder but later retracted his confession.

Uganda

Five journalists and newspaper editor charged with defamation; two reporters beaten while covering protest

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

China

Dissident Hu Jia formally charged for "inciting subversion"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has said it was outraged by the charge of "inciting subversion of state power" made against dissident Hu Jia, who has been held secretly in Beijing for more than a month.

Azerbaijan

Newspaper editor receives barrage of telephoned death threats

(IRFS/IFEX) - IRFS is extremely concerned about the recent death threats that have been made against "Gundalik Azerbayjan" editor Uzeir Jafarov. Jafarov told the IRFS that, on the afternoon of 28 January 2008, he received over 300 calls to his mobile phone in which a man repeatedly told him: "I am going to destroy you" and "I am going to haunt you." On 29 January, Jafarov received over 600 additional calls of the same nature, all from a hidden phone number.

Turkey

Charges brought against two cartoonists may signal increasing censorship, fears CRN

(CRN/IFEX) - Further to the International Press Institute's 24 January 2008 report that two political cartoonists - "Cumhurryet" cartoonists - were under investigation for unflattering cartoons about the President, CRN has confirmed that the two are being charged with violating criminal code article 299, which prohibits defaming the President of the Republic, currently Abdul Gul. If found guilty, the cartoonists can be sentenced to up to four years in prison. In the recent past cartoonists were regularly charged with civil code offences relating to personal injury and most of those cases have been thrown out of court. These charges indicate an escalation of censorship against editorial cartoonists in Turkey.

Brazil

Wave of defamation lawsuits filed by evangelical church members a clear attempt to intimidate the press, says ARTICLE 19

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

Ethiopia

Government denies publishing licences to five journalists; two Eritrean journalists remain held incommunicado

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 January 2008 CPJ letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi:

Liberia

Newspaper editor allegedly the target of assassination plot

(CEMESP/IFEX) - Investigations are underway into claims that a bounty of US$1,000 was offered for the assassination of Sam O. Dean, managing editor of the "Independent" newspaper in Monrovia.

International

CAPSULE REPORT: CPJ concerned for state of press freedom across continent

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 January 2008 CPJ letter to African Union Commission President Alpha Oumar Konaré:

Kazakhstan

ARTICLE 19 calls on authorities to lift ongoing suspension of website

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 29 January 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Nepal

Bomb hurled at FM radio station in Birgunj

(FNJ/IFEX) - A bomb was hurled at the premises of Indreni FM 97.6 radio station in the town of Birgunj, in the central district of Nepal, on 30 January 2008 at approximately 8:00 p.m. (local time).

Kenya

Journalists, media houses subject to death threats; government threatens to investigate media; media organisations file lawsuit over government's broadcasting ban

(Media Institute/IFEX) - On 29 January 2008, Media Institute and Kenya Editors Guild filed a lawsuit against the government in the country's High Court to quash a broadcasting ban, which has been in effect since 30 December 2007.

Nigeria

Magazine faces libel suit by political leader, its director assaulted after court appearance

(MRA/IFEX) - On 30 January 2008, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the managing director of "TheNews" magazine, was beaten by thugs believed to be working for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) after he finished giving evidence in a libel suit against his magazine at a Lagos High Court.

Iraq

President files lawsuit against editor of independent weekly for translating and publishing critical report

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Peru

Radio journalist receives threats after reporting on alleged mismanagement by Nazca mayor's administration

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 23 January 2008, Cadena Sur Noticias radio station journalist Percy Dueñas Luca reported that since 21 January he has received seven threats on his cell phone. The journalist believes the threats may have been motivated by the accusations he made on 21 January about alleged administrative irregularities in the Nazca municipal council, implicating mayor Daniel Mantilla Bendezú. Nazca is a city in Ica, a province in southwestern Peru.

Brazil

Senate debates tougher penalties for online press offences as Chamber of Deputies seeks decriminalisation

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned as dangerous a law proposed by a senator to increase by one third prison sentences for press offences (defamation, insults and denigration) committed on the Internet.

Mexico

Sympathisers of mayoralty candidate mistreat journalists in Cancún

(CEPET/IFEX) - Sympathizers and bodyguards of Gregorio Sánchez Martínez, who is running for mayor of Benito Juárez, a municipality in Quintana Roo state in southern Mexico, mistreated reporters, assaulting and seizing the camera belonging to one of them, in Cancún, the state's largest city. Sánchez Martínez is running on behalf of a coalition of parties including the Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolución Democrática, PRD), the Workers' Party (Partido del Trabajo, PT) and the "Convergencia" party.

Palestine

Cameraman held by Hamas' armed wing for two days

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns the arbitrary arrests of journalists in the Gaza Strip by the Executive Force, Hamas' armed wing. One of the latest victims was Mohammed Al-Aarabid, a cameraman with the French news agency Blue Press, who was arrested at his home in Gaza on 27 January 2008, taken to a detention centre, and interrogated. He was finally released on 29 January. This is his account of the experience:

Libya

Human Rights Watch calls for release of "gravely ill" political prisoner jailed for criticising government

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

Switzerland

Police arrest, briefly detain journalists covering protests in Basel, Berne

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

Iraq

Al-Forat TV cameraman killed by roadside bomb, reporter and assistant wounded; two TV crews roughed up by police

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is saddened by the death of Al-Forat TV cameraman Alaa Abdulkarim Al-Fartoosi, who was killed when his car was hit by a roadside bomb on 28 January 2008 on the road from Baghdad to Samarra. Al-Forat reporter Fatima Al-Hassina and their assistant, Haidar Kadhem, were wounded by the explosion.

China

Stones thrown at German TV crew trying to interview imprisoned dissident's wife; reporter beaten in Wuhan

(RSF/IFEX) - Four journalists with the German TV station ARD had to abandon an attempt to meet Yuan Weijing, the wife of imprisoned lawyer and human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, on 24 January 2008. As they approached her home in a village in the eastern province of Shandong, their way was blocked by thugs hired by the local authorities, who threw stones at them.

Mexico

Authorities capture suspect in attempted murder of journalist

(CEPET/IFEX) - Members of the army and the Baja California state police have captured Alfredo Araujo Ávila, also known as "El Popeye", wanted in connection with the 1997 attempted murder of journalist Jesús Blancornelas, former director of "Zeta" weekly.

Mexico

Ministry agents and Acapulco police officers under scrutiny for irregularities in investigation of journalist's murder

(CEPET/IFEX) - The Guerrero Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into the conduct of several Public Ministry (Ministerio Público) agents and Acapulco's Ministerial Police who were in charge of the preliminary investigation of journalist Amado Ramírez's murder. The decision is in response to a 10 January 2008 recommendation by the National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos, CNDH).

Philippines

Journalists file suits to stop threats of arrest; court issues order against harassment

(CMFR/IFEX) - Over a hundred journalists filed two separate suits on 28 January 2008 in a unified effort to halt government threats against the press as well as further arrests.

Chile

Journalist doused by police water cannon while covering Mapuche demonstration in Santiago

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 23 January 2008, free lance reporter Jorge Garretón came under attack while covering a demonstration of the Mapuche indigenous people in the centre of Santiago. A group of carabineros (Chilean state police) directed the strong jet of a water cannon in the journalist's direction. The liquid caused skin irritation and vomiting.

Burma

Police arrest dissident blogger at Rangoon Internet café; poet moved to notorious Insein prison

(Mizzima/IFEX) - Writer and blogger Nay Phone Latt (a.k.a. Nay Bone Latt) was picked up by police at an Internet café in the Thingan Kyun Township of Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, on the morning of 29 January 2008, friends told Mizzima. The reason for his detention is not yet clear. In addition to being a blogger and a writer, Nay Phone Latt works for a private business company. "I am a youth who is crazy about the arts", he wrote as a self introduction in one of his blogs.

Sri Lanka

Journalist followed by vehicles that tried to hit him; armed men break into another journalist's home

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

Philippines

Broadcaster jailed in libel case

(CMFR/IFEX) - A provincial radio commentator has been in jail for over a week after being arrested on 22 January 2008 for failing to attend court hearings. The broadcaster was denied bail.

Egypt

Al-Jazeera reporter and cameraman arrested and questioned by authorities for reporting on farm workers; recording confiscated

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the Egyptian authorities to stop harassing reporter Howayda Taha of the pan-Arab satellite TV station Al-Jazeera, who was arrested on 28 January 2008 together with her cameraman while doing a report on farm workers in Nikla, a village near Giza (20 km southwest of Cairo).

Philippines

Chief justice's "advisory" discouraging prison sentences for libel convictions provokes debate on his mandate

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Officials of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of Philippine government are debating the wisdom and legality of a circular handed down by the country's chief justice that discourages prison terms for those convicted of libel.

Mexico

Member of journalists' organisation receives death threat, fired over colleague's prize-winning photograph of Veracruz official

(CEPET/IFEX) - Journalist José Uriel Rosas Martínez has been fired from the Veracruz Institute for Open Education (Instituto Veracruzano de Educación Abierta, IVEA) and threatened with murder by an employee of the Veracruz state's education secretariat after a journalists' organisation to which he belongs awarded a prize to photojournalist Miguel Ángel Carmona for a photograph showing Veracruz state Education Secretary Víctor Arredondo Álvarez with what is presumed to be cocaine residue on his fingers.

Haiti

Victory over impunity "within reach" in Lindor murder, says RSF, after seven are convicted in absentia

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF hopes the authorities will quickly arrest the seven people who were convicted in absentia on 23 January 2008 of the 2001 murder of Radio Echo 2000 journalist Brignol Lindor, so that light can be shed on every aspect of this crime. Two other people were already sentenced on 12 December 2007 to life imprisonment for the murder.

Syria

Outspoken former MP among those arrested during wave of "blatant repression of any independent expression," reports Freedom House

(Freedom House/IFEX) - The following is a 28 January 2008 Freedom House press release:

Syria

Ten pro-democracy activists including two journalists risk three to 15 years in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Two journalists and eight other pro-democracy activists who signed the Damascus Declaration, an appeal for "radical democratic change," were brought before a judge in Damascus, on 28 January 2008, six weeks after the start of a wave of arrests, and were formally charged with attacking the prestige of the state, publishing false information, membership of a secret organisation aimed at destabilising the state and fuelling ethnic and racial tension.

Ghana

Sudanese football players attack Egyptian TV crew

(MFWA/IFEX) - The crew of TV1, an Egyptian television station covering the ongoing 26th African Cup of Nations in Ghana, was on 25 January 2008 attacked by some players of the Desert Hawks, the Sudanese national team.

Fiji

Four journalists and cameramen arrested for "disobeying a police order"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of Fiji TV reporter Emily Moli and cameraman Shalendra Datt for "disobeying a police order", on 23 January 2008, when they went to cover a dispute between the principal and the administration of Rishikul Sanatan high school in Nasinu.

Mexico

Gunmen attack director of critical Veracruz-based daily

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 28 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Sri Lanka

Associate editor of Tamil newspaper stabbed

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 28 January 2008 FMM press release:

Nigeria

Newspaper's chairman, his daughter and local distributor arrested at state governor's behest

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls for the release of the Sam Asowata, the chairman of the board of the Abuja-based independent weekly "Fresh Facts", who was arrested in Abuja on 27 January 2008 with his daughter and was subsequently transferred to Uyo, the capital of the southeastern state of Akwa Ibom, at the behest of the state's governor, Godswill Akpadio.

Macedonia

Outspoken radio station owner victim of assassination attempt

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

Nepal

Protesters prevent journalists in the capital from working, assault some, damage media vehicles

(FNJ/IFEX) - Journalists have been mistreated during large protests in the capital against the increase in oil and gasoline prices. Protesters have brought traffic to a halt in many parts of the city, and have interfered with the movement of journalists who were either attempting to cover the protests or on their way to work on other stories. In some cases, the journalists were visibly identified as working for media outlets before being stopped by the protesters, and the protesters behaved in a hostile manner that appeared to be motivated by the fact that the person was a journalist.

Guatemala

CAPSULE REPORT: "Parallel powers" continuously violate free expression, says CERIGUA report

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - The following is a 23 January 2008 CERIGUA press release:

Bolivia

Television news director spied upon by police; media outlets, journalist attacked

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is dismayed by the revelation that the police department's intelligence service has been involved in unauthorised spying upon, among others, Juan José Espada, the news director of the privately-owned television channel Unitel. RSF hopes this revelation will not affect negatively the dialogue being held between the government and media that began after acts of violence were perpetrated against the press at the height of the political crisis of 2007 (see IFEX alert of 6 December 2007 and others).

Venezuela

National Assembly president accuses media outlets of misreporting, threatens investigation; demonstrators harass television crew

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 18 January 2008, the president of the National Assembly, representative Cilia Flores, accused television station Globovisión of "informational terrorism" and of undermining the country's stability. She made the accusation in response to a Globovisión broadcast about the National Assembly's approval of an agreement supporting President Hugo Chávez's proposal that the government of Colombia and the international community recognize Colombia's two main insurgent groups - the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) and the National Liberation Army (Ejercito de Liberación Nacional, ELN) - as "belligerent forces" rather than as "terrorists".

Colombia

Radio journalist receives death threat in Villavicencio following critical coverage of municipal contract

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - Prominent journalist Humberto Bedoya Henao - director of "Hechos y Opiniones", Ondas de Meta radio station's morning news programme - received death threats on the morning of 22 January 2007 from an individual who, after using course language to attack the journalist, invited him to his own funeral, assuring him that he was going to murder him. The station is based in Villavicencio, the capital of Meta department in southern Colombia.

Central African Republic

Newspaper editor sentenced to six months in prison on charges of libel, insult and "incitement to revolt"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the six-month prison sentence passed on 28 January 2008 on Faustin Bambou, the editor of the privately-owned weekly "Les Collines de l'Oubangui", on charges of libel, insult and "incitement to revolt" because of an article accusing two ministers of taking kickbacks.

Azerbaijan

"Khural" reporter convicted of slander, sentenced to "corrective labour"; WPFC urges president to free jailed journalists

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 24 January 2008 WPFC letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev:

Guatemala

Writer-journalist found dead

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On 23 January 2008 at 9:00 a.m. (local time), the body of Guatemalan journalist and writer Hugo Arce Barillas was found in the room of a hotel in the capital, Guatemala City, where he was apparently intending to have a meeting.

Estonia

Four activists face charges for criticising Soviet statue removal

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

Malaysia

Journalist detained while covering protest, charged with "obstructing police"

(SEAPA/IFEX) - On 26 January 2008, Malaysian police arrested a journalist while he was covering a protest in Kuala Lumpur, later charging him with "obstructing police duty".

Somalia

Journalist killed by remote-controlled landmine on his way to press conference

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - NUSOJ is shocked by the killing of journalist Hassan Kafi Hared in Kismayu town of the Lower Jubba region, on 28 January 2008.

Sri Lanka

High government official advocates censorship, return of criminal defamation laws

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

Somalia

Radio journalist detained, assaulted by abusive official's security guard while covering public event

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - NUSOJ condemns the attack on journalist Abdihakim Yusuf Moalim of the Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), a privately-owned radio station based in Bossaso town, located in Bari region.

Nepal

Chicken farmers assault journalist over bird flu report

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 26 January 2008, Rajendra Gautam, a sub-editor with "Purbanchal Daily" in Jhapa, an eastern district of Nepal, was assaulted by chicken farmers, who dragged him out of his office and beat him. He has suffered chest pain following the attack.

Mexico

Journalist brutally beaten, threatened with murder by PRI militants in Chiapas

(CEPET/IFEX) - Militants of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, PRI) beat and threatened to kill reporter Edi Darinel López Zacarías on 22 January 2008, presumably for his articles about illegalities and corruption involving the assailants' relatives.

Russia

Police arrest 10 journalists covering violent protest in Ingushetia, severely beat one, confiscate recording equipment

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a 27 January 2008 Human Rights Watch press release:

Sri Lanka

Journalist knifed following death threats

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 26 January 2008 joint press release by FMM and other organisations:

The Gambia

Ban on RFI broadcasts lifted after 10 days

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 25 January 2008, the Gambian authorities lifted their ban on Radio France International (RFI), a French public broadcaster, transmitting on FM in Banjul.

Chad

Radio director released after three days in prison, station still closed; IFJ calls for authorities to end media repression

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 21 January 2008 IFJ media release:

Turkey

Two cartoonists under investigation for caricatures deemed insulting to the president, could face four years in prison

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 24 January 2008 IPI press release:

Afghanistan

Mounting criticism of young journalist's death sentence

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has appealed to President Hamid Karzai, currently attending the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos, to quickly respond to the many appeals for clemency for Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, the young journalist who has been sentenced to death by a court in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of the northern province of Balkh.

Yemen

More websites apparently blocked

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

Philippines

Newspaper publisher threatened with death over report about alleged police extortion

(CMFR/IFEX) - The associate publisher of a provincial weekly has been threatened with death after her paper published a news story on three policemen who allegedly tried to extort money from an illegal drugs dealer.

Germany

IPI welcomes Constitutional Court decision limiting application of right of reply against print media

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

Israel

Palestinian snipers fire on Israeli TV crew near Gaza border

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the shots that were fired at an Israeli TV reporter and a cameraman on 15 January 2008 while in a kibbutz adjoining the border with the Gaza Strip, although they were clearly identifiable as journalists.

Burma

Imprisoned journalist U Win Tin hospitalised

(RSF/IFEX) - U Win Tin, a well-known journalist who has been imprisoned since July 1989, was taken to a guarded room at Rangoon general hospital on 22 January 2008 suffering from a painful hernia. A hospital source said he would undergo an operation in the next few days, after a series of tests. His relatives and friends have been able to visit him in the hospital, although they are checked by the policemen stationed outside his room.

Colombia

Barrancabermeja journalist apparent target of paramilitary murder attempt, authorities release suspects

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - Two attempts by the paramilitary to murder Álvaro Pérez, the director and co-owner of Tele Petróleo television station, in the oil port of Barrancabermeja, were frustrated by the Administrative Security Department (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad, DAS). The attempts took place on 21 January and the morning of 22 January 2008.

Peru

Massacre of journalists, allegedly by military, still unpunished after 25 years; IFJ calls for action

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2008 IFJ media release:

Nepal

Newspaper vehicle vandalised by anti-government protesters

(FNJ/IFEX) - A vehicle belonging to the "Samaya Weekly" newspaper was vandalized by frenzied protesters demonstrating against the government for raising the prices on original wording ok: petroleum products on 22 January 2008 in Kalimati, Kathmandu, capital city of Nepal.

Yemen

Authorities block access to yet another independent news website

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the action of the authorities in blocking access to the independent new website YemenPortal ( http://www.yemenportal.net ) since 19 January 2008. Access to at least seven other websites has been blocked since October 2007.

Canada

Free expression issue at stake in journalist's appeal against contempt verdict, says CJFE

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is a 23 January 2008 CJFE press release:

China

CPJ condemns one-day closed door trial of journalist charged with "subversion"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Brazil

Journalist and newspaper facing at least 28 separate lawsuits over critical article on church's business empire

(ABRAJI/IFEX) - At least 28 members of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God have filed individual lawsuits against journalist Elvira Lobato and the newspaper "Folha de S. Paulo", for which she works. They say that they were insulted by her investigative report, entitled "Universal turns 30 with a business empire", published on 15 December 2007. It's possible that still more lawsuits may have been filed of which the journalist and the newspaper have not yet been informed by the justice system.

Mexico

"Proceso" journalist summoned by Veracruz State Prosecutor, questioned about sources

(CEPET/IFEX) - The Veracruz State Prosecutor's Office has violated a recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos, CNDH) by summoning Rodrigo Vera, a reporter for "Proceso" magazine. The reporter was questioned about a photograph depicting the autopsy of Ernestina Ascencio, an elderly woman who was allegedly assassinated and raped in a Veracruz indigenous community in February 2007.

Turkey

ECHR orders government to compensate free expression activist for imprisonment over statement on conscientious objector

(BIANET/IFEX) - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has sentenced Turkey to pay Sanar Yurdatapan 3,500 Euros in compensation for violating his freedom of expression. He had been sentenced to two months' imprisonment for a statement supporting conscientious objector Osman Murat Ülke.

Iraq

Another journalist held by US military

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the continuing detention of Rashid Majid Al-Sari, the editor of the biweekly newspaper "Al-Fatah", who was arrested by United States troops at his Baghdad home on 18 January 2008.

Niger

Two French journalists and their driver released

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is the translation of an abridged summary of RSF press releases dated 17, 18 and 21 January 2008 on the cases of French journalists Thomas Dandois and Pierre Creisson:

Bahrain

Novel banned for allegedly defaming historic religious figure

(BCHR/IFEX) - BCHR has recently learned that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MIA) has once again refused to approve distribution of the novel "Omar . . . A Martyr" by Bahraini novelist Abdulla Khalifa. Omar Ibn Al-Khattab was the second Islamic Caliph after the prophet Mohammed and is regarded by Muslims as one of the "four righteously guided Caliphs".

Iran

Nightmare ends for two journalists; newspaper banned

(RSF/IFEX) - The nightmare is over for two journalists. Ako Kurdnasab of the weekly "Karfto" was released from Sanandaj prison in Kurdistan province on 17 January 2008 on completing his sentence. Franco-Iranian documentary filmmaker Mehrnoushe Solouki flew back to France two days later after the lifting of a 10-month-old ban on her leaving the country.

India

Hindu fundamentalists ransack TV station in Gujarat

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns an armed attack by about 20 Hindu fundamentalists on the studios of NDTV in Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, on 19 January 2008. Armed with hockey sticks and iron bars, the members of the little-known group Hindu Samarajya Sena smashed doors, windows, air-conditioning units, phones and studio equipment, plastered the premises with posters accusing the staff of being traitors, and injured two employees who were present at the time and who had to be hospitalised.

Russia

Editor beaten for distributing pamphlet; photojournalist beaten, injured for photographing her beating

(CJES/IFEX) - On 12 January 2008, during a session of the Council of Deputies of the city of Serpukhov, in Moscow Oblast province, an editor was beaten for distributing a political pamphlet, and then a press photographer was beaten for photographing the incident.

Mexico

Newspaper group harassed for denouncing corruption

(CEPET/IFEX) - The "Síntesis" newspapers, which are published in Puebla, Hidalgo and Tlaxcala, have come under attack by the former director of the National Free Books Committee (Comisión Nacional de Libros Gratuitos, CONALITEG), Jorge Velasco y Felix. The harassment is presumably linked to a "Síntesis" investigative report accusing Velasco y Felix of corruption.

Burma

Poet arrested, journal reprimanded, over poem allegedly insulting senior junta member

(Mizzima/IFEX) - On 22 January 2008, Burmese authorities arrested veteran poet Saw Wai over a Valentine's Day poem carried in that week's issue of the Rangoon-based Burmese weekly "Love Journal", according to sources in the literary community.

Mexico

Veracruz-based "La Jornada" journalist burgled twice, intimidation suspected

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is very concerned about two burglaries which occurred at the home of Andrés Timoteo Morales, correspondent for "La Jornada" newspaper in the eastern city of Veracruz, on 9 and 16 January 2008. Morales's laptop and USB flash drive containing work files were stolen in the first of the two break-ins, which he regards as an attempt to intimidate him.

Indonesia

CAPSULE REPORT: Violence against journalists, prosecution of media on the rise in 2007, says AJI

(AJI/IFEX) - The following is a 28 December 2007 AJI statement:

Burma

Another website blocked as junta continues to restrict Internet access

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The Burmese military junta has put up another hurdle for Internet users in Burma by blocking the website http://www.blogger.com

Turkey

Nine small newspapers fined for "influencing judiciary" in case of murdered publishing house employees; journalists investigated for publishing information on same case

(BIANET/IFEX) - Nine local newspapers, none with a circulation over 4,000, have been fined for "influencing the judiciary" in the Malatya murder case. The newspapers are refusing to pay and will collaborate on appealing the decision.

Afghanistan

Young journalist sentenced to death for "blasphemy"

(RSF/IFEX) - On 22 January 2008, a court in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif passed a death sentence on a young journalist, Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, for alleged blasphemy. The trial was held behind closed doors and without a lawyer to defend him. His brother, fellow journalist Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi, told Reporters Without Borders: "I saw my brother leave the court. He was very anxious. All the family was, too."

Thailand

New public broadcaster established at expense of sole independent television station

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Turkey

Newspapers fined heavily for reporting on detained soldiers

(BIANET/IFEX) - In November 2007, the Gendarmerie Public Order Corps Command Military Court in Van, in rsouth-eastern Turkey, ordered a ban on all broadcasting and publication of information elated to the investigation of eight soldiers taken hostage by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on 21 October 2007 and released two weeks later. They were arrested on their release and have been in military detention ever since.

Lesotho

Journalist charged with additional criminal offences, faces possible death penalty for "high treason"

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2008 IPI press release:

Slovakia

Draft press bill opens media to manipulation by politicians, says SEEMO

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 22 January 2008 press release by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an IPI affiliate:

Turkey

CAPSULE REPORT: More violations of free expression in 2007, says BIANET report

(BIANET/IFEX) - The following is an 18 January 2008 BIANET report:

Turkey

Two women journalists critical of militarism targeted by nationalist newspaper

(BIANET/IFEX) - The nationalist "Tercuman" newspaper has targeted journalists Perihan Magden and Ece Temelkuran for expressing their anti-militarist opinions. BIANET fears that this is a frightening repeat of what happened to Hrant Dink.

Nepal

Protesters assault journalists, briefly seize camera

(FNJ/IFEX) - On 22 January 2008, angry protesters assaulted Santosh Dhital, a correspondent of Avenues Television, and his colleague, cameraperson Janaki Singh, in the Chabahil district of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.

The Gambia

RFI broadcasts suspended over airing of "erroneous news story"

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 15 January 2008, The Gambian authorities indefinitely suspended the broadcast of Radio France International (RFI) in Banjul for airing what they referred to as an "erroneous news story".

Colombia

Barrancabermeja councillers block coverage; Montería builder brags he can arrange impunity for assault on journalists

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - Pedro José Severiche Acosta, a journalist with the persecuted radio station Antena del Río, was the victim of an act of aggression by a group of city councillors in the oil port of Barrancabermeja. The councillors seized his tape recorder when they realised he had recorded part of a decisive debate, reports the association representing journalists in Barrancabermeja and Magdalena Medio River valley (Corporación de Periodistas de Barrancabermeja y el Magdalena Medio).

Turkey

On anniversary of journalist Hrant Dink's murder, two IFEX members call for penal code reform

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by ARTICLE 19, Index on Censorship and English PEN:

Cambodia

Police prevent journalist from photographing demolition at pagoda

(SEAPA/IFEX) - District police prevented a reporter from taking pictures of the demolition of Buddha statues in a pagoda on the morning of 24 December 2007, reports the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists, a SEAPA partner based in the capital Phnom Penh.

Rwanda

Newspaper editor released after completing one-year prison sentence; Belgian journalist denied entry following critical coverage of government

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders notes that Agnès Nkusi Uwimana, the editor of the privately-owned fortnightly "Umurabyo", was released on 19 January 2008 on completing the one-year sentence for "creating divisions," "sectarianism" and "defamation" that she was given by a Kigali court on 20 April 2007. She was arrested on 12 January 2007.

Philippines

Journalists arrested at Peninsula Hotel incident ask Supreme Court to declare arrests illegal, protect them from harassment

(CMFR/IFEX) - Eleven journalists and media technicians from the Philippines' biggest television network who were arrested for covering an incident involving about 20 soldiers in the Manila Peninsula Hotel in November 2007 have asked the Supreme Court to declare their arrest illegal and to protect them and other journalists from future government harassment.

Sri Lanka

Suspects in journalist's stabbing in Bingiriya turn themselves in; IFJ bemoans police inaction

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

Lebanon

Editor of socialist newspaper target of arson attack

(MAHARAT/IFEX) - Maharat Foundation denounces the threatening arson attack directed against the property of journalist Aziz El Metni, the editor in chief of "Al-Anbaa" newspaper. Maharat Foundation and other observers consider this a deliberate act of intimidation against El Metni, in response to his work as a journalist.

Philippines

Court allows continuation of class action suit by journalists against president's husband

(CMFR/IFEX) - A motion, the second filed by Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to dismiss the class action suit filed against him by 40 journalists and three media organizations in response to his numerous libel suits, has been denied by a Philippine court.

Azerbaijan

Journalist given six-year prison sentence on spurious charges, says IRFS

(IRFS/IFEX) - IRFS condemns Azerbaijan's government for the decision adopted 21 January 2008 against "Bizim Yol" newspaper correspondent Mushfig Huseynov. In the Grave Crimes Court, Judge Jamal Ramazanov sentenced Huseynov to six years of imprisonment on the basis of Article 311 of the Criminal Code (accepting a bribe). Huseynov is also forbidden from working as a journalist for two additional years after he is released from prison.

Ghana

Police manhandle journalists and briefly detain them

(MFWA/IFEX) - Two journalists of privately-owned Accra-based newspapers were violently attacked by armed policemen on the night of 19 January 2007.

Egypt

Security forces prevent peaceful expression of criticism at rally, detain journalists, seize freelancer's photographs

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

Canada

Federal court orders two journalists to reveal their sources

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns a Montreal federal court ruling on 18 January 2008 ordering two journalists employed by the French-language daily "La Presse", Joël-Denis Bellavance and Gilles Toupin, to identify the source of a leak at the request of Adil Charkaoui, a terrorism suspect who was the subject of the leak. The newspaper is planning to appeal.

Mexico

Two magazine journalists face legal action over coverage of elderly indigenous woman's controversial death

(CEPET/IFEX) - A complaint has been filed against two journalists of "Proceso" magazine, the country's most important political weekly, by the Veracruz State Prosecutor, regarding a report in which army personnel were implicated in the rape and death of an elderly indigenous woman.

Sri Lanka

Journalist harassed, assaulted by local officials while covering bus tragedy

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

Colombia

Death threats, harassment of two journalists by paramilitary-linked politicians and military in Magangué and Montería

(CESO-IFJ/IFEX) - After journalist Alexander Guerrero videotaped the removal of computers, printers and furniture from city hall by men sent by Jorge Luis Alfonso López, who until that day was the mayor of the town of Magangué, Guerrero was stopped on the street and threatened with murder. Meanwhile, in Montería, another city a few kilometres from Magangué, journalist Clodomiro Castilla has again been victimised for his ongoing reporting of acts of corruption by regional politicians linked to paramilitary groups.

Pakistan

Government lifts ban on Geo TV but forces it to remove some programmes

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders hails the lifting of a government ban on cable TV distribution of the privately-owned TV channel Geo News but deplores the fact that President Pervez Musharraf made it conditional on the suppression of some its programmes.

Nepal

Journalist injured in attack following publication of article in local newspaper

(FNJ/IFEX) - Manoj Sah, a freelancer journalist linked with the Maoist allied Revolutionary Journalist Association, was attacked by a dozen people on 17 January 2008 near the Chamar area of Janakpur, an eastern city of Nepal.

Pakistan

Government criticisms of alert on expulsion case "ring hollow," says CPJ

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Zambia

Government commits to passing freedom of information bill

(MISA/IFEX) - On 11 January 2008, during the official opening of Parliament Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa announced that the government had decided to re-introduce the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) back into Parliament in 2008, following wide consultation.

Russia

Authorities declare deported journalist a threat to state security

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 17 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Belarus

Editor sentenced to three years in prison over Muhammad cartoons

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Cuba

Journalist in Combinado del Sur prison on hunger strike; RSF alarmed at deteriorating health of several others

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has reiterated its call for the release of 24 detained Cuban journalists as the population prepared to vote for - but not choose, as there is no choice - its representatives in national and provincial assembly elections to be held on 20 January 2008.

Ghana

Palace official destroys journalist's camera, orders him to leave premises

(MFWA/IFEX) - A digital camera belonging to Fred J. A. Ibrahim, a Kumasi correspondent of the "Daily Guide", a privately-owned Accra-based newspaper, was destroyed on 11 January 2008 by Yaw Amankwah, a photographer of Manhyia Palace, the official seat of the Asante Kingdom.

Mexico

Two "Noticias" reporters receive death threats over coverage of confrontation at university in Oaxaca

(CEPET/IFEX) - Two reporters from the state of Oaxaca, in southeastern Mexico, received death threats on 16 January 2008 from an individual presumed to be a student gang member known as "El Dragón".

Chad

Further arrests follow radio station's closure

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 17 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Kuwait

Al-Jazeera sentenced to heavy fine for "defamation"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a 20,000 dinar fine (approx. 50,000 euros) imposed by a court in Kuwait City on 17 January 2008 on Qatar-based satellite TV, al-Jazeera, over a programme judged to have defamed Kuwait.

El Salvador

Death threats against radio station owner; media ownership too concentrated, warns PROBIDAD

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - In a 17 January 2008 press release, spokespeople for radio station Radio Cadena Mi Gente condemned death threats made against one of the station's main stockholders, William Osmar Chamagua Morataya. The threats were made by telephone, twice to the station and once to his family's home. The last call was received on 16 January. The station's representatives fear that the threats are motivated by the media outlet's critical stance.

Nepal

Motive in killing of journalist linked to reporting, ethnic violence in south

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns the murder of journalist Pushkar Bahadur Shrestha on 12 January 2008 near the southern city of Birgunj. Responsibility for his shooting was claimed by Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, a militia led by Jwala Singh, which says it defends the population of the southern plains. It called Shrestha a "pahadi" journalist, meaning one from the hill region.

Mexico

President's office bars "Proceso" magazine for 10 months following critical coverage

(CEPET/IFEX) - "Proceso" weekly magazine complained in its 13 January 2008 issue that for 10 months it has been denied accreditation to cover President Felipe Calderón's tours.

Greece

Rights activist harassed, threatened with death, after testifying in trial of Holocaust denier

(GHM/IFEX) - A prominent anti-racism activist who gave evidence in the trial of a Greek author who denies the Holocaust, has found himself the target of a hate campaign involving death threats being waged on the Internet.

Brazil

RSF welcomes move to repeal repressive 1967 press law

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2008 RSF letter to Brazilian Congressman Miro Teixeira:

Guinea-Bissau

Journalist intimidated and threatened with death following reports on drug trafficking

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

Niger

Police officer threatens radio journalists

(MFWA/IFEX) - Ben Issoufou Mohammed and Moussa Inne, journalists of Sahara FM, a privately-owned radio station based in Agadez, a town of about 1000 km north of Niamey, capital of Niger, were on January 10, 2008 threatened by a police officer stationed at the town's police station.

Azerbaijan

Newspaper editor convicted of slander, sentenced to corrective labour; television cameraman attacked, injured for filming electricity official

(IRFS/IFEX) - On 17 January 2008, the Narimanov District Court, presided over by Judge Sevinj Aliyeva, convicted Avaz Zeynalli, the editor-in-chief of "Khural" newspaper, of slander, sentencing him to 1.6 years of corrective labour. He must also pay 15 percent of his salary to the state during the period of his sentence.

Niger

Appeals court to deliberate on admissibility of telephone wiretap evidence in case of journalist Moussa Kaka

(RSF/IFEX) - The court of criminal appeal in Niamey will deliberate until 12 February 2008 before deciding on the admissibility of telephone wiretap evidence used to accuse Moussa Kaka, a Radio France International (RFI) correspondent, of "complicity in undermining state authority", the RSF delegation in Niger has learned.

Kuwait

Fourteen jailed under new dress code, abused in prison; law violates free expression, targets the transgendered, warns Human Rights Watch

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

Afghanistan

Mullahs call for death penalty for young journalist held for past three months; another held for alleged "un-Islamic" Koran translation

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is very worried about the pressure being placed on the authorities by conservative religious leaders in the case of Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, a young journalist in the northern province of Balkh who has been detained since late October 2007 charges of blasphemy and defaming Islam. The Council of Mullahs says he should be sentenced to death.

Chad

Police raid, shut down N'Djamena radio station and arrest manager

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the Chadian authorities to explain why the police raided privately-owned radio FM Liberté in N'Djamena, on 16 January 2008, closed it down and arrested its manager, Djekourninga Kaoutar Lazar.

Nepal

International mission seriously concerned about press freedom violations

(ARTICLE 19/ FNJ/IFEX) - The following is a joint ARTICLE 19 and FNJ press release:

China

Conditions of writer's release "almost as repressive a form of censorship as a prison term", says PEN

(PEN Canada/PEN/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2008 joint PEN Canada and PEN American Center press release:

Peru

Two women journalists followed, sent death threats after investigating mayor of Chosica

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 14 January 2008, journalists Elizabeth Salinas and Cynthia Flores, who both work for the weekly "Canoeste" which is based in Chosica, a district of Lima, reported having been followed that evening by municipality employee Kenso Merino Luna and another man as they headed for dinner in that Lima district's main square. They also noted that as they went home, a municipal police car picked up the men and followed the journalists all the way to their residences.

Sri Lanka

Journalist stabbed for covering illegal sand mining; FMM alleges police reluctant to take action

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2008 FMM press release:

Somalia

BBC stringer arrested on orders of provincial governor

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has protested at the arrest and detention on 15 January 2008 of a stringer with the BBC Somali service, Ayanle Hussein Abdi.

Azerbaijan

Appeals court upholds conviction of critical editor

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Tunisia

Government lifts ban on IFJ website

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 January 2008 IFJ media release:

Bahrain

Authorities force cancellation of live programme on US president's visit

(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a 13 January 2008 BCHR statement:

Mexico

National human rights commission denounces irregularities in investigation of journalist's murder

(CEPET/IFEX) - The National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos, CNDH) has issued a report condemning irregularities in the investigation of journalist Amado Ramírez's murder. The CNDH submitted the report along with recommendations to the Guerrero state governor and the federal Attorney General's Office.

Azerbaijan

Journalist harassed after writing book about former president

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

Afghanistan

Suspects arrested in Kabul hotel bombing that killed journalist

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 15 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Burma

"Myanmar Times" and other media outlets threatened and sanctioned by military censors

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association condemn the recent sanctions taken by the military government's censorship board against the Burmese-language edition of the "Myanmar Times" weekly, which was ordered to suppress its next issue for carrying a report about an increase in the price of satellite dish licences ( http://www.mmtimes.com/no400/n006.htm ) in its 11 January 2008 issue.

Palestine

Two "Al-Hayat Al-Jadida" journalists held by Hamas

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of two journalists employed by the pro-Fatah newspaper "Al-Hayat Al-Jadida" who are being held by Hamas security forces in the Gaza Strip. One of them, Omar Al-Ghul, was arrested on 14 December 2007. The other, Munir Abu Rizq, the Gaza bureau chief, was arrested on 15 January 2008.

Central African Republic

Newspaper editor held on charge of "inciting a disturbance of the peace"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of Faustin Bambou, the editor of the privately-owned weekly "Les Collines de l'Oubangui", who was arrested on 11 January 2008 and charged on 15 January with "inciting a disturbance of the peace" and "rebelling against the country's institutions" because of an article accusing two government ministers of embezzlement.

Lebanon

Four students arrested, face criminal charges for slander over comments made on Facebook

(MAHARAT/IFEX) - On 10 January 2008, the prosecutor general of Bekaa arrested four students at Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Zahleh (eastern Lebanon) on charges of slander, libel and public insult following conversations between them on a Facebook webpage that were deemed inappropriate by one of their colleagues who pressed charges against them.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Journalist arrested and jailed following publication of articles critical of Mining Ministry

(JED/IFEX) - Maurice Kayombo, a journalist with "Les Grands Enjeux", a monthly investigative magazine printed in South Africa and distributed in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, has been detained for the past week in a holding cell of the Kinshasa/Gombe High Court. Officially, the journalist has been charged with blackmail and "disparaging an official" following a complaint lodged by Christophe Kaninio, the secretary-general of the Mining Ministry. Kayombo was arrested on 9 January 2008 by police officers in the offices of the secretary-general of the ministry after the journalist responded to an invitation by the official to verify information he had obtained.

China

Dissident writer Wang Dejia freed on bail, still faces charges

(WiPC/IFEX) - The WiPC of International PEN welcomes the release of dissident writer Wang Dejia (aka Jing Chu), who was freed on bail on 12 January 2008, but remains concerned that he still faces charges.

Afghanistan

Journalist arrested, faces possible death sentence for allegedly distributing "anti-Islamic literature"

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Peru

Acceso restringido a declaraciones juradas de funcionarios del estado problemático, según IPYS

(IPYS/IFEX) - El Tribunal Constitucional resolverá próximamente una controversia sobre la publicidad de las declaraciones juradas de los funcionarios estatales que es fundamental para el ejercicio del derecho al acceso a la información pública. Al respecto, tiene al voto un recurso presentado por IPYS contra el ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones.

Belarus

Freelance journalist arrested, given 15-day sentence; three others interrogated, their equipment seized after covering protest rally in Minsk

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 14 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Afghanistan

Norwegian journalist killed in suicide attack on Kabul hotel

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

China

WAN calls for release of magazine journalist jailed in 1996

(WAN/IFEX) - The following is a WAN letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao:

Saudi Arabia

French journalist who is Jewish denied visa

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Saudi government's refusal to issue a visa to French journalist Gideon Kouts, a contributor to the French monthly "L'Arche" and Israeli television's Channel Two. "Saudi Arabia's discrimination against journalists who work for Israeli media is unacceptable," the organisation said.

Brazil

Legal vacuum concerning information disclosure facilitates governmental irresponsibility, says ARTICLE 19

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

Pakistan

RSF concerned about situation of foreign journalists after "New York Times" writer forced to leave

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns US researcher and freelance journalist Nicholas Schmidle's forced departure from Pakistan. Schmidle, who wrote an article entitled "Next-Gen Taliban" for the 6 January 2008 issue of the "New York Times Magazine", left the country on 11 January after receiving a deportation order.

International

EU development bank's public information policy still problematic, says ARTICLE 19

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

Pakistan

IFJ demands suspension, revamping of abusive media authority

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

Somalia

Draft media law imposes overbroad restrictions, excessive government control, says ARTICLE 19

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

Mongolia

"Clarifications" on criminal defamation law by Supreme Court leave journalists at risk

(Globe International/IFEX) - The Supreme Court of Mongolia has issued new interpretations of provisions of the criminal defamation law, in order to provide a uniform understanding and thus ensure the correct application of the legislation.

Liberia

Information minister threatens to close media outlets, punish others for playing "vulgar music"

(CEMESP/IFEX) - CEMESP is appalled by repeated threats by the Minister of Information, Rev. Laurence Bropleh, to shut down legitimately registered media houses on account of their non payment of taxes and the type of music they play.

Somalia

Two radio journalists arrested by national security officer in Mogadishu

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - NUSOJ condemns the arrest of two radio journalists by an officer of the National Security Agency (NSA) of the Transitional Federal Government.

Nepal

Local newspaper editor shot to death, allegedly by rebel group, in Parsa

(CEHURDES/IFEX) - CEHURDES condemns the killing of journalist Pushkar Shrestha in Parsa district.

Vietnam

Thai journalist remains jailed without charge

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ letter to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet:

Philippines

Two suspects arraigned in 2001 killing of journalist Rolando Ureta

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

Canada / Zimbabwe

Toronto journalist threatened over article on Zimbabwe's political situation

(CJFE/IFEX) - The following is CJFE press release:

International

CAPSULE REPORT: ARTICLE 19 notes grave deterioration of free expression situation in Somalia, decreasing violations in West Africa

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of ARTICLE 19's December 2007 "Around Africa" bulletin:

Turkey

Editor on trial for publishing article mentioning Ataturk, faces possible prison sentence

(BIANET/IFEX) - Yasin Yetisgen, managing editor of the local newspaper "Coban Atesi" ("Shepherd's Fire") in Gaziantep, faces up to seven and a half years in prison for publishing an article containing references to Ataturk. The article was written by a journalist, Berkant Coskun, who lives abroad, and was entitled "Mother, Don't Send Me to Military Service". Yetisgen is on trial under Article 318 of the Penal Code for "alienating the public from military service" and under Law 5816 "Concerning Crimes against Ataturk".

United States

Release of tortured cameraman from Guantánamo contingent on his ban from journalism, says US, as his health deteriorates

(RSF/IFEX) - On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the arrival of the first detainees at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in eastern Cuba, RSF reiterated its call for the camp's closure and the release of Sami Al-Haj, a Sudanese cameraman with the pan-Arab TV station Al-Jazeera who has been held there without charge since June 2002.

Mexico

Legislators to create regulatory body to prevent abusive use of publicly-owned radio and television stations

(CEPET/IFEX) - Legislators from the main political parties agreed to advance a legislative reform aimed at creating a public media institute (Instituto de Medios Públicos) to regulate the content of government-owned television stations to prevent abuses of the use of the airtime.

Mexico

National human rights commission rules Guanajuato state official violated two newspaper's directors' freedom of expression

(CEPET/IFEX) - On 21 December 2007 the National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos, CNDH) recommended to Juan Manuel Oliva Ramírez, the governor of Guanajuato state, located in central Mexico, that an official of his administration offer a public apology to the directors of "a.m." and "Correo" newspapers for having violated their rights to freedom of expression, honour and good reputation. Oliva Ramírez belongs to the National Action Party (Partido Acción Nacional, PAN), the same party to which President Felipe Calderón belongs.

China

Lawyer for detained human rights activist Hu Jia put under house arrest, foreign journalists prevented from visiting wife and daughter

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is accusing the Chinese authorities, especially state security, of violating the new regulations for foreign journalists by preventing them from visiting the wife of detained human rights activist Hu Jia and of violating the right of Hu's lawyers to visit their client. One of the lawyers was placed under house arrest for a few hours.

Somalia

Radio journalist shot following threats to radio station

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has expressed outrage at the targeted shooting of journalist Abdikheyr Mohammed Jama of Radio Galkayo in Puntland by unknown assailants on 10 January 2008.

Mexico

Two reporters investigating construction irregularities assaulted

(CENCOS/IFEX) - Reporter Efraín Núñez Calderón and photojournalist Ulises Ruiz Basurto, both of the Puebla-based newspaper "Cambio", were assaulted on 9 January 2008 as they were investigating irregularities and delays in the construction of a hospital in the state capital.

Turkey

ECHR condemns censorship under emergency law, awards compensation to journalists

(BIANET/IFEX) - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has awarded compensation to journalists who were punished under emergency law and whose newspaper was banned in the Emergency Law regions.

Nigeria

Two journalists arrested for photographing statue, later released

(MRA/IFEX) - On 10 January 2008 at about 4:30 p.m. (local time), two journalists, Fidelis Mbah of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Tade Oludayo of Silverbird Television and Rhythm FM radio, were arrested by government security agents in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in south-west Nigeria, for taking photographs of a statue of the "Unknown Soldier" recently unveiled in front of the Government House.

Philippines

Government advisory threatens journalists with criminal charges if they "disobey orders" during emergencies

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Journalists and media groups in the Philippines are in uproar over an "advisory" issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) warning journalists of "criminal liabilities" should they "disobey lawful orders from government officers and personnel" during "emergencies".

Russia

Local television station faces possible criminal charges over tongue-in-cheek reference to president

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Syria

Another Damascus Declaration signatory arrested as crackdown continues

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

Niger

Radio director killed in landmine blast, investigation opened to determine if he was targeted

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2008 CPJ press release:

West Africa

Reported cases of press freedom violations in West African region decreased in 2007, says MFWA

(MFWA/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2008 MFWA press statement:

Sri Lanka

Undercover police attempt to abduct veteran journalist

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

Côte d'Ivoire

NGO activist receives one-year prison sentence for libel and contempt of court

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is astounded by the one-year prison sentence which an Abidjan criminal court imposed on activist Antoine Assalé Tiémoko on 4 January 2008 for "contempt of court and "libelling the prosecutor's office" in an op-ed piece about judicial corruption that he wrote for the daily "Le Nouveau Réveil" on 14 December 2007.

Nicaragua

Criminal investigation initiated against nine women's rights activists

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 9 January 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release:

China

Health of detained writer Hu Jia deteriorating, his family subjected to harassment

(WiPC/IFEX) - The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of activist and dissident writer Hu Jia who was arrested on 27 December 2007 on suspicion of "inciting subversion of state power". It is thought that he may be detained for reports and commentaries published online on various social issues. Hu suffers from poor health, and PEN seeks assurances of his well-being as a matter of urgency. International PEN fears that Hu Jia may be held in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory, and if so calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Peru

Mayor's bodyguard punches, threatens to kill journalist

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 6 January 2008, Josse Salazar Mezarina, bodyguard for Luis Lomparte Monteza, the mayor of the town of Casma, threatened to kill journalist Antonio Azalde, editor of the newspaper "El Guerrero" and punched him in the face. Casma is located in the Ancash region of northwestern Peru.

Sri Lanka

In latest attempt to silence Jaffna daily, paper receives telephone threats

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

Pakistan

Government restrictions render likelihood of proper media coverage of election unlikely, says RSF

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

Tanzania

Suspects held in newsroom attack

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 January 2008 CPJ press release:

Brazil

Television cameraman gunned down in Alagoas state, revenge killing by drug trafficker suspected

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is appalled by the murder of television cameraman Walter Lessa de Oliveira on 5 January 2008 in Maceió, the capital of the northeastern state of Alagoas, amid a disturbing crime wave in the city. Witnesses say he was gunned down by a drug trafficker and revenge appears to be the most likely motive.

Sri Lanka

Government minister recklessly accuses TV programme, journalist of promoting terrorism

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

Somalia

Journalist arrested for reporting on human trafficking

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) strongly condemns the arrest of journalist Idle Moallim in Bossasso on 5 January 2008 by the police force of Puntland Regional State.

Liberia

CEMESP condemns "unnecessary" accreditation requirements for journalists covering Truth and Reconciliation Commission proceedings

(CEMESP/IFEX) - The following is a 5 January 2008 CEMESP letter to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission chairman:

United States

Freedom of information law changes hailed as significant, albeit belated, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders welcomes the amendments to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that President George W. Bush signed into law on 31 December 2007, although it regrets that these amendments, which improve public access to information about federal government activity, have come so late in an administration that has shown little respect for this principle.

Iran

Government using security laws to suppress public expression of dissent, says Human Rights Watch

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

Algeria

Government takes direct control of six state printers

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is disturbed to learn that state-owned printing companies that print half of Algeria's privately-owned newspapers were placed under direct government control on 5 January 2008.

Somalia

One radio journalist arrested, another injured in clashes between insurgents and government forces

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is concerned over the safety of journalists due to a fresh wave of attacks against journalists since the beginning of 2008.

Morocco

Allow free expression in Western Sahara, says Human Rights Watch as talks on disputed region resume

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

Mexico

As accomplished radio journalist is taken off the air, CENCOS laments corporate media's limiting of free expression

(CENCOS/IFEX) - The following is a 4 January 2008 CENCOS press release:

Sri Lanka

Journalists face death threats for protesting minister's attack on media outlet

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 6 January 2008 FMM press release:

Côte d'Ivoire

Freelance French photographer detained in Abidjan

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF and the Gamma agency have expressed their concern for Jean-Paul Rey, a freelance French photographer arrested in Abidjan on 27 December 2007 and detained since then in the context of an investigation into an alleged "plot" aiming to sabotage the peace process.

Tanzania

Two editors of corruption-denouncing newspaper threatened with death, attacked with machetes, acid

(MISA/IFEX) - On 5 January 2008, two editors of the weekly Kiswahili-language newspaper "Mwanahalisi" were attacked and beaten by three anonymous machete-wielding assailants in their media house in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam.

Iran

Journalist receives one-year prison sentence, another released on bail; Kurdish weekly's licence withdrawn, paper closed

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the definitive closure of the Kurdish weekly "Karfto" by the Commission for Press Authorisation and Surveillance, an offshoot of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Its licence was withdrawn for good on 29 December 2007 on the grounds of "failure to publish regularly."

Guinea

State regulators suspend two newspapers, ban journalists after publication of articles critical of top officials

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

Azerbaijan

Health of imprisoned journalist Mirza Sakit seriously deteriorating

SOURCE: Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS), Baku

Sri Lanka

Army commander denounces sections of media, journalists as "traitors"

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

Syria

Journalist who signed Damascus Declaration held incommunicado

(RSF/IFEX) - Writer and journalist Fayez Sara was reportedly arrested on 3 January 2008 after responding to a summons from the state security services. His arrest, which has not yet been confirmed by the authorities, would bring the number of Damascus Declaration signatories currently detained to eight.

Pakistan

Journalists' homes raided, 34 face criminal charges allegedly over reporting on Bhutto assassination aftermath

(PPF/IFEX) - The police in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh have brought criminal cases against 34 journalists, during the period of rioting that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on 28 December 2007.

Ethiopia

Government blocks freed journalists from launching newspapers

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

Bahrain

Internet censorship denies citizens access to popular public forums, news, alternative information, says BCHR

(BCHR/IFEX) - The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its concern about the persistent measures taken by the Bahraini authorities to block the flow of information by preventing access to websites and popular online forums.

Turkey

Chief prosecutor seeks to punish parliamentarian over comment about army

(Antenna-TR/IFEX) - The Ankara Chief Prosecutor has prepared a memorandum and sent it to the Ministry of Justice, to be delivered to the Parliament, seeking to strip Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) deputy (and former president) Mr. Ahmet Turk of his immunity, in order that Turk might be tried on the charge of "insult" to the army.

Iraq

Journalist freed in Mosul after being held for a month; press freedom situation continues to deteriorate in Iraqi Kurdistan, says RSF

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has welcomed the release of Faisal Abbas Ghazala, a correspondent for the satellite TV station Kolsat, on 21 December 2007 after more than a month in detention in Mosul, but called on the Kurdistan regional government to show greater care and moderation in its measures affecting the news media.

Burma

Huge rise in satellite television fees jeopardises access to information

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association condemn the 167-fold increase in the price of a satellite dish licence - from 6,000 to 1 million kyats (approx. US$5 to 800) - that has just been introduced by the military government. Reuters quoted a Myanmar Post and Telecom official as saying: "We were just ordered by the higher authorities. Even I was shocked when I heard about it."

Honduras

Radio station owner shot dead in Santa Bárbara

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) - The year 2008 began tragically in Honduras, with the murder of 41-year-old José Fernando Gonzáles, the owner of the radio station Radio Mega, on 1 January.

Afghanistan

Journalist shot dead in attack on bus

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

China

Over 180 foreign journalists harassed in 2007, including Reuters correspondent attacked and threatened with death

(RSF/IFEX) - The Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) issued a press release on 1 January 2008 saying it had received more than 180 reports of foreign journalists being obstructed in their work since the introduction in January 2007 of new rules that were supposed to enable the international media to operate much more freely in China.

Sri Lanka

Media minister's restrictive definition of "journalist" aims to downplay number of attacks on media, says FMM

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

International

Iraq and Somalia deadliest countries for journalists; 65 killed worldwide in 2007, says CPJ

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

Egypt

Court rejects request to ban 51 websites

(HRinfo/IFEX) - In a court ruling restoring hope in the hearts of all defenders of freedom of opinion and expression in Egypt and the world, the Administrative Judicial Court issued a decision on 29 December 2007 in Case No. 15575 / 61, in which Judge Abdul Fattah Murad sought a ban on 51 Egyptian websites. The court rejected the request, emphasising support for freedom of expression and the importance of not compromising the freedom of these websites as long as they do not undermine fundamental beliefs or public order.

Somalia

Press situation deteriorated dramatically in 2007, shows NUSOJ annual report

(NUSOJ/IFEX) - The following is a 30 December 2007 NUSOJ press release:

Mexico

National human rights commission criticises flawed investigation into journalist's murder

(CENCOS/IFEX) - More than a year after the 9 November 2006 disappearance of "Despertar de la Costa" newspaper owner-editor Misael Tamayo Hernández, whose body was found the day after he went missing from Zihuatanejo, in Guerrero state, the National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, CNDH) has directed a formal recommendation to the governor of Guerrero state, Zeferino Torreblanca, regarding flaws and irregularities in the investigation by the state prosecutor's office into the journalist's murder.

Kenya

Government imposes news blackout

(RSF/IFEX) - Warning the government of the dangers of the ban on live radio and TV news reports, Reporters Without Borders has condemned the climate of fear imposed on the privately-owned media in the wake of Kenya's disputed presidential election following the live radio and TV news reports ban announced on 30 December 2007.

Peru

One journalist killed, over 100 press violations in 2007, shows IPYS report

(IPYS/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 20 December 2007 IPYS press release:

Paraguay

One journalist killed, but struggle to democratise media continued in 2007, says SPP

(SPP/IFEX) - The following is an abridged 24 December 2007 SPP press release:

International

"Tragedy unlimited" says IFJ as killings of journalists in 2007 maintain record levels

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 31 December IFJ press release:

International

Eighty-six journalists killed, two arrested per day, over 2600 websites shut down in 2007, says RSF

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

International

IAPA acclaims guilty verdicts in murders of journalists in various countries

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 21 December 2007 IAPA press release:

Paraguay

IAPA opposes proposed law governing journalistic activity

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 20 December 2007 IAPA press release:

Tunisia

Journalist denied passport allegedly for reporting on human rights violations

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

Azerbaijan

President pardons five journalists; three left behind bars

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

Sri Lanka

Parliamentarian murdered after announcing intention to expose government involvement in abductions, killings

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 1 January 2008 FMM press release: