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Articles - Caribbean

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Cuba / Spain

Dissident journalist takes own life after year in exile

A dissident Cuban journalist who was released last year and forced into exile has committed suicide, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Dominican Republic

Critical journalist slain

A critical Dominican journalist was kidnapped by gunmen and found dead hours later on 2 August. As the director of a magazine and host of a television programme, José Agustín Silvestre had accused political figures in the city of La Romana of involvement in drug trafficking, report the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Cuba

Last jailed journalist released into exile

The last remaining Cuban journalist in prison, Albert Santiago Du Bouchet Hernández, was freed on 7 April and exiled to Spain, report the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). This ends "a dark, eight-year-long era in which the island nation was one of the world's worst jailers of the press," at one time jailing nearly 30 independent reporters and writers, says CPJ.

Cuba

"Black Spring" journalist released against his wishes

A Cuban journalist who had refused to leave prison until all political prisoners were freed was released against his will last week as the Cuban government continues to free opposition activists and journalists arrested during a notorious crackdown in 2003, report the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International (WiPC) and other IFEX members.

International / Awards / Cuba

Cuban dissident wins European Parliament's Sakharov Prize

The European Parliament has awarded its Sakharov human rights prize to Guillermo Fariñas Hernandez, the Cuban dissident whose four-month hunger strike ultimately led to the release of numerous political prisoners in Cuba, report Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Human Rights Watch.

Suriname

President responsible for murder of journalists and activists

In a breathtaking case of impunity, Desi Bouterse was sworn in as President of Suriname on 12 August despite being charged with the murders of five journalists in 1982 while he was dictator, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Cuba

Nine dissidents freed from prison, but scores remain behind bars

President Raúl Castro's government has agreed to release 52 of the 75 Cuban journalists, writers, activists, librarians and members of opposition political parties jailed in a major crackdown on dissent in 2003, known as the Black Spring. Eight journalists, who spent more than seven years in prison for their independent reporting, and another dissident arrived in Spain on 13 and 14 July in the first wave of freed political prisoners. IFEX members are concerned that freed dissidents must leave Cuba as a precondition of their release.

Caribbean

Association of Caribbean Media Workers launches elections handbook

Journalists at a training workshop held in March in Trinidad and Tobago were trained by the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) in monitoring media during elections. They received a copy of the ACM's "Elections Handbook for Caribbean Journalists", which aims to improve journalistic performance in the coverage of elections. Download the handbook at: http://www.acmediaworkers.com/archive/publications/20090611-ElectionHandbook.pdf

Haiti

Survivors exhausted and traumatised; media crippled

Not only did the devastating earthquake on 12 January in Haiti leave survivors with no food, no water, no shelter and no place to bury the dead, but it also left them with little or no information, report IFEX members. The media have also suffered great losses at a time when people urgently need aid information.

Cuba

A blogging revolution

Blogging flourishes in Cuba as a new generation writes critically about social and economic issues, leaving behind a generation of leaders over 70 who do not fully understand the phenomenon, says a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Cuba

Journalist sentenced to three years on "disrespect" charges

A Cuban journalist has been sentenced to three years in jail on charges of "disrespect for authority," report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC), the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Cuba

SEIS AÑOS DESPUÉS, LOS MIEMBROS DE IFEX EXIGEN LIBERACIÓN DE DISIDENTES ENCARCELADOS EN "PRIMAVERA NEGRA"

Cuba

APRÈS SIX ANS, LES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX EXIGENT LA LIBÉRATION DES DISSIDENTS EMPRISONNÉS LORS DU « PRINTEMPS NOIR »

Cuba

SIX YEARS ON, IFEX MEMBERS DEMAND RELEASE OF DISSIDENTS JAILED IN "BLACK SPRING"

Six years after Cuba's notorious "Primavera Negra" ("Black Spring") crackdown on journalists and other accused dissenters, the country continues to trample on free expression. Cuba jails more journalists than any other country but China.

Dominica

DES GROUPES DE MÉDIAS CONDAMNENT UN AVANT-PROJET DE LOI SUR LA RADIODIFFUSION

Dominica

GRUPOS DE MEDIOS REPUDIAN PROYECTO DE LEY DE RADIO Y TELEVISIÓN

Dominica

DOMINICA: MEDIA GROUPS CONDEMN DRAFT BROADCAST LAW

The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), the Media Workers Association of Dominica (MWAD) and ARTICLE 19 joined forces last week to highlight the danger Dominica's draft broadcast law poses to independent media and to recommend changes to the law.

Dominican Republic

CAMARÓGRAFO QUE CUBRÍA CRÍMENES ES ASESINADO A BALAZOS

Dominican Republic

UN CAMERAMAN QUI AVAIT COUVERT UN CRIME EST ABATTU

Dominican Republic

CAMERAMAN WHO COVERED CRIME SHOT DEAD

Teleunión journalist Normando García was shot and killed on 7 August 2008 in Santiago, a city north of Santo Domingo.

Cuba

MIEMBROS DE IFEX INSTAN A CASTRO A LIBERAR A PERIODISTAS ENCARCELADOS

Cuba

LIBÉREZ LES JOURNALISTES EMPRISONNÉS, DISENT À CASTRO DES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX

Cuba

CUBA: RELEASE JAILED JOURNALISTS, IFEX MEMBERS URGE CASTRO

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) are appealing to President Raúl Castro to unconditionally release all jailed journalists in Cuba now that the European Union has lifted diplomatic sanctions on the socialist country.

Cuba

CUATRO DISIDENTES LIBERADOS

Cuba

QUATRE DISSIDENTS SONT REMIS EN LIBERTÉ

Cuba

FOUR DISSIDENTS RELEASED

Four Cuban dissidents - including two journalists - were released and flown into exile in Spain after spending years behind bars for their political beliefs.

Haiti

LA RUSSIE ET HAÏTI INTENSIFIENT LA LUTTE CONTRE L'IMPUNITÉ EN PRONONÇANT DES PEINES CONTRE LES ASSASSINS DE JOURNALISTES

Haiti

RUSSIA AND HAITI INTENSIFY FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY BY CONVICTING JOURNALISTS' KILLERS

Five gang members have been convicted in Russia for the murder of journalist Igor Domnikov, the first time suspects have been prosecuted in a journalist's killing since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In Haiti, two life sentences were handed down to the murderers of journalist Jacques Roche, according to Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Haiti

CREAN COMISIÓN PARA INVESTIGAR ASESINATOS DE PERIODISTAS

Haiti

MISE SUR PIED D'UNE COMMISSION D'ENQUÊTE SUR LES MEURTRES DE JOURNALISTES

Haiti

COMMISSION LAUNCHED TO INVESTIGATE JOURNALIST MURDERS

An independent committee will be set up to investigate the unsolved murders of journalists in Haiti, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports.

Haiti

UN DEUXIÈME REPORTER DE LA RADIO EST TUÉ EN MOINS D'UNE SEMAINE

Haiti

SEGUNDO REPORTERO DE RADIO ASESINADO EN UNA SEMANA

Haiti

SECOND RADIO REPORTER KILLED IN A WEEK

A popular radio host was kidnapped and killed in Port-au-Prince, the second radio personality gunned down in Haiti in a week, according to Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Haiti

REPORTERO DE RADIO BALEADO Y MUERTO

Haiti

UN REPORTER DE LA RADIO EST ABATTU

Haiti

RADIO REPORTER SHOT TO DEATH

A radio reporter was gunned down outside his wife's house in northern Haiti last week, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Inter American Press Association (IAPA).

Haiti

SEPT ANS D'IMPUNITÉ POUR LES ASSASSINS D'UN JOURNALISTE

Haiti

SIETE AÑOS DE IMPUNIDAD PARA ASESINOS DE PERIODISTA

Haiti

SEVEN YEARS OF IMPUNITY FOR JOURNALIST'S KILLERS

On the seventh anniversary of the murder of popular radio journalist Jean Dominique, his killers have escaped with impunity, reports Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Haiti

UN PHOTOGRAPHE PERD LA VIE

Haiti

FOTÓGRAFO MUERTO

Haiti

PHOTOGRAPHER KILLED

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have called on Haitian authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder of photographer Jean-Rémy Badio, who was killed on 19 January 2007 in the capital Port-au-Prince.

Guyana

PISTOLEROS MATAN A CINCO EMPLEADOS DE PERIÓDICO

Guyana

DES INDIVIDUS ARMÉS TUENT CINQ PERSONNES QUI TRAVAILLAIENT POUR DES JOURNAUX

Guyana

GUNMEN KILL FIVE NEWSPAPER WORKERS

The Inter American Press Association (IAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) have condemned the killing of five employees of "Kaieteur News", the highest-circulation daily newspaper in Guyana.

Cuba

PERIODISTAS CUBANOS INDEPENDIENTES PERSEVERAN A PESAR DE OFENSIVA

Cuba

LES JOURNALISTES CUBAINS INDÉPENDANTS PERSÉVÈRENT EN DÉPIT DE LA RÉPRESSION

Cuba

INDEPENDENT CUBAN JOURNALISTS PERSEVERE DESPITE CRACKDOWN

Three years after the Cuban government launched a large-scale crackdown on dissidents and journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) has produced a report examining the state of press freedom in the country.

Guyana

PRESENTADOR DE PROGRAMA DE DEBATES ASESINADO

Guyana

ASSASSINAT DE L'ANIMATEUR D'UNE ÉMISSION D'ENTREVUES

Guyana

TALK SHOW HOST MURDERED

The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) have urged Guyanese authorities to thoroughly investigate the death of radio show host and opposition activist Ronald Waddell, who was gunned down outside his home in Subryanville, Guyana on 30 January 2006.

Cuba

UN GROUPE DE FEMMES EST EMPÊCHÉ DE RECEVOIR UNE RÉCOMPENSE POUR LA DÉFENSE DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

Cuba

IMPIDEN A GRUPO DE MUJERES RECIBIR PREMIO DE DERECHOS HUMANOS

Cuba

WOMEN'S GROUP BARRED FROM ACCEPTING HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE

The Cuban government has barred a group of dissidents' wives and mothers from traveling to Strasbourg, France, to accept a major human rights award given by the European Parliament, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Haiti

SIP ORGANIZA CURSO DE CAPACITACIÓN EN SEGURIDAD PARA PERIODISTAS HAITIANOS

Haiti

LA SIP ORGANISE DE LA FORMATION EN SÉCURITÉ POUR LES JOURNALISTES HAÏTIENS

Haiti

POPULAR PERIODISTA ASESINADO MIENTRAS MENUDEAN SECUESTROS

Haiti

UN JOURNALISTE POPULAIRE EST ASSASSINÉ TANDIS QUE LA PRATIQUE DES ENLÈVEMENTS PREND DE L'AMPLEUR

Haiti

POPULAR JOURNALIST MURDERED AS KIDNAPPINGS SOAR

The bullet-sprayed and handcuffed body of Jacques Roche, a well-known Haitian journalist kidnapped on 10 July 2005, has been found on a Port-au-Prince street, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Haiti

UN JOURNALISTE PERD LA VIE

Haiti

PERIODISTA ASESINADO

Haiti

JOURNALIST KILLED

The UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti has launched an investigation into the death of journalist Laraque Robenson, who was fatally injured while covering clashes between former Haitian soldiers and UN peacekeepers in the southern town of Petit-Goâve, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Cuba

LES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX EXIGENT LA LIBÉRATION DES JOURNALISTES EMPRISONNÉS

Cuba

MIEMBROS DE IFEX EXIGEN LIBERTAD PARA PERIODISTAS ENCARCELADOS

Cuba

IFEX MEMBERS DEMAND FREEDOM FOR JAILED JOURNALISTS

Two years after the Cuban government launched a crackdown on freedom of expression by arresting dozens of dissidents and journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), Human Rights Watch and the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) are focusing attention on the plight of more than 20 journalists who remain behind bars.

Haiti

UN JOURNALISTE PERD LA VIE DANS UNE EXPLOSION DE VIOLENCE

Haiti

PERIODISTA ASESINADO EN BROTE DE VIOLENCIA

Haiti

JOURNALIST KILLED AS VIOLENCE FLARES

The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) is calling on Haitian authorities to investigate the murder of radio journalist Abdias Jean, who was reportedly killed by police during a raid on a shantytown near Port-au-Prince.

Cuba

QUATRE JOURNALISTES LIBÉRÉS DE PRISON

Cuba

CUATRO PERIODISTAS LIBERADOS DE LA CÁRCEL

Cuba

FOUR JOURNALISTS RELEASED FROM JAIL

IFEX members have welcomed the release of four Cuban journalists from prison but are calling on the government to free dozens of others who remain behind bars.

Dominican Republic

ASSASSINAT D'UN JOURNALISTE

Dominican Republic

PERIODISTA ASESINADO

Dominican Republic

JOURNALIST MURDERED

On 14 September 2004, gunmen shot and killed journalist Juan Emilio Andújar in Azua, Dominican Republic, shortly after he reported on an escalating crime wave that has seen as many as six journalists threatened in recent weeks.

Haiti

DES JOURNALISTES PRO-ARISTIDE MENACÉS, DIT UN DOSSIER DU CPJ

Haiti

PERIODISTAS PARTIDARIOS DE ARISTIDE AMENAZADOS: INFORME DE CPJ

Haiti

PRO-ARISTIDE JOURNALISTS UNDER THREAT: CPJ REPORT

Five months after the collapse of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government, journalists continue to work under dangerous conditions, especially those sympathetic to the former leader, says a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Cuba

LE WIPC S'APPRÊTE À LANCER UNE CAMPAGNE ÉPISTOLAIRE

Cuba

WIPC LANZARÁ CAMPAÑA DE ENVÍO DE CARTAS

Cuba

WiPC TO LAUNCH LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) is launching a letter-writing campaign this month to focus attention on the plight of 32 imprisoned Cuban journalists, writers and librarians.

Haiti

LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE S'AMÉLIORE DEPUIS LE DÉPART D'ARISTIDE

Haiti

LIBERTAD DE PRENSA MEJORA DESPUÉS DE ARISTIDE

Haiti

PRESS FREEDOM IMPROVING POST ARISTIDE

Since the fall of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004, journalists, it seems, are able to breathe again. Press freedom has returned to the country and a "new wind of freedom" is blowing for radio stations in the capital, Port-au-Prince, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Cuba

DES JOURNALISTES SONT LIBÉRÉS DE PRISON

Cuba

PERIODISTAS LIBERADOS DE PRISIÓN

Cuba

JOURNALISTS RELEASED FROM PRISON

Two journalists who were sentenced in 2003 to lengthy prison terms have been granted an early release, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC).

Cuba

AGISSEZ ! SIGNEZ LA PÉTITION D'APPUI DU CPJ À UN JOURNALISTE CUBAIN EMPRISONNÉ

Cuba

DES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX EXIGENT LA REMISE EN LIBERTÉ DES DISSIDENTS INCARCÉRÉS

Cuba

¡ACTÚE! FIRME PETICIÓN DE CPJ PARA APOYAR A PERIODSTA CUBANO ENCARCELADO

Cuba

MIEMBROS DE IFEX EXIGEN LIBERACIÓN DE DISIDENTES ENCARCELADOS

Cuba

TAKE ACTION: SIGN CPJ PETITION TO SUPPORT JAILED CUBAN JOURNALIST

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) invites you to sign a petition calling for the release of imprisoned Cuban journalist Manuel Vásquez Portal.

Cuba

IFEX MEMBERS DEMAND RELEASE OF JAILED DISSIDENTS

Five IFEX members joined worldwide calls last week for the release of 75 imprisoned journalists and dissidents in Cuba, marking the first anniversary of a sweeping government crackdown on the country's human rights activists and independent press.

Haiti

PERIODISTA ESPAÑOL ASESINADO; FOTÓGRAFO ESTADOUNIDENSE LESIONADO

Haiti

UN JOURNALISTE ESPAGNOL PERD LA VIE, UN PHOTOGRAPHE AMÉRICAIN EST BLESSÉ

Haiti

SPANISH JOURNALIST KILLED, AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER WOUNDED

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières,RSF) has voiced deep concern about the situation in Haiti after Spanish television journalist Ricardo Ortega was killed and American news photographer Michael Laughlin was wounded in Port-au-Prince shootings on 7 March 2004.

Cuba

CUBA: SIGNEZ UNE PÉTITION DE REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES POUR FAIRE LIBÉRER LE JOURNALISTE CUBAIN EMPRISONNÉ RAÚL RIVERO

Cuba

FIRME UNA CARTA PARA AYUDAR A LIBERAR A PERIODISTA CUBANO

Cuba

UN JOURNALISTE CUBAIN EMPRISONNÉ REMPORTE LE PRIX DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE DE L'UNESCO

Haiti

LES ATTAQUES CONTRE LA PRESSE PRENNENT DE L'AMPLEUR

Cuba

JAILED CUBAN JOURNALIST WINS UNESCO PRESS FREEDOM PRIZE

UNESCO has awarded the 2004 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to Cuban journalist Raúl Rivero Castañeda in honour of his "brave and longstanding commitment to independent reporting."

Cuba

CASTRO RESSERRE SON ÉTREINTE SUR L'INTERNET

Haiti

DES ATTENTATS OBLIGENT DES STATIONS DE RADIO À QUITTER LES ONDES

Haiti

ATAQUES OBLIGAN A ESTACIONES DE RADIO A SALIR DEL AIRE

Cuba

CASTRO ESTRECHA CONTROL SOBRE INTERNET

Cuba

CASTRO TIGHTENS GRIP ON INTERNET

Surfing the Net in Cuba may now come at a higher price following a new law giving authorities greater powers to monitor online traffic and impede access to the Internet, warn Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), Freedom House and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

Haiti

ATTACKS FORCE RADIO STATIONS OFF THE AIR

As opposition protests aimed at ousting Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power continue to escalate, media are feeling the pressure, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Cuba

DES JOURNALISTES INCARCÉRÉS SONT REMIS EN LIBERTÉ

Cuba

IAPA HIGHLIGHTS CUBA AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) singled out Cuba as the leading violator of press freedom in the Americas at its annual General Assembly last week. The conference included sessions examining the state of press freedom in 25 countries.

Cuba

LES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX EXPRIMENT LEUR PRÉOCCUPATION DEVANT LA GRÈVE DE LA FAIM QUE FONT DES JOURNALISTES

Cuba

MIEMBROS DE IFEX EXPRESAN INQUIETUD POR PERIODISTAS EN HUELGA DE HAMBRE

Cuba

IFEX MEMBERS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER JOURNALISTS ON HUNGER STRIKE

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) have expressed concern over the prison conditions of independent Cuban journalists who were sentenced earlier this year to lengthy prison terms.

Haiti

LE GOUVERNEMENT HAÏTIEN PROMET DE PASSER EN REVUE LES AFFAIRES

Haiti

GOBIERNO DE HAITÍ PROMETE EXAMINAR CASOS DE LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Haiti

HAITIAN GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO REVIEW PRESS-FREEDOM CASES

The government of Haiti has promised to report on the status of investigations into the murders of journalists and other press-freedom violations, following recent meetings with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Haiti

Le rapporteur spécial de l'OEA demande la fin de l'impunité en Haïti

Haiti

RELATOR DE LA OEA INSTA A PONER FIN A IMPUNIDAD IN HAITÍ

Cuba

LA FONDATION KNIGHT APPUIE UN MAGAZINE CUBAIN

Cuba

Fundación Knight apoya revista cubana

Cuba

Knight Foundation Supports Independent Cuban Magazine

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded a US$188,000 grant to CubaNet News to "improve the flow of news into and out of Cuba," where dozens of journalists were sentenced in March to lengthy prison terms as part of a sweeping crackdown on free expression.

Cuba

CPJ, RSF MONITOR CUBAN CRACKDOWN ON FREE EXPRESSION

With 28 Cuban journalists behind bars on jail sentences of up to 28 years, IFEX members are actively monitoring the situation and providing up-to-date information online.

Cuba

IMPONEN SEVERAS PENAS DE CÁRCEL A PERIODISTAS Y DISIDENTES

Cuba

DES JOURNALISTES ET DES DISSIDENTS SONT CONDAMNÉS À DE LOURDES PEINES DE PRISON

Cuba

JOURNALISTS, DISSIDENTS ISSUED HEAVY JAIL TERMS

Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the International Press Institute, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Inter American Press Association and the International Federation of Journalists have condemned the Cuban government for imposing jail sentences of up to 25 years on dozens of dissidents, including journalists, following nation-wide arrests of some 80 individuals in the past three weeks.

Cuba

UNE VAGUE DE RÉPRESSION ENTRAÎNE L?ARRESTATION D?UN GRAND NOMBRE DE JOURNALISTES

Cuba

VEINTENAS DE PERIODISTAS ARRESTADOS EN OFENSIVA

Cuba

SCORE OF JOURNALISTS ARRESTED IN CRACKDOWN

Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have called on the Cuban government to release at least 50 dissidents and journalists detained last week in the first wave of arrests the country has seen in months.

Haiti

LA SITUATION DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE SE DÉTÉRIORE

Haiti

SE DETERIORAN CONDICIONES DE LA LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Haiti

PRESS-FREEDOM CONDITIONS DETERIORATING

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) have expressed serious concern over free-expression conditions in Haiti where recent attacks against the press have forced radio stations to close and journalists to flee the country.

Cuba

UN RAPPORT DE RSF DÉNONCE LE MONOPOLE DE L?ÉTAT SUR LES MÉDIAS

Cuba

INFORME DE RSF CONDENA MONOPOLIO DE MEDIOS ESTATALES

Cuba

RSF REPORT CONDEMNS STATE MEDIA MONOPOLY

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) has just published a report on Cuba, calling on the European Union (EU) to impose stringent conditions on the Cuban government before granting economic aid under an international trade pact.

Haiti

INFORME DE AMNISTÍA SE CENTRA EN IMPUNIDAD

Haiti

LE RAPPORT D?AMNISTIE DÉNONCE L?IMPUNITÉ

Haiti

AMNESTY REPORT TARGETS IMPUNITY

A climate of intimidation and violence against journalists in Haiti is jeopardising the free-expression gains made when democratic elections were restored eight years ago, says a new report by Amnesty International.

Haiti

CPJ HACE LLAMADO A TERMINAR CON IMPUNIDAD EN ASESINATOS DE PERIODISTAS

Haiti

LE CPJ EXIGE LA FIN DE L?IMPUNITÉ POUR LES ASSASSINS DES JOURNALISTES

Haiti

CPJ CALLS FOR END TO IMPUNITY IN JOURNALISTS' MURDERS

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is urging Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to end the impunity surrounding murders and violent attacks on journalists, saying a "troubling atmosphere of intimidation and fear prevails throughout the country. The group recently completed a three-day mission to the country, during which it spoke to numerous journalists. They told CPJ that, compared to the brutally repressive regimes of Francois and Jean Claude Duvalier, they felt freer under Aristide's rule but more intimidated. "The threats can come from anywhere," including the so-called "OP" community groups that operate like paramilitary groups, they said.

Cuba

UN ÉCRIVAIN DISSIDENT EST LIBÉRÉ

Cuba

ESCRITOR DISIDENTE LIBERADO

Cuba

DISSIDENT WRITER FREED

Free-expression groups welcomed the release of dissident Cuban writer Vladimiro Roca Antúnez from prison last week but pressed the Cuban government to free other detained journalists. Roca Antúnez' release came shortly before a high-profile visit to the country by former United States President Jimmy Carter.

Cuba

RSF DEMANDE LA REMISE EN LIBERTÉ D?UN JOURNALISTE

Cuba

GRUPOS DE LIBRE EXPRESIÓN PIDEN LIBERACIÓN DE PERIODISTAS ENCARCELADOS

Cuba

FREE EXPRESSION GROUPS CALL FOR JAILED JOURNALISTS' RELEASE

At a time when more than 25 opposition activists have reportedly been arrested in Cuba over the last three weeks, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) is calling on the government to release four independent journalists currently in jail. The press freedom group is calling for the release of Carlos Alberto Domínguez of the independent press agency Cuba Verdad, independent journalists Lester Téllez Castro and Carlos Brizuela, and Linéa Sur Press agency head Bernardo Arévalo Padron. Arévalo Padron has been imprisoned since November 1997 and is serving a six-year sentence for "insulting" the president and vice-president of Cuba in an interview with a Miami radio station, says RSF. [See IFEX "Communiqu%26#233;" #10-10].">http://communique.ifex.org/articles.cfm?system_id=2878">"Communiqué" #10-10].

Haiti

RSF EXIGE DES SANCTIONS CONTRE CERTAINS RESPONSABLES OFFICIELS

Haiti

RSF PIDE SANCIONES CONTRA FUNCIONARIOS

Haiti

RSF CALLS FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST OFFICIALS

Amidst a "tense" situation which has seen over a dozen journalists flee in response to sustained threats, Reporters sans frontières (RSF) is urging the United States Congress and the European Union (EU) to impose sanctions on 24 Haitian officials, including President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The organisation is requesting that visas for traveling in and out of the EU and the United States be denied to the officials, and that their overseas bank accounts be frozen. The call comes in response to the government's moves to block "all inquiries aimed at shedding light on the murders of journalists Jean Dominique and Brignol Lindor", says RSF.

Cuba

UNE BIBLIOTHÉCAIRE EST LIBÉRÉE DE MANIÈRE IMPRÉVUE

Cuba

LIBERAN INESPERADAMENTE A BIBLIOTECARIA

Cuba

LIBRARIAN RELEASED UNEXPECTEDLY

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) has welcomed the release of Julia Cecilia Delgado, director of the independent Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda library in Cuba. Delgado had been imprisoned at Manto Negro prison since 12 December 2000 for "disrespect" after she was arrested along with more than 200 people two days before International Human Rights Day. According to WiPC, Delgado was due to complete her sentence on 8 December, but authorities did not issue an explanation for her early release.

Cuba

PERIODISTA Y ACTIVISTA LABORAL SENTENCIADO A DOS AÑOS POR ARTÍCULO EN INTERNET

Cuba

À DEUX ANS DE PRISON POUR AVOIR FAIT PARAÎTRE UN ARTICLE SUR INTERNET

Cuba

JOURNALIST AND LABOUR ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS FOR INTERNET ARTICLE

José Orlando González Bridon, a Cuban journalist and labour activist, has been sentenced to two years in jail over an article he wrote for a US-based Internet site, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN. González Bridon, who has been detained since 15 December 2000, was found guilty on 12 June of spreading "false information," reports WiPC. An electronics engineer by trade, González Bridon is also the secretary-general of the outlawed Confederation of Cuban Democratic Workers (CTDC), notes CPJ.

Cuba

UN JOURNALISTE EST REMIS EN LIBERTÉ; UN AUTRE EST TOUJOURS INCARCÉRÉ

Cuba

OTRO PERIODISTA LIBERADO, UNO SIGUE EN LA CÁRCEL

Cuba

ANOTHER JOURNALIST RELEASED, ONE STILL IN JAIL

Manuel Antonio González Castellanos, a correspondent for the independent press agency Cuba Press in the eastern city of Holguín, was released on 26 February, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF). The journalist, who spent two-and-a-half years in prison for "insulting" Fidel Castro, says that he will continue his work as an independent journalist. González is the second independent journalist released from a Cuban prison in the last two months. On 17 January, Jésus Joel Díaz Hernández was freed after serving two years of a four-year term for being a "danger to society" [See IFEX "Communique" #10-3].">http://communique.ifex.org/articles.cfm?category=1%20Regional%20News&volume=10&issue_no=3%26amp;lng=english#2717">IFEX "Communique" #10-3].

Cuba

PERIODISTA INDEPENDIENTE LIBERADO DESPUÉS DE DOS AÑOS EN CÁRCEL

Cuba

UN JOURNALISTE INDÉPENDANT EST REMIS EN LIBERTÉ APRÈS AVOIR PASSÉ DEUX ANS EN PR

Cuba

INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST RELEASED AFTER TWO YEARS IN JAIL

Cuba

L?ÉTAT CONSERVE SA MAINMISE SUR LES MÉDIAS, SOUTIENT UN RAPPORT DE RSF

Cuba

ESTADO RETIENE CONTROL DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN, DICE INFORME DE RSF

Cuba

STATE RETAINS CONTROL OF MEDIA, SAYS RSF REPORT

"State control of published or broadcast information has not slackened" in Cuba, says a recently-released Reporters sans frontières (RSF) report on the state of press freedom in Cuba. While there was "relative respite from harassment" of government opponents after the Pope's visit in January 1998, RSF states that this did not last more than a year. The "main targets of repression" are about 100 independent journalists, who authorities consider to be "counter-revolutionaries," says RSF. According to RSF, these journalists have faced "accusations, attacks, seizure of equipment, house arrests, pressure on their families, friends or contacts, and attempts to discredit or divide them." Since 1997, five of these journalists have received sentences of between six months and six years in prison, and over one hundred arrests or interrogations have been reported, records RSF. Three journalists remain in jail at present.

Dominican Republic

FALLO DE TRIBUNAL ES UN GOLPE A IMPUNIDAD

Dominican Republic

UNE DÉCISION DU TRIBUNAL PORTE UN DUR COUP À L?IMPUNITÉ

Dominican Republic

COURT RULING A BLOW TO IMPUNITY

The murderers of Dominican Republic editor Orlando Martínez were sentenced to 30 years in prison last week, marking a blow to impunity in the region, states the Inter American Press Association (IAPA). Martínez, editor of "Ahora", was ambushed and shot in March 1975. Martínez was a strong critic of the government, and the case remained open for years due to the local press' insistence that "no matter how long it takes, those responsible should not be allowed to literally get away with murder." The four Dominican army officers and/or members of paramilitary groups who were charged and sentenced have lodged an appeal to the ruling, says IAPA.

Haiti

PERIODISTA DE RADIO ASESINADO

Haiti

UN JOURNALISTE DE LA RADIO EST ASSASSINÉ

Haiti

RADIO JOURNALIST ASSASSINATED

On 3 April, the well-known radio journalist Jean Léopold Dominique was shot and killed by two assailants, report Reporters sans frontières (RSF), the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and the European Journalism Centre (EJC). Dominique, who was former owner and director of the private pro-governmental radio station, Radio Haïti Inter, was killed after parking his car in the station's parking lot, says RSF. A radio station security guard was also killed during the attack. Dominique was a friend of President René Préval's and was known for his political commentaries in speaking out against the dictatorship, reports RSF. During one of his broadcasts, Dominique often criticised international politicians.

Cuba

PAR LA VIOLATION DES DROITS ET DES LOIS OPPRESSIVES

Cuba

INFORME DE HRW DICE QUE SILENCIA DISENSO CON ABUSOS Y LEYES OPRESIVAS

Cuba

HRW REPORT SAYS DISSENT SILENCED WITH ABUSES, OPPRESSIVE LAWS

Fidel Castro's government silence dissent through intimidation, oppressive laws and imprisonment of dissidents in Cuba, says a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on 23 July. The 263-page report, "Cuba's Repressive Machinery: Human Rights Forty Years After the Revolution", also says the United States trade embargo imposed against Cuba in 1961 "only makes matters worse." HRW adds, "Other international policies toward Cuba have shown more promise, but proved similarly ineffective in the absence of vigorous government support." The report describes how "Cuba's laws deny basic rights such as freedom of expression, association, and movement, and describes the plight of dozens of individuals prosecuted under those laws," including ill-treatment in prison.

Cuba

MUCHOS PERIODISTAS ARRESTADOS EN OFENSIVA

Cuba

INTENSIFICATION DE LA RÉPRESSION; DE NOMBREUX JOURNALISTES SONT ARRÊTÉS

Cuba

MANY JOURNALISTS ARRESTED IN CRACKDOWN

At least 15 journalists were arrested surrounding a sedition trial on 1 March in Cuba and two have gone missing, provoking an international outcry, report Reporters sans frontières (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). Neither Jesús Díaz Loyola, a HavanaPress reporter in Havana, nor José Edel García Díaz, a reporter with "Centro Norte del País" based in Caibarién, have been seen since 25 February and their whereabouts are unknown. The 15 journalists were detained to prevent them from covering the trial on 1 March of political dissidents Vladimiro Roca, Marta Beatriz Roque, Félix Bonne, and René Gomez, known as the "Group of Four", who are charged with sedition. CPJ says at least another 11 reporters were put under house arrest during the trial, which ended around 22:00 that day. In addition, State Security agents ordered reporters to clear the area in front of the courthouse, preventing the international press from covering the trial.

Cuba

UNE LOI SUPPRIME LA LIBERTÉ D'EXPRESSION

Cuba

LEY SUPRIME LIBERTAD DE EXPRESIÓN

Cuba

LAW SUPPRESSES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

On 16 February, the National Assembly of Peoples' Power (ANPP) adopted a new law which constitutes a threat against freedom of expression in Cuba, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF). The "Law for the Protection of the Cuban National Independence and Economy" would impose penalties of two to five years imprisonment or fines on those who collaborate with, or maintain relations with the media, with the intent to "(contribute to or facilitate) plans against the Cuban government, as pertains to the Helms-Burton law, the North American blockade, the economic war and other such subversive plans," according to Agence France Presse (AFP).