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Alert

IFJ worried by threat against newspaper

(IFJ/IFEX) - August 17, 2009 - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is alarmed at a threat made against well-known Timor L'este media organisation Tempo Semanal.

Tempo Semanal editor Jose Belo reported that an email sent to him on August 12 contained a threat against the news organisation, and he was concerned for the welfare of the organisation's personnel.

The threatening email was sent from the address of "Vira Knight" on August 12. In the email, the author alleges to be the wife of Phil Knight, a co-shareholder of Maubere Security, a security company in Timor L'este's capital, Dili.

The email alleges the newspaper said "bad things" about the sender's husband. The email threatened that the newspaper would be hurt.

"We will get maubere secutity to fight you in dilli we hate temp semal . . . we wil fightv ypou everywre," the email said.

"The IFJ calls on authorities in Timor L'este to immediately investigate the threat against Tempo Semanal and ensure the paper's journalists and other personnel do not come to any harm," IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

In October 2009, Tempo ran a report on the collapse of Maubere Security, which sparked an investigation by Timor L'este's Inspector-General. The investigation's results are expected to be announced soon.