Africa
2005
CPJ protests wave of attacks on the press
New York, June 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed at a recent wave of attacks on the press in Tshikapa, a town in southern Democratic Republic of Congo where authorities have detained two journalists and harassed several more. One journalist has gone into hiding after the provincial governor called publicly for his arrest,…
Four editors arrested, released on bail
New York, June 28, 2005—Police arrested four editors of private Amharic-language newspapers today in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, CPJ sources said. The arrests stem from reports in the weeklies about Ethiopian air force pilots who allegedly defected during a training program in Belarus last week, one source said. That source said the Defense Ministry ordered…
CPJ joins five groups demanding editor’s release
New York, June 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists joined five local and international press freedom and human rights groups today in writing to Somali leaders to demand the immediate release of Abdi Farah Nur, editor of Puntland’s leading independent newspaper Shacab (Voice of the People). Farah was arrested on June 19 and later transferred…
CPJ concerned over harassment of radio host
New York, June 27, 2005—Police in Zambia have threatened to charge radio host and commentator Anthony Mukwita with sedition after a June 10 broadcast on privately owned Radio Phoenix in which he read an anonymous fax criticizing the government. The fax, signed “Annoyed Zambians,” criticized President Levy Mwanawasa’s administration for allegedly failing to crack down…
Police occupy journalists’ union in Kogi State
New York, June 24, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the actions of police in Nigeria’s central Kogi State, where officers have occupied the local chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, harassed local journalists, and detained the local union chairman, according to local journalists and the Lagos-based press freedom group Media Rights…
In Burundi, journalist who said president depressed is freed on bail
New York, June 23, 2005—Radio and online journalist Etienne Ndikuriyo was released on bail today after spending more than a week in jail for writing a story about the health of President Domitien Ndayizeye. Criminal charges are pending, and he has been ordered to report to a judge once a week, according to his lawyer,…
CPJ disturbed that jailed editor denied due process
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned that imprisoned journalist Paul Kamara has been denied due process of law. Administrative obstacles have prevented his appeal from being heard, according to his lawyer, and Kamara has now served more than eight months of a two-year prison sentence. His family and friends say he was transferred to solitary confinement four months ago.
Three journalists jailed on criminal charges
New York, June 22, 2005—Chadian authorities have jailed three journalists since yesterday in the capital, N’Djamena, on criminal charges stemming from critical reporting, sources told the Committee to Protect Journalists. Today, authorities arrested and jailed Michaël Didama, publication director of the private weekly Le Temps. According to local sources, Didama was charged with defamation and…