Independent radio station remains closed
New York, July 25, 2005—Radio Publique Africaine remained off the air today after police in Burundi closed the independent broadcaster’s offices on Friday night, briefly detaining eight journalists and continuing a standoff over the station’s news coverage. RPA Deputy Director Jean-Marie Hicuburundi told CPJ that he and seven colleagues were taken to a police station…
Police shutter independent radio station
New York, July 22, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply shocked about today’s closure of independent radio station Radio Publique Africaine. The closure took place despite an earlier compromise deal between the authorities and RPA, local sources said. RPA fell silent around 5 p.m. local time as a large group of police broke into…
Banned independent radio station stops broadcasts for two days
New York, July 19, 2005—Independent station Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) went off air yesterday, after a compromise was reached with the National Communications Council, according to local sources. RPA agreed to a 2-day suspension, on the understanding that Thursday, the council—known by its French acronym CNC—will lift its original ban, which would have required the…
BURUNDI
JULY 15, 2005 Posted: July 18, 2005 Radio Publique Africaine HARASSED Burundi’s National Communications Council ordered the popular independent station Radio Publique Africaine off the air indefinitely, alleging that RPA’s recent election coverage was biased and that it had insulted the council. Alexis Sinduhije, RPA’s director, called the suspension unjust and said the station intended…
Independent radio station faces government ban
New York, July 15, 2005—Burundi’s National Communications Council has ordered the popular independent station Radio Publique Africaine off the air indefinitely, alleging that RPA’s recent election coverage was biased and that it had insulted the council. Alexis Sinduhije, RPA’s director, called the suspension unjust and said the station intended to stay on the air despite…
U.S. sends wrong message to the world
Restrictive regimes around the world came out ahead. Many were already taking a cue from a U.S. case involving the leak of a CIA officer’s name when the Supreme Court announced this week that it would not hear an appeal by two journalists. The reporters, Matthew Cooper of Time magazine and Judith Miller of The New York Times, face 18-month jail terms for not revealing their confidential sources.
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,…
BURUNDI
JUNE 14, 2005 Updated: June 24, 2005 Etienne Ndikuriyo, Zoom Net and Bonesha FM LEGAL ACTION, IMPRISONED Radio and online journalist Ndikuriyo was arrested by the national intelligence agency in connection with a story that questioned the health of President Domitien Ndayizeye, according to The Associated Press and sources interviewed by the Committee to Protect…
Journalist arrested after reporting president depressed’
New York, June 14, 2005—Radio and online journalist Etienne Ndikuriyo was arrested today by the national intelligence agency in connection with a story that questioned the health of President Domitien Ndayizeye, according to The Associated Press and sources interviewed by the Committee to Protect Journalists. He was being held at the intelligence agency’s headquarters in…