Ethiopian High Court acquits eight journalists on antistate crimes
New York, April 9, 2007-Ethiopia’s High Court today acquitted and set free eight editors and publishers of Amharic-language newspapers who have been jailed on antistate charges since a massive November 2005 government crackdown, according to local journalists and media reports.
CPJ urges Zimbabwe police commissioner to investigate Edward Chikomba’s murder
Dear Commissioner Chihuri: We are writing to request that you oversee a transparent and thorough investigation into the recent murder of Edward Chikomba, a veteran cameraman formerly with the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). We are concerned by several reports alleging the killing was linked to his work.
U.S.-based journalist charged with sedition in Gambia
New York, April 4, 2007—A court in the capital Banjul today handed down criminal charges to a U.S.-based journalist, detained since last week by state intelligence agents, and released her on bail in connection with critical commentary of President Yahya Jammeh, according to local journalists.
ZIMBABWE: British journalist fined under media accreditation law
APRIL 2, 2007 Posted: April 6, 2007 Alexander John Perry, Time HARASSED, LEGAL ACTION A court in the southern town of Gwanda sentenced Perry, the Africa bureau chief of the European edition of the U.S. newsmagazine Time, to a fine of 100 Zimbabwean dollars (US$0.41) on charges of practicing journalism without accreditation and abusing journalistic…
Central African Republic: President of private press group sentenced to prison
New York, April 2, 2007— A criminal court in the Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, today sentenced to prison the president of a private press group, who has been jailed since March 12 in connection with statements critical of the governmental High Communication Council (HCC), according to news reports. Michel Alkhaly Ngady—who heads a group…
Zimbabwean reporter jailed, beaten and paper threatened over coverage
New York, April 2, 2007— A reporter of an independent Zimbabwean weekly was jailed, beaten, and charged by police in the capital Harare in connection with coverage of the recent unrest in Zimbabwe, according to local journalists. Gift Phiri of the London-based The Zimbabwean was charged with practicing journalism without accreditation under Zimbabwe’s draconian Access…
MOZAMBIQUE: Reporter jailed for 3 days by police
MARCH 31, 2007 Posted: April 11, 2007 Celso Manguana, Canal de Mocambique IMPRISONED Manguana, a reporter of the private daily Canal de Mocambique, was arrested after he called officials at a police station in the capital Maputo “incompetent” for declining to comment on the detentions of several people in the aftermath of an anti-government demonstration,…
US-based Gambian journalist detained
New York, March 30, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about reports that a U.S.-based Gambian journalist and outspoken critic of President Yahyah Jammeh has been detained since Wednesday by security services. Fatou Jaw Manneh, political commentator with the U.S.-based opposition news Web site All-Gambian.net and former senior reporter of the private Daily Observer,…
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Radio journalist detained for two days over critical commentary
MARCH 27, 2007 Posted April 27, 2007 Minyanya Wasso, Radio Liberté HARASSED Five armed police officers stormed the studios of private Radio Liberté in the far eastern Sud Kivu province, arresting a journalist airing a live program and causing the station to go off the air for 30 minutes, Director Philemon Kangeta told CPJ.