Government harassment forces radio chief into hiding
New York, September 28, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the government of Burundi for a campaign of harassment and intimidation which has forced Alexis Sinduhije, the head of Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) into hiding. Communications Minister Karenga Ramadhani likened RPA to Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines, the radio station that incited genocide in…
Kinshasa editor released on bail
UPDATE September 25, 2006 Original Alert: September 20, 2006 Feu d’Or Bosange, Tapis Rouge IMPRISONED Bosange, editor of the private, Kinshasa-based newspaper, was released on bail after nearly two weeks in detention, according to local press freedom group Journaliste en Danger (JED). He was jailed over an article alleging corruption by a top tax official.…
CPJ condemns continued imprisonment of journalists
New York, September 25, 2006—An appeals court in Niger today upheld 18-month jail sentences for two journalists convicted of defamation and spreading false information in an article criticizing Prime Minister Hama Amadou. The court in the capital Niamey rejected a defense motion which challenged the competence of the criminal court that convicted Maman Abou and…
Charges dropped against Voice of the People employees
New York, September 25, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the decision of a court in Zimbabwe today to dismiss charges of broadcasting without a license against 10 employees of independent news production company Voice of the People (VOP). A court in Harare threw the case out, calling it a “circus,” after the prosecution asked…
Journalist jailed for more than a week over corruption allegations
New York, September 20, 2006—A journalist has been jailed for the past week and charged with defamation over a story that alleged corruption by a top tax official, according to local press freedom group Journaliste en Danger (JED) and a public official. Feu d’Or Bosange, editor of private newspaper Tapis Rouge (Red Carpet) has since…
Journalist jailed for five months for remarks in a bar
New York, September 19, 2006—A reporter for the Burundian state news agency was sentenced to five months in jail on Monday for slandering the state in a private barroom conversation, according to media reports and the journalist’s lawyer. Aloys Kabura, a correspondent for Agence Burundaise de Presse in the northern province of Kayenza, has been…
Journalist questioned over critical articles
September 18, 2006 Posted: September 22, 2006 Cyril Saïzonou, Djakpata HARASSED Police arrested Saïzonou, director of the private daily Djakpata, and questioned him about articles published in the September 1 and September 8 editions of the paper, according to CPJ sources. Several articles were critical of the police, while another alleged that a top government…