ZIMBABWE
FEBRUARY 25, 2005 Posted: March 17, 2005 The Weekly TimesCENSORED The government-controlled Media and Information Commission (MIC) shuttered the independent regional newspaper The Weekly Times after just eight weeks of publication, saying the newspaper violated the country’s media legislation. Local journalists told CPJ the closure was part of a systematic clampdown on critical media in…
Suspect detained in connection with murder of veteran journalist
New York, February 23, 2005—Gambian authorities yesterday arrested a Lebanese businessman in connection with the murder of veteran journalist Deyda Hydara, according to local press reports. Wally Mahmoud Hakim was detained after officials found arms in his house, and he remained in custody today. Authorities gave no details about whether they had specifically linked any…
CPJ protests journalists’ harassment in run-up to elections
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is outraged at your government’s harassment and intimidation of three Zimbabwean journalists working for international news agencies, which has forced them to flee the country in fear for their security. Last week’s police action against freelance reporters Angus Shaw, Brian Latham, and Jan Raath seems aimed at silencing these senior journalists in the run-up to Zimbabwe’s general elections on March 31. CPJ is also disturbed to learn of police accusations against another freelance journalist, Cornelius Nduna, who has been forced into hiding.
Security forces arrest prominent editor
New York, February 17, 2005—Guinean security forces arrested the editor of one of the nation’s leading private weeklies at his home in the capital, Conakry, on Wednesday night. Authorities did not disclose charges against Mohamed Lamine Diallo, known by his pen name Benn Pépito, but local journalists believe the arrest could be linked to his…
GUINEA
FEBRUARY 16, 2005 Posted: February 23, 2005 Mohamed Lamine Diallo (also known as Benn Pépito), La Lance IMPRISONED, HARASSED Security forces arrested Diallo, known by his pen name Benn Pépito, at his home in the capital, Conakry. He was released on February 19, after three days in custody. Local journalists said they believe the arrest…
CPJ condemns radio censorship
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled that Radio France Internationale’s (RFI) FM broadcasts in Djibouti have been cut since January 14. According to RFI and French media reports, Djiboutian authorities silenced the broadcaster because of its report on an ongoing French legal inquiry into the 1995 death in Djibouti of Bernard Borrel, a French judge. RFI reported on January 12 that a French court had summoned the head of the Djiboutian secret services, Hassan Saïd, as a witness in the inquiry. An earlier French inquiry conducted in Djibouti had concluded that Borrel committed suicide.
CPJ concerned about harassment of international correspondents
New York, February 15, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned that Zimbabwean police repeatedly visited the offices of three senior freelance reporters for international publications on Monday and Tuesday. Officials first said they were investigating espionage allegations against the journalists. Then they claimed they were looking into the reporters’ accreditation. Finally, the officers said…
TOGO
FEBRUARY 14, 2005 Updated: March 10, 2005 Radio Carré Jeunes Télévision Zion CENSORED Togolese authorities shuttered privately owned Radio Carré Jeunes and religious broadcaster Télévision Zion, citing alleged unpaid administrative fees. Togo’s Telecommunication and Postal Services’ regulatory agency claimed that the stations, which are based in the capital, Lomé, owed the equivalent of thousands of…