Archives 2005-1014: News
The Belarus information ministry has withdrawn two complaints against independent dailies Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya under which they had been threatened with closure since April 25. The complaints were withdrawn during hearings before the Supreme Economic Court on July 12 and 13, according to Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). The move was a “rare example of good sense,” Nasha Niva editor Andrei Skurko said. “The pressure of public opinion on the authorities... MORE
An arson attack was carried out on two cars owned by the independent daily Vijesti in the early hours of July 14 in Podgorica. Unidentified individuals dowsed the two parked cars with gasoline before setting them alight and fleeing. The cars were clearly marked with the newspaper’s colours, Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) said. “We firmly condemn this latest attack on Vijesti, which clearly was not random,” RSF said. “Aside from the material damage and resulting... MORE
Mashiyul Haque, the correspondent of daily Dainik Samakal and president of the Kalia Press Club, and his wife, Reena Parvin, were badly injured in a bomb attack on their home on July 11 in the southwestern locality of Kalabaria, according to Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). They were taken to a hospital in the capital, Dhaka, where they were reported to be in a critical condition. Their two children, aged 4 and 6, who were also in the house at the time, were not... MORE
Iraqi journalists are now often sued by politicians and public figures and, at the same time, are often the targets of physical attacks which, in many cases are carried out by members of the security forces, including the bodyguards of leading politicians. “These practices, which are designed to intimidate journalists and censor the media, constitute serious violations of freedom of expression and must stop at once,” Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) said. In one... MORE
Angel Castillo Corona, a journalist based in Ocuilan, in the central state of Mexico, was beaten to death on the highway from Ocuilan to nearby Tiaguistenco on July 3. His unidentified assailants also killed his 16-year-old son, Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has reported. The press freedom organisation urged the authorities to react to the seemingly endless violence against the media by conducting a thorough debate on how to protect journalists and effectively... MORE
A risible fine of 15,000 vatu (120 euros) has been imposed by a court in Port Vila, the capital of the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, on infrastructure and public utilities minister Harry Iauko on July 8 for a physical attack on Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones in March, Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has reported. “It is unacceptable that a government minister should get off with such a small fine for assaulting a journalist who criticised him,”... MORE
Bangui judge Jules Gaveaux has ordered the release of news media editors Faustin Bambou and Emmanuel Cyrus Sandy after dismissing criminal charges of “inciting violence and hatred” in a case involving defence minister Jean-Francis Bozizé, Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has reported. The judge did however on July 11 fine them 300,000 CFA francs (458 euros) on a lesser charge of libelling the minister. In a phone call after his release, Bambou thanked RSF and the... MORE
Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has condemed the attack on the Gaza City bureau of the independent Palestinian news agency Ma’an on July 10. Eye-witnesses said unidentified assailants threw three Molotov cocktails at its offices, starting a fire that caused little damage and no injuries. Police and security agents rushed quickly to the scene and began an investigation. But sources told RSF that nothing conclusive had been established. A Ma’an representative told... MORE
Four well-known photo-journalists were arrested on July 7 in Tbilisi on spying charges and calls on the authorities to explain these serious accusations and to provide regular information on the situation of the detainees, Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has reported. “The authorities obviously have a duty to protect national interests but the current fear of spies in Georgia must not be allowed to fuel a climate of intimidation in the media, and security... MORE
Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has condemned local TV reporter Adan Benítez’s murder in the northern port city of La Ceiba (the capital of Atlántida department) on July 4. Employed by two local stations, 45TV and Teleceiba Canal 7, he was the second journalist to be murdered in Honduras in the past two months. “Investigators should not rule out the possibility that Adan Benítez was killed in connection with his work,” RSF said. “The Honduran authorities must do... MORE
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