2007 Annual Report 2007 Annual Report Éovre Ai,2006)

Home , Censorship in Thailand, May Chidiac, Radio Maryja, Sander Thoenes

2007 Annual Report 2007 Annual Report éovre ai,2006). Paris, Découverte, languages)are taken from theFrench annual population, data(area, Country Internet canbeseenontheReporters Without Borders website (www.rsf.org). The lists é 3)14 38 4-Fx:(33)145231151 (33)1448384-Fax: Tél : © Reporters © Reporters Without Borders 2007 -al:[email protected] www.rsf.org WebE-mail : : ,rueGeoffroy Marie-75009Paris 5, oriain Jean-François Julliard Coordination: L'état dumonde aot Véronique Vincent Layout: (Editions La GENERAL INTRODUCTION ...... 1

INTERNET ...... 3

AFRICA - INTRODUCTION ...... 5 Bénin ...... 8 Burkina Faso ...... 9 Burundi...... 11 Cameroon ...... 13 Chad ...... 15 Côte d’Ivoire ...... 17 Democratic Republic of Congo...... 19 Eritrea...... 21 Ethiopia...... 23 Gambia ...... 24 Kenya ...... 26 Mauritania...... 28 Mozambique ...... 30 Niger ...... 31 Nigeria ...... 32 Rwanda...... 34 Somalia ...... 36 Sudan ...... 38 Zimbabwe...... 40

AMERICAS - INTRODUCTION ...... 42 Argentina ...... 45 Bolivia ...... 46 Brazil...... 47 Canada ...... 49 Chile ...... 50 Colombia ...... 51 Cuba ...... 53 Ecuador ...... 55 Guatemala ...... 56 Haiti ...... 57 Honduras...... 58 Mexico ...... 59 Paraguay ...... 61 Peru ...... 62 United States ...... 63 Uruguay ...... 65 Venezuela ...... 66

ASIA - INTRODUCTION...... 67 Afghanistan ...... 70 Australia ...... 72 Bangladesh ...... 73 Bhutan ...... 75 Brunei ...... 76 Burma ...... 77 Cambodia ...... 79 China ...... 80 East Timor ...... 83 Fiji ...... 84 India ...... 85 Indonesia ...... 86 Japan...... 87 Laos ...... 88 Malaysia ...... 89 Maldives ...... 90 Mongolia ...... 91 Nepal ...... 92 North Korea ...... 94 Pakistan...... 95 Philippines...... 97 Singapore ...... 99 South Korea ...... 100 Sri Lanka...... 101 Taiwan...... 103 Thailand ...... 104 Vietnam ...... 106 2007 Annual 2007 Annual Report Index EUROPE - INTRODUCTION ...... 108 Azerbaijan...... 110 Belarus ...... 111 Bulgaria...... 113 Denmark ...... 114 France...... 115 Germany ...... 116 Italy ...... 117 Kazakhstan ...... 118 Poland...... 119 Romania ...... 120 Russia ...... 121 Spain ...... 122 Switzerland ...... 123 Tajikistan...... 124 Turkey...... 125 Turkmenistan ...... 127 Ukraine...... 128 United Kingdom ...... 130 Uzbekistan ...... 131

MIDDLE EAST - INTRODUCTION ...... 132 Algeria ...... 135 Bahrain...... 136 Egypt...... 137 Iran ...... 138 Iraq ...... 140 Israel ...... 142 Jordan...... 143 Kuwait ...... 144 Lebanon ...... 145 Libya ...... 146 Morocco...... 147 Palestinian Authority ...... 148 Saudi Arabia ...... 149 Syria ...... 150 Tunisia...... 151 Yemen...... 152 2007 Annual 2007 Annual Report Index 2007 Annual Report General introduction nhscuty alongwith thedeterioratingsituation in Bolivia(nevertheless thebest-ranked ofthe country in hiscountry, theillnessofCubanleaderFidelCastro andthe imprisonmentofmore thana score ofjournalists Chávez, theincreasingly aggressive discourseof impunity, nalists inMexicowithvirtual Venezuelan President Hugo themurder ofnearly adozenjour- InLatin There areAmerica, many reasons tobeworried andpessimistic. Unless Westernprison. nationsare obsessed by simply conqueringChinesemarkets. for Chineseandforeign journalistsandtherelease ofsomethejournalistsandcyber-dissidents now in that holdingtheOlympic GamesinBeijing in2008willbeachancetoextractimproved working conditions toexpectthemplay apositive role mostthat canbehopedis infreedom ofexpression.The even stupid, Other majorpowers -RussiaandChinaare suchserious violators ofpress freedom thatitwould benaïve, mostcountries from theSouthare makingargumentsandregional alliances thatdisqualifythem. gaining, Inallthisbar- andtheharshestregimes are beingletoff. suchasDarfur in2006, matters are beingavoided, serious aresult, being defended by whenputinthedockthemselves.As othershopingfor similarsupport withaccusedcountries Thesameabsurdities are beingrepeated, hasnotperformedwell. very Commission, whichreplaced thethoroughly discredited HumanRights The new UnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil, press freedom. for regimestent support thathave norespect for UScannotbetrustedwhenittalksof press freedom.The thelackofany seriousinvestigation ofthedeathsIraqijournalistsshotby UStroops anditspersis- ces, by itsrepeated imprisonmentofUSjournalistsfor refusing todisclose their sour- base, Guantanamo military The UnitedStateshasbeenlargely discredited for itsillegaldetentionofan Al-Jazeera journalistat its sing Islamandsomeofitsfollowers. officials were alsoslow todefend FrenchRedeker philosopherRobert afterhereceived threats for critici- French akey USally. itagainstEthiopia, whichitwasquietly supporting France stayed silentaboutEritrea, French President JacquesChiracdecoratedPutinwiththeprestigious Légiond’HonneurGrandCross and tile publicathome. ners andtheirformer coloniesdislike butmakingEuropean institutions ascapegoat whenthey faceahos- blockingany measure theireconomicpart- But majorEUcountriesare playing adoublegamewithBrussels, oneifitsmajorsources ofenergy. The EUchosetocosyupRussia, European commissionasmany Parliamentdidnotpropose NGOshaddemanded. aninternationalenquiry butthe Everyone hadtheirsay, murdered there sincePresident Vladimir Putincame to power in2000. No more couragewasshown instandinguptoRussiawhen Anna Politkovskaya becamethe21stjournalist seemedtochoosesilencefor fear ofoffendingarrested.They Arab regimes. ortheEuropean and whoseembassieswereArab journalistswhowere attacked, threatened and Denmark, European institutionsdidnotdefend oftheProphetAfter aDanishpaper publishedcartoons Mohamed, isthebestexampleofthis. wed, where nocriticismoftheregime isallo- and writethingsincountriesthatreceive itseconomicaid.Tunisia, say butitisstillsilent aboutmassive violationofthefreedom tothink, ned onrespect for civicfreedoms, Cooperationagreements itsignswithothercountriesare conditio- Notreally. unite its27member-states. Has theEuropean Unionspoken up?Hasitproclaimed loudandclearthesevaluesthatare supposedto these days moralauthoritytomake hasthenecessary aprincipledstandinfavour ofthesefreedoms. we wonder who Almost everyone believes inhumanrightsbutamidthesilencesandbehaviour onallsides, sion andfreedom ofthepress. displayed cowardice or made compromisesquently gave insteadoffirmly defending freedom ofexpres- up, butgovernments fre- Atleast110were killedin2006, Algerian civilwarandfightinginformer Yugoslavia). the 1994 wasthelastyear whenasmany mediaworkers were killed(mostly intheRwandangenocide, defending everywhere thevaluesthey are supposedtoincarnate. by democraticcountriesin andsometimeseven thefailure, even more deplorablewasthelackofinterest, A disturbingly record but number ofjournalistsandmediaworkers were killedorthrown inprison2006, A AMN WEAKNESS LARMING 1 2007 Annual Report General introduction new frontiers. thatoftenlosetheirbearingsandare lookingfor ways tooffer theiryoung citizensnew horizonsand ones, especially European It’sbe saved agood challengefor democracies, andmenwomen freed from prison. lives can Butonthesesidelines, ifonly onthesidelines. So agovernment oranNGOcanmake adifference, ced afterall. canbe influen- tookjusttwoand theresolution months.TheUNmachinery wasadoptedon23December.It firstdraftwaspresented bytion.The Reporters Without Borders tothe French foreign inOctober ministry that diplomatstoooftenhidebehindasanexcusetodonothingcanbeovercome withpoliticaldetermina- The resolution hastobeactedonbuteven thisgranddeclarationisevidence thatbureaucracy andhabits nalists inwarzonesandtheneedtofightimpunitythattoooftenfollows attacksonpress freedom. a resolution sponsored by FranceandGreece stressing theobligationsunderinternationallaw towards jour- Unlessit’s theUNSecurityCouncil’sSo isthere any causefor optimism?Notmuch. unanimousadoptionof imprisonandtorture whiletherest oftheworld turnsitshead. ments continue tomistreat, govern- In all keenAsia too, toshutthemupinthenameofreligion orstateconvenience. rebel movements, journalistsare trapped between authoritarianregimes andsometimesterrorist or IntheMiddle East, media. tribal andreligious conflictsthatare dangerous for the Africa isinthegripofincreasingly deadly ethnic, community vigilantinacontinentthatisfarfrom tobevery beingtheworst onthefreedom scale. were South intheReporters allsignalstotheinternational Without Borders annual press freedom index), Secretary-General Secretary-General Robert Ménard Robert 2 DICTATORSHIPS GET TO GRIPS WITH WEB 2.0

A decade ago, regime opponents in Vietnam or Tunisia were still printing leaflets in their basements and handing them out to fellow militants at clandestine meetings. Independent newspapers were no more than a few hastily-stapled photocopies distributed secretly.

These days,“subversive” or “counter-revolutionary” material goes on the Internet and political dissidents and journalists have become “cyber-dissidents” and “online journalists.” Most of them know how to create a blog, organise a chat group, make phone calls through a computer and use a proxy to get round censorship.

New technology allows them to receive and share news out of sight of the authorities. The Web is also a blessing for human rights groups, which can now build a file on a political prisoner with a few mouse- clicks instead of over weeks and sometimes months.The Web makes networking much easier, for political activists as well as teenagers. Unfortunately, this progress and use of new tools by activists is now being matched by the efforts of dictatorships to fight them. Dictators too have entered the world of Web 2.0.

Sixty people are currently in jail for posting criticism of governments online, with China’s 50 making it by far the world’s worst prison for cyber-dissidents.The Chinese have been aped by other countries - four such dissidents are in jail in Vietnam,three in Syria and one each in Tunisia, Libya and Iran.

Parliaments in these countries, along with the local cyber-police, closely follow the latest technological developments.When instant messaging, such as MSN Messenger, became all the rage, China asked the firms that made these programmes to automatically block some key-words, making it impossible for Chinese users to talk about the Dalai Lama and Taiwanese independence, for example.

And with the success of YouTube, China and Iran are keen to filter the videos that appear there - too much “subversive” content for China and too much “immorality” for Iran. In Vietnam, police and dissidents chase play cat-and-mouse with “chat rooms” and three people were arrested there in October 2005 for discussing democracy on Paltalk, a US website that organises remote meetings. One of them, Truong Quoc Huy, was still in prison at the end of 2006.

SPYWARE THAT FILTERS E-MAIL

The Internet was not designed to protect message confidentiality. It is fast and fairly reliable but also easy to spy on and censor. From the first mouse-click, users leave a trail and reveal information about themselves and what their tastes and habits are.This data is very valuable to commercial firms, who sort through it to target their advertising better.

The police also use it.The best way to spy on journalists a few years ago was still to send a plainclothes officer to stand outside their house.This can be done more cheaply and efficiently now, because machi- nes can spy, report back and automatically prevent subversive conversations.

Cuba has installed spyware in cybercafé computers so that when users type “banned” words in an e- mail, such as the name of a known political dissident, they see a warning that they are writing things considered a “threat to state security” and the Web navigator then immediately shuts down.

THE INTERNET GIANTS WORK WITH THE DICTATORSHIPS

The predators of free expression are not all the same. China keeps a tight grip on what is written and downloaded by users and spends an enormous amount on Internet surveillance equipment and hires armies of informants and cyber-police. It also has the political weight to force the companies in the sector - such as Yahoo!, Google, Microsoft and Cisco Systems - to do what it wants them to, and all have agreed to censor their search-engines to filter out websites overcritical of the authorities.

This makes the regime’s job very much easier because these firms are the main entry-points to the Internet. If a website is not listed by these search-engines, material posted on them has about as much chance of being found as a message in a bottle thrown into the sea. 2007 Annual ReportAnnual - Internet 2007

3 Not all countries are strong enough to make the US multinational Internet firms bend to their will, but all authoritarian regimes are now working to censor the Web, even countries in sub-Saharan Africa.The Ethiopian regime of prime minister Meles Zenawi has blocked openly-critical websites and blogs since May 2006 and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is considering a law allowing security forces to intercept online messages without reference to the courts. One of the first moves by Thailand’s military rulers after their September coup was to censor news websites, even foreign ones, that criticized the takeover.

When a dictator cannot effectively censor the Internet, he can take a more radical approach - barring Internet access to virtually everyone, as in North Korea and Turkmenistan.And when a tyrant dies, as Turkmenistan’s “President-for-Life” Separmurad Nyazov did in December, his successor starts work by declaring his policy towards the Internet.These days, dictators talk about the Web when they want to show their regime is progressive.

Internet users are organising themselves and conjuring up new solutions to tackle these dictatorships, get round the filters and protect their anonymity.They use and create new technology, encrypt their e- mail and use other tools that are still not detected by cyber-police.

The Web phone service Skype, for example, has made it much easier for journalists - and Reporters Without Borders - to communicate with their sources. It works especially well because it is encrypted and so conversations are hard to tap. But China has already signed an agreement with Skype to block key-words, so how can we be sure our conversations are not being listened to? How do we know if Skype will not also allow (or already has allowed) the Chinese police to spy on its customers?

It has become vital to examine new technology from a moral standpoint and understand the secondary effects of it. If firms and democratic countries continue to duck the issue and pass off ethical responsibility on others, we shall soon be in a world where all our communications are spied on.

Julien Pain Head of Internet freedom desk 2007 Annual ReportAnnual - Internet 2007

4 Mauritania Cape Verde Mali Niger Eritrea Senegal Chad Gambia Sudan Guinea-Bissau Guinea Benin Djibouti Nigeria Sierra Leone Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Central African Ethiopia Republic Liberia Togo Cameroon Somalia Equatorial Guinea Uganda Congo Kenya Gabon D. R. Rwanda Congo Burundi Seychelles Tanzania

Comoros Angola Malawi Zambia

Zimbabwe Madagascar Namibia Mozambique Botswana Mauritius

Swaziland

Lesotho South Africa

2007 Annual Report AFRICA

5 2007 Annual Report - Africa Introduction P in physically attackingjournalists whodispleasethem. took asly pleasure ormore generally allthose inuniform, where policeandintelligenceservices, 2006, the reporter canfallprey topoliticiansavid for power.This sadevidence wasstill theruleinNigeria Easily manipulated orvulnerable, ning themselves intothelittlefoot soldiersofpoliticalheavyweights. readily doingthebiddinghowever, ofafew generous donorsanxiousto smear theiradversaries ortur- SomejournalistsinKinshasaare notexempt from criticism system eatenthrough withcorruption. already regularly hitinthepastby aberrant legislationapplied withzealby policeandajustice Congo, theelection campaignproved apainfulepisodefor thepress intheDemocraticRepublicof press.Thus, Contempt alsomakes itselffeltpoliticalorfinancialauthoritiesaccord inhow tothe littleimportance cials. according tothewhimofafew dutifuloffi- disfigured by blackstripsimposedby thecensorshipbureau, Chadianpress barons are alsoforced underastateofemergencytobringoutpapers tion for openness, Facedwithrebel movements withlittleinclina- whenitconsidersnationalsecuritytobeatstake. tion, againthatthegovernment hasnohesitationincallingintoques- asinChad, Press freedom issometimes, which failtosingitspraises. theZimbabwean government doesitsutmosttosilencemedia bysurveillance anOrwellian commission, filedandkept under notcontentwithinsistingthatalljournalistsmust beregistered, Because, tough one. Zimbabwe isstilloneofthecountrieswhere theprofession ofjournalistisanextremely Finally, tions. proving theabsurdity oftheinitialaccusa- the stateunderpressure from theinternationalcommunity, Both were heldhostagefor several weeks andonly released afterintensepoliticalnegotiations putting government inSudantotwiceaccuseforeign journalistsreporting onmassacres inDarfurofbeingspies. whichsaw Thecontemptfor news asnothinglessthana alsopushedthe “threat tothestate”. dent, going sofarastoexpelaforeign correspon- maintain tightcontrol ofnews duringtheelectionperiod, oftheyear,Yowerithe start Museveni’s government wasprompted by thefighttoholdonpower to at InUganda, undergoing aterrifying raidandhostilestatementsfrom several officials. sed government, East Even inKenya, Africa’s newspaper a wasthetargetofcontemptby foremost ahard-pres- democracy, can shake. ting press freedom brutal treatment whileinflictingparticularly onthemediawithadisdainthatnothing andthetransitional government Islamiccourts red pridedthemselves withouthesitation.The onrespec- beatenupormurde- have beenarrested, ses toawarshotthrough withdisinformation andlies.They journalistshave beenembarrassing witnes- InSomalia, gave toababy boy birth intheprisoninfirmary. oneofwhom whichhasputoutcallousstatementsabouttheprisoners, Prime MinisterMelesZenawi, northeprotests ofitswesternthe internationaloutcry allieshave beenheededby thegovernment of sed of “high treason” Neither for having backed anoppositionchallengetotheMay 2005electionresults. accu- around 20newspaper publishersandeditorsare stillimprisoned, InneighbouringEthiopia, enemies. which someofthemhadfought duringthewarofindependenceandwhichtoday treats themas for Many ofthefew remaining journaliststohave escaped arrest triedtofleethecountry, comment”. “no thereaction oftheauthoritiesinone oftheworld’s mostclosedcountrieswasaterse, of them, credibleprisons scattered reports aroundfiltered outoftheprobable thecountry.After deathofthree whichissecretly holdingatleast17journalistsinavarietyofappalling authorities dothingsinEritrea, how the especially since2001, Governance by contemptandcrackdown is, many African statesin2006. Contempt towards journalistsandtowards thetreaties they have signeduptowasaconstantfactorin U opoe h uknb utc ytm vdnl eyes oifune dared todismissthecase evidently easytoinfluence, very theBurkinabe justicesystem, Compaore, François Whilemany have accusedthepresidential guard and thebrother ofheadstate, 1998. murdered withthree companionsin have for eightyears Zongo, now mournedthedeathofNorbert Journalists inBurkinaFaso killedin2004disturbingcircumstances. Deyda Hydara, murder of itsdoyen, whichhastolive ofthestill unpunished andwork withthememory humiliation for theGambianpress, meantaddedthose whoinany way thepresident oftheRepublic.This embarrassed theirabsoluteleader, forcibly closedtwo newspapers andthreatened all vices arrested andill-treated atleasttenjournalists, Hisall-powerful intelligenceser- continued totreat journalistswithaggressive condescension. Jammeh, for president the12thsuccessive ofGambia,Yahya ofthetiny year, country On thewest ofthecontinent, RITN IMPUNITY ERSISTENT DRTESIM FCONTEMPT OF STIGMA THE NDER 6 2007 Annual Report - Africa Introduction S their own signatures. thesepromises have littlevaluefor very governments whoclearly despisenotjustjournalistsbut god, where theheadofstateisconsidered tobeademi- in EquatorialGuineaorthekingdomofSwaziland, as But, allofthembasetheirauthorityonconstitutionsprotecting freedom ofexpression. doms.Almost Most ofthesecountriesare however signatoriesofarafttreaties guaranteeingcivil andpoliticalfree- verbal hostilitytoactionandasaresult spendseveral months inprisonbefore beingacquitted. didnothave thetimetorealise thattheauthoritieswould graduatefrom ontheotherhand, Four, tion. Several journalistschosetoleave for theirown protec- thecountry ticising hisabusesandmanoeuvring. guiltyinhiseyes ofcri- and controversial figure didnothidehishatred ofprivately-owned radiostations, adominant HusseinRadjabu, theheadofpresidential party, in2006, InBurundi, imbalance ofpower. thejusticesystemandprisonadministrationattacksjournaliststhere isaclear backed by thepolice, more thanfour monthsinprisonfor having governments criticisedtheprimeminister’s policies.When whenthepublisherandeditorofanoppositionpaper spent government occurred thisyear inNiger, moststrikingexampleofthisunequalstrugglebetween anewspaper andthe grity ofthepowerful.The hassentmore thanonejournalisttoaprisoncellfor having questionedtheinte- times usedadvisedly, even easypretexttheir disdainfor journalistsattheirleisure.The ofcitingmedia ifsome- “responsibility”, Governments whichinsistinkeeping prisonsentencesfor press offences intheirlegislationcanshow of contempt. denialofjusticeisalsoaform Zongo andGuy-AndréKieffer, Norbert For Deyda Hydara, the presidency. whichhasimplicatedthefirstcircle of sing climatefor theprogress oftheFrench judicialinvestigation, have tolive unpromi- withthisparticularly kidnapped in Kieffer, Abidjan in2004andmissingever since, Thefamily ofFrench-Canadian journalistGuy-André abruptly sacked by President Laurent Gbagbo. hadinsultsandthreats heaped onhimbefore being journalism, television anexampleofpublicservice Kebe whotriedtomakeup andorganisetheirriotsinthestreets stateradioand of Yacouba, Abidjan. the toback “Young for thesecondtimeintwo years, Patriots”seizedcontrol ofpublicmedia, January, In nalists whochosenottogive allegiancetooneofthebelligerents becometheirfavourite target. jour- InCoted'Ivoire, of theindifference oftheauthoritiesfor thejournalist’s family’s thirstfor justice. inaclearindication sneakingthenews virtually outinthemiddle ofsummer, against thechiefsuspect, must have press freedom tobeablebreathe again. whichisbeing stifled Acountry Dictatorships endupby fallingandjournalistsby coming outofprison. asolution hastobefound. Sooner orlater, Theblows are getsscarcer. gettingharder. Support bling. have power toliveplace novalueonpromises endsupby onthedefensive.Their crum- they have given, governments whodespisejournalistsand In Africa, The bestweapon againstcontemptispatience. received heavy sentences. murdered in2000whileinvestigating awide-rangingfinancialscandal, whowas thekillersofjournalistCarlosCardoso, an outcomerare enoughin Africa tobehighlighted, in Comoros isalsogradually recovering isalsothecaseofMozambiquewhere, from itsdarkyears.This The whichappear havensPrincipe orCape offreedom offthecoastofatroubled continent. Verde, São Thesamegoes forTomé the African islandsandarchipelagosdemocracies. suchasMauritius, and withmany deficienciesbutnevertheless comparable towestern levela satisfactory ofpress freedom, NamibiaandBotswana guarantee for example, IntheSouth African zoneofinfluence, hift democracies. itshouldnotbeimaginedthatthe African continentisacollectionoftyranniesandmakes- For allthat, In2006itdidallthis. as adevelopment partner. to free thestate-owned press from toomuch government control andtotreat theindependentpress torespect thebalanceofpoliticalforces duringelections, legislative reform, to guaranteepress freedom, government juntainpower military inMauritaniasince2005hadpromised whichkept itspromises.The Reporters Without Borders canonly welcome thefactthatthere isone For allthesereasons, African M RMSSKEPT PROMISES OME Head of Africa desk Léonard Vincent 7 2007 Annual Report - Africa B against thetwo journalistsfollowing publication were arrested on15September.Action wastaken radic andsensationalist respectively publisherandeditorofthespo- Zotti, VirgileLinkponandRichard Couao- As aresult, R offences. and stillprovided for prisonsentencesfor press one whichhadnotbeenstrictly applied since2004 hadnohesitationinusingthelaw - “local rags”, whichdecidedtocleanupthisjumbleof ment, thenew govern- ofothermasters.And the service publications continued toappear andwere putto Butoncetheelectionwasover these minimal. place in Africa andits impactonthecampaignwas thisdubiouspractiseiscommon- Indeed, figure. sometimesaninfluential interests ofapolitician, They were sometimes working inthe Cotonou. flourishedin non-professional journalists, headedby irregular publications, tion campaign, Before andduringtheelec- publications. partisan different candidatesorinappeals toviolenceby allowedfound inflagrantimbalancesairtime to problems were nottobe Unusually, cratic rules. wasachieved withrespect for demo- heavyweight, with atechnicalbackground ratherthanapolitical The electionasheadofstateBoni aman Yayi, itsjournalists. particularly of all, this didnothappen andthiswastotheadvantage But which canbedestabilisedby politicalviolence. fall intotheclassictrap ofemergingcountries could there wasariskthatthecountry tion year, Theyear 2006beingapresidential elec- poverty. despiteits levela satisfactory ofpress freedom, of moderndemocracyin West guaranteeing Africa, Beninhasbeenseenasamodel For several years, presidential elections. thepress whichflourished inCotonou,thewake of of excesses by asection of because inwhichmuchwasa year calledintoquestion,mainly goodpractice inWest Africa, Beninhowever went through Traditionally of example an Boni Yayi.Head ofstate: French. Language: 8,439,000. Population: km. 112,620sq. Area: SRIGT IMPRISONMENT TO ESORTING ÉNIN La Diaspora deSabbat , within theboundsofcivillaw. tones ontocaseswhichshouldremain strictly theuseofimprisonmentlays politicalover- Finally, press regulation shouldnotbelefttothepolice. journalists working inademocracy make mistakes, Sothatwhen risk strippingthemofalltheirpower. wasto despite theirgood work in recent years, ved thattocircumvent bodies, mediaregulatory Moreover, Reporters Without Borderspress. belie- positive relations between theauthoritiesand moratorium hadatleastallowed renewal ofmore this Intheabsenceofareal decriminalisation, years. of imprisonmentjournalistsfor thepasttwo ral ruleinBeninuntilnow ofadefactosuspension ithadbrokenthreat todemocracy.Also thegene- itrepresents areal Onthecontrary, nalistic error. constitute afairandappropriate response tojour- thatimprisonmentdoesnot illiberal legislation, asitdoeswithallstateswhichretain government, Reporters Without Borders explainedtotheBenin one editionofthenewspaper. in them for accusinghimwithoutproof ofrape, euros) for bailiffsued “defamation” afteracourt in prisonandfined500,000CFA francs(752 were sentencedon1stDecembertosixmonths publisher andeditorofthedaily respectively Clément Adéchian andCécil Adjévi, Ontheotherhand, cutor for theRepublic. after beinginterviewed thencleared by theprose- Allthree were released on19September, police. allegingembezzlementwithinthenational articles ofseveral on20June 2006, about thepublication, 18 Septemberandwasquestionedfor 24hours daily publisherofthe CyrilleSaïzonou, another case, Boni Yayi’s In oldersonissuffering from insanity”. wind blows through theheadofstate’s entourage: “Anill the previous day headlined: ofanarticle Djakpata wasarrested by judicialpoliceon , L’Informateur 8 , 2007 Annual Report - Africa B in theinvestigations carried outby the journalist quadruple murder (...)they should belooked for that “to findthemotives for this 200 witnesses, concludedafterhearingmore than the authorities, minister.This investigation setupattheinitiative of presented itsreport totheprime Zongo, Norbert “determining thecausesofdeath”journalist tasked with (CEI), dent commissionofinquiry anindepen- On7May 1999, the principalcities. demonstrations were held inOuagadougou andin Several dozen wave of protest across thecountry. Thisdatemarked ofa the start December 1998. on13 out vehicle along withhisthree companions, L Zongo wastheeditorofweeklyNorbert I blishing thetruth”. or “contributing new developments usefulinesta- "strengthening chargesalready found tooweak” ned intheevent of “new charges"capable of theinvestigation canonly bereope- cedure code, Underthecriminalpro- will bedefinitively closed. afterwhichit clerk’sthe court officefor tenyears, allowed tosendthefileback thecourts tions, tional humanrightsandpress freedom organisa- condemnedby alllocalandinterna- This decision, had beenchargedinconnectionwiththemurder. theonly personwho against SgtMarcel Kafando, sion todismissthecasefor lackofevidence on16 August upheldthe19July deci- The courts, charged. led toamemberofthepresidential guard being shelved thefragilelegalprocedure which had sons, obviously for politicalrea- after thejusticesystem, Itendedinscandalandshame, December 1998. on13 road, assailants whiledrivingalongacountry murdered by unknown and histhree companions, Zongoin theexpectationofjusticefor Norbert The year 2006beganlike theseven previous ones: hisclosest allies,Compaoré and remains ahigh-risk exercise. Blaise state, criticism challenge totheheadof istolerated, any Evenis translated. if name honestmen”,asthecountry’s nued topoisontheatmosphere inthis“countryof Norbert Zongoconti- the1998murder of Political obstruction preventing thesolvingof BlaiseCompaore. Head ofstate: French. Language: 13,228,000. Population: km. 274,200sq. Area: PNT AESACROSANCT MADE MPUNITY ’Indépendant URKINA Hewasfound deadinhisburned . F ASO ogtm oivsiaetemre,tooklessthan long timetoinvestigate the murder, whichtookanextraordinarily The justicesystem, before hismurder. triedtosilencethejournalist cutor atthetime, nessman andDramane Fasochiefprose-Yaméogo, directly linked andrevealed how andwhy thebusi- ZongoOuedraogo caseswere andNorbert Itshowed thattheDavid had bothliedtotheCEI. that FrançoisCompaoréandOumarou Kanazoé handed over totheFasoprosecutor alsoproved Information inthedocument from thefinalreport. were completely removed Zongo, silence Norbert the role played by to Oumarou Kanazoétotry in thestatementgiven by François Compaoréand detailingcontradictions Somepassages, Kanazoé. Oumarou nessman closetothegovernment, implicated FrançoisCompaoréandarichbusi- more clearly over by Reporters Without Borders, representing version handed thegovernment.This could bewatered down by thetwo members ded thejusticesystemwithitsfullreport before it provi- Ménard, Robert sation’s secretary-general, theorgani- (CEI)setupafterthemurder, inquiry member oftheindependentcommission Asa which itcalledfor thecasetobereopened. asaresult of cutor’s officewith “new elements”, Reporters Without Borders provided theprose- inOctober2006, During avisittoOuagadougou, pay.home inthecapital andstillreceiving hismilitary hashowever beinglivingpeacefully athis Ouédraogo, “held captive andtortured todeath”David whowasalsoconvicted in2000ofhaving Kafando, Sgt charged in2001with “arson” and “murder”. was Marcel Kafando, Only oneofthem, Regiment. allmembersofthePresidential Security case, report alsonamedsix “serious suspects”inthe Compaoré,” andbrother ofthehead state.The the driver ofpresidential advisorFrançois investigations intothedeathofDavid Ouedraogo, over several yearshisrecent andinparticular 9 2007 Annual Report - Africa B rs reo saraiyi h onr,despitea press freedom isareality inthecountry, while to poisonthelife oftheBurkinabépeople, This casetherefore hasfor eightyears continued weeks. the pro-government press for several further These attackswere picked upandcontinued in Burkina Faso"would notdispleasetheirembassy”. the arrest ofitsrepresentatives currently in going sofarastothreaten that Without Borders, launched atorrent ofattacksagainstReporters they Atthesametime, essential todonothing. in theirpossessionwere “not new” anditwas a press conference toannouncethattheelements secutor andtheprosecutor oftheRepubliccalled theFasopro- the Reporters Without Borders’ file, 24 hourstogive day itsverdict.The afterreceiving URKINA F ASO taken thisstep…” Reporters Without Borders hasjust name him. onethoughtofhimwithoutdaringto Until now, Soitishimthen!’ Zongo case. “Norbert read: which photo ofthebrother oftheheadstate, oppositea objected tothepaper’s splashheadline, complaint to reopen Zongo case.The theNorbert procedure begunby Reporters Without Borders against it.” referredThe offending article tothe François Compaorélodgeda “defamation” suit attheendofyear, found thisoutwhen, The privately-owned bi-monthly or hisclosestalliesremains ahighriskexercise. hisfamily challengingtheheadofstate, published, and thedisturbinginvestigations largely already Even ifcriticismisallowed few persistenttaboos. L'Evénement 10 2007 Annual Report - Africa B Kayanza, northern Burundi for thestate-runnews northern Kayanza, correspondent in Aloys Kabura, A few days later, ting thecourseofjustice. funds andpoliticalmanoeuvring aimedatperver- aboutembezzlement of HusseinRadjabu, leader, (CNDD-FDD) inarow withthepowerful party Democracy-Front for theDefence ofDemocracy the rulingNationalCouncilfor the Defence of Basabose hadbeenexpelledtwo days earlierfrom live ontheir plightwiththehelpofmobilephones. international radiocorrespondents hadreported dent hadprovoked intheprofession anoutcry and aftertheinci- tion oftheBujumburapolicechief, were only allowed toleave following theinterven- cordon were journalists struckwithriflebutts.The Some whotriedtoleave thehousedespite until 11pm. withoutexplanation, the journalistsinsidehostage, toting assaultriflessurrounded thehouseandkept some50policeofficers gathered athishome, 3.30pmwhenaround 20journalistshad party.At his version ofevents aboutadisputewithinthe calledapress conference athishome togive ger, theformer presidential campaignmana- Basabose, Mathias sident deputyintherulingcoalition, whenadis- It allbeganinBujumburaon17 April, their colleagues. sidential press crowed over of themisfortunes whilethepre- The government went infor denial, whoviewedservices themas “trouble-makers”. set for thoseworking inthemediaby thesecurity for fear offallingintheirturnintoatrap country, Several othersleftthe them were imprisoned. Four of period ofthreats in2006. anduncertainty Journalists inBurundientered a done inpractice. nothingwas commitment tofreedom ofthepress, may have vauntedhis ted headofstatein2005, elec- However much President Pierre Nkurunziza, attempt allegedlyfoiledby thesecurity services. acoup ruling party, thenew of theycastdoubtontheauthenticity particularly after of forjournalists.In2006privately-ownedlandscape thebêtenoire radio stationsbecame aformerHuturebel movement the changed electionvictoryin2005of The fairly-won Pierre Nkurunziza. Head ofstate: Swahili. Kirundi, French, Languages: 7,548,000. Population: km. 27,830sq. Area: URUNDI I tence. after completinghissen- released on31October, Hewas within theprisononfollowing day. magistrate cametoannouncetheverdict tohim lawyers orfamily beinginformed ofthehearing.A half monthsafterhisarrest andwithouthis three anda on18September, months inprison, though inpoorhealthhewassentencedtofive He wassenttotheNgozi centralprisonand vices laidacomplaintagainsthimfor “rebellion”. powerful intelligenceser- actions inthiscase.The the government andthepresidential party’s arrested for makingcriticalremarks inabarabout agency daily lotofjournalists over several weeks, anonymous threats andverbal attacksbecamethe Rumoursofimminentarrests, judge andjury”. some journalistswhohave setthemselves upas the president warnedagainst “some radios and theday afterastatementby its stationinNgozi, ordered theclosure of on18 August, authorities, vately-owned Headofthepri- new twisttothedownward spiral. gave a lenged by many oftheindependentmedia, thetruthofwhichwaschal- Domitien Ndayizeye, plottedby former president sed coupattempt, theallegedfoiling ofasuppo- During thesummer, iuin” To punishthe titutions”. seeking tobringdown “democratically electedins- its mediaas “hate radio”andas “manipulators” began tobetargetedby thepresidential and party of Bujumbura’s privately-owned radiostations- Sinduhije andthosewhoquotedhim-thatismost Alexis From ofthefoiled coupepisode, thestart ontheauthorityofHusseinRadjabu. FDD, “set upjob”by the “hard-liners” oftheCNDD- publicly condemnedwhathetermeda Sinduhije, VSIAIEWR ED OPRISON TO LEADS WORK NVESTIGATIVE Agence burundaisedepresse Radio publiqueafricaine RPA o t tne the for itsstance, ( RPA ( ABP ,Alexis ), ,was ), 11 2007 Annual Report - Africa iaua director ofprivately-owned Nibaruta, the privately-owned radio headof by Mathias Manirakiza, on 29November, were joined, confidentiality ofinvestigation”.They damaging tostatesecurity”and “violating the They were chargedwith “broadcasting news after appearing before theBujumburaprosecutor. were placedindetention atMpimbacentralprison astarpresenter atthestation Domitile Kiramvu, B hnSreNbz,chiefeditorat when SergeNibizi, The threats turnedintoreality on21November dium on3September. FDD activistswhoralliedattheBujumburasta- infront ofthousandsCNDD- Hussein Radjabu, including condemnationsmadeinpersonby URUNDI Isanganiro Bonesha FM Corneille . RPA and , been questioned. Nojournalistonthispublicationhasever courts. when thefilehadnotyet beensentbefore the Messenger however appeared inthebi-monthly The news thatgot themthrown inprisonhad media. which hadbeencontestedby theindependent theexistenceof it atevidence oftheallegedcoup, der ofthepresidential withtheaimofusing party the presidential palaceandonthehomeoflea- that thearmy hadallegedly plannedtheattackon with thedisseminationofanews report in August They were allaccusedinconnection the country. by fleeing on1stDecember, escaped imprisonment, ,theorganofpresidential party, ), Intumwa ( The 12 2007 Annual Report - Africa C La Météo ple targetedinthisway tooklegalactionagainst several peo- Butunsurprisingly, success wastotal. thenthe bring inrevenue for theircompanies, Iftheobjective oftheeditorswasto bad taste. collection ofrumoursandvilificationinextremely news putoutby thesepapers wasessentially a thealleged accounts” (butabove allexaggerated), sources” (butalways anonymous) and “concurring Quoting “reliable a result ofalleged “favours”. appointed topositionsofresponsibility as figures, chose tosplashanallegedlistof “deviant” public low circulation newspapers sexuality isacrime, ving where homo- “public health”inacountry Onthepretext ofser- gust withintheprofession. whichcausedriftsandprovoked dis- Republic”, shaken by thecaseof “homosexuals ofthe itwasbadly From ofJanuary, thestart bad light. Cameroon press hasbeenputinevery shadeof The year 2006hasbeenoneinwhichthe Cameroon. press freedom isaprecarious qualityin tions, Inthesecondi- tical clanstooutdotheirrivals. exploitedby businessandpoli- is easily corrupted, poverty hasfostered apress which the continent, incommonwithothercountrieson In addition, region andcorruption are stillsensitive subjects. oftheEnglish-speaking impulses onthepart secessionist inwhichthearmy, list inacountry Butitisstilldangerous tobeajourna- poking fun. whenjournalistswere imprisonedeven for 2000, brutal placeitwasinthefirstfew years after Cameroon isnolongerthetenseand Certainly, someunscrupulous editors. theactionsof the Cameroon press of chiefly because whobrokeanyone for themsuffered 2006was theconsequences.Butyear difficult since 1982,even Numerous thoughitremained were fragile. taboos stillinplaceand Press freedom toturnintoareality began inthiscountryruled by President Paul Biya Paul Biya. Head ofstate: English. French, Languages: 16,322,000. Population: km. 475,440sq. Area: privately-owned daily expressed inacommentpiececarried by the tion, Reporters Without Borders’stime inprison. posi- likely thattheseunprincipledjournalistswillserve itistherefore sentences for suchethicallapses, Since thelaw in Cameroon provides for prison tely-owned weekly AMEROON ,l' Anecdote Le JeuneObservateur and Le Messager Nouvelle Afrique and thepriva- wasquite , . T through thisreform. post intheautumnwithouthaving pushed ment andtheministerfinishedby resigning his wasrejected by parlia- zure ofnewspapers.This whichwould allowministry ittoorder thesei- proposing administrative policepowers for the duce reform butitwasclumsyandinadequate, attemptedtointro- Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, TheCommunications Minister, ting themedia. its press law butalsoitsmechanismsfor regula- Cameroon government thatitreforms notonly Without Borders hastherefore proposed tothe Reporters ofpress freedomthe glory martyrs. their sentencesandcomeoutcrowned withall willserve oncesentenced, naries ofjournalism, thesemerce- Onthecontrary, to theseabuses. tion above allstresses thatprisonisnotareply theorganisa- majority ofCameroon’s journalists, ashave alarge tingedwithhatred, journalism, unreservedly condemningthiskindof clear:While broke intothehomeof presenterAgnès of Taile, three hoodedmen Overnight on6-7November, nymous sources. quotingano- Rémy ZeMeka, of Defence Minister, several incidentsinvolving themanagementstyle Italsoclosely examined corruption withthearmy. carried areport exposingmismanagementand it Initsfirsteditionon28 August, monthly paper. hadjustlaunchedanew provocative approach, Nouvelle presse former editoroftheweekly head ofstate.The tothedefenceletter ofapology ministerandthe Hewasonly released afterwritinga September. securityin by military Yaoundé from 3-7 vately-owned weekly editorofthepri- Duke Atangana Etotogo, public. are notfully guaranteedtherighttoinform the ved asareminder thatjournalistsinCameroon two incidentsser- In SeptemberandNovember, EPESSILUDRTHREAT UNDER STILL PRESS HE and La Météo L’Afrique centrale two papers witha , was held , 13 La 2007 Annual Report - Africa essbet.he ek eoeteasut she news subjects.Three weeks before theassault, turn tospeak”inwhichlistenersphonedon June 2005moderatedabroadcast called “it’s your her outsideandsavagely beather.Taile hadsince C owned an openmicrophone programme onprivately- AMEROON Sweet FM ai n oaa They dragged radio inDouala. went nowhere. thesubsequentpoliceinvestigation type ofcase, Asofteninthis these attemptstointimidateher. publicly atthetimethatshewasnotfrightenedby Shehadsaid telling hertostop “pursuit”. had received several anonymous telephonecalls 14 2007 Annual Report - Africa S cle hewrote aboutchildsoldiers. His arrest waslinked tothepublicationofanarti- for four days alongwithcommon-law prisoners. C oebrowrs withwhole passagescutout November onwards, Forced toappear from 23 news filteringout. whilefightingcontinued little withvery lance, the endof2006understrict government surveil- few privateandcommunity radios-found itselfat ful ofweeklies appearing only inN'Djamenaanda independentpress -reduced toahand- jects.The vately-owned radiosfrom covering sensitive sub- aswell asabanonpri- ship onthewrittenpress, Thisstepincluded restoring advancecensor- tal. a stateofemergencyinsixregions andinthecapi- todeclare on13November, government decided, the cing from theborder withDarfurinSudan, communal clashesandrebel columnswere advan- whenbloodwasshedininter-Two weeks later, weekly ajournalistonthe privately-owned Evariste Ngaralbaye, on27October, this background, Against ofhaving declared waronChad. ments, therear baseofarmedmove- neighbour Sudan, fighting resumed andthepresident openly accused when Tension worsening started inautumn2006, decision toreinstate censorship. government intotakingtheabsurd andpointless pushedthe border thenintothe capital itself, rebels andgovernment forces attheSudanese theresumptionparticularly ofclashesbetween Butfast-moving politicalevents, September 2005. in made toReporters Without Borders, line withPresident IdrissDeby Itno’s promises Negotiations were even begunonlaw reform in restarted between thepress andthegovernment. Dialoguewas nalists imprisonedinN'Djamena. whichsaw four jour- crisis ofthesummer2005, withtheresolution ofthe The year well, started theyear. censorship. Andwiththiscame emergency was declared attheendof thegovernment’s dealtaserious intolerance and blow tofreedoms inChad.Astateof withSudan war red toimprove Buttheresumption inN'Djamena. infighting,astateof Following acrisis between thepress thegovernment and in2005,thesituationappea- Deby Itno. Idriss Head ofstate: French. Language: 9,749,000. Population: km. 1,284,200sq. Area: AEO EMERGENCY OF TATE HAD Notre Temps wasarrested andimprisoned , Bi-hebdo of PrivateNewspaper Editors(AEPT), newspapers belonging totheChadian Association five After producing several defacededitions, fashion. initsown joinedintheresistance, the state, thatitwasnow seenasanenemy certain of press, thewritten and criss-crossed withblackbands, Brakoss editorof the community station Vatankhah, theregular harassmentofChanguiz Finally, before beingreleased afew hours later. capital, residentssoldiers whilehewasinterviewing inthe ofthe French service list onpublicradioandcorrespondent for the RenéDillah On15 ajourna- Yombirim, April, ment. pondents reported suffering threats andharass- Several foreign corres- close watchonthepress. thearmy alsokept a On thegovernment side, return tothe capital. was hidden by protestant monksuntilhecould where he one oftherebels andreached thetown, ged toescape afew hourslaterwiththehelpof Hemana- centralChadon11 April 2006. Mongo, Liberté areporteronprivately-owned Vanambyl, Eliakim the view thatjournalistswere intheirway. Duringtheiradvancethey alsotook N'Djamena. whenrebels mountedasurpriseattackon in April, Chad hadhowever escaped afirstnews blackout C ship decree through thecourts. attempt wasalsomadetochallengethecensor- government privately-owned which continued toappear normally wasthepro- Theonly publication from 6December. weeks, Messager NLC ZONE ONFLICT ai a inpe yarblclm,in radio waskidnapped by arebel column, , and president oftheChadPrivateRadio decidedtosuspendpublicationfor two , Notre Temps , Le Temps BBC wasviciously beatenby , , Sarh Tribune Le Progrès N’Djamena and Radio .An FM 15 Le 2007 Annual Report - Africa C already regularly threatened for hislocalanti-cor- who was Thejournalist, Abderaman Djasnabaille. sure andmediationby humanrightsminister, only released on19May afterinternationalpres- Hewas order tobeexpelledfrom thecountry. was arrested on28 April andplacedunderan who haslived inChadfor several decades, refugee, Iranian Without Borders hopesisshort-lived.The Union (URPT)hadanepiloguewhichReporters HAD Ministry houndingunleashedagainsthim. Ministry given thePublicSecurity in itselfanachievement, whichwas withhisfamily, wed toremain inChad, hewashowever allo- Forced toresign allhisduties, for postponementof3May presidential elections. hadsignedaURPTrelease calling nities inconflict”, “revived animositybetween different ruralcommu- onthegrounds thathisradio September 2005, in ruption campaignandarrested oncebefore, 16 2007 Annual Report - Africa C media, particularly particularly media, in front ofthebuildinghousingstate-run Several hundred ted forces. Young Patriotsrallied capital withtheaimofforcing outtheUNmanda- in front ofseveral strategicsitesintheeconomic Groups begantomass President Laurent Gbagbo. from theseveral organisationsfor thedefence of by young demonstratorsin response toanappeal Checkpointswerego upallaround setup Abidjan. barricades beganto At dawn 2006, on16January “press freedom predators”. Without Borders onitslistof violencefrom the“Young Patriots”, placedby Reporters outbreakwith anew of Africa’s mostdangerous countries foreign forbothlocal and began media.Theyear of nisms fordemocratic regulation imprisons nolonger legally and journalists.Butitisone The Coted'Ivoire, 2002,hasapluralistic dividedintwo press, sinceSeptember mecha- Laurent Gbagbo. Head ofstate: French. Language: 18,154,000. Population: km. 322,460sq. Area: arcdsruhyitroae orait,saying barricades roughly interrogated journalists, Demonstratorsatthe pened inNovember 2004. for fear of Youngerted, Patriotraidsashadhap- The officesofoppositionnewspapers were des- lay low. belonging tothepro-presidential camp, journalistsin OverAbidjan not thenext two days, attack thelocalUNbase. to broadcast acallfrom thedemonstratorsto Radio Tchrato-Daloa and ransacked thepremises ofcommunity radio stormed acityincentralCoted’Ivoire, in Daloa, Localbandsof Youngbols ofoccupation”. Patriots RTI Presidentsupport Laurent Gbagbooccupiedthe leadersofthevariousgroups claimingto then on, From also claimedtohave “taken” thetelevision. tial forces andtofully liberatethecountry”.They to thestreets todemandthedeparture ofimpar- their leaderscallingfor “all young peopletotake get themtobroadcast amessagefrom oneof They threatened thetechniciansto the studios. outside rushedthrough andforced theirway into gates andthe Young Patriots whowere waiting guarding theentranceto thebuildingopened Soldiers dramaticdevelopment. was afurther Butovernight there on17-18January building. andthen withdrew from the with cushy jobs", callingthem “rebelsthreatened several journalists, news oftheiractionin the 1pmnews bulletinand They usedforced togetthestaffbroadcast rmss callingfor ralliesagainstthe “sym- premises, T D ÔTE after themanagementrefused Radiotélévision ivoirienne Radiotélévision ivoirienne ’I VOIRE ( RTI ). aainjunls u-nr ife,whowas Canadian journalistGuy-André Kieffer, year aboutthefateofFrench- ofuncertainty Itwasalso thethird control ofnews by force. The year 2006therefore saw areturn tothe oee.On28November,however. The presidential campwasnotready toyield 20 January. Laurent Gbagboledtoareturn tonormalityon Minister CharlesKonan Banny andPresident Negotiations in Abidjan between thePrime reporting equipment. beatenupandrobbed oftheirmoney and death, Koné andtheirdriver were threatened with Info Journalist for knives andclubs. dishing swords, up atabarricade mannedby Young Patriotsbran- owner ofthedailies A teamofjournalistsfrom theOlympe group, orotherdailiesclosetotheopposition. Ouattara, offormer primeminister party Alassane the linked totheRally for theRepublicans(RDR), they were lookingfor stafffrom thedaily A tion throughout thecountry. crucial elementincontrolling news andinforma- a med thebringingtoheelofpublicmedia, Themove confir- toxic wastescandalin Abidjan. inthe instating officialssuspendedfor theirpart “urgent todelay implementation”ofdecrees re- Charles Konan Banny’s statementthatitwas on Laurent Gbagbohadseenas “seditious” theairing channel’s board ofgovernors wasdissolved. andthe Patriots hadseizedcontrol inJanuary, the TV news duringtheperiodthat Young whoread and replaced by Pierre Brou Amessan, Kébé wassacked by presidential decree Yacouba, NSALBEPRESIDENCY UNASSAILABLE N RTI oa ’r,photographer Abdoul Karim Konan N’Bra, n2 oebr ofPrimeMinister on27November, , L’Inter and RTI ’s director general, Soir Info were held , Patriote Soir 17 , 2007 Annual Report - Africa C ua,anIvorian callinghimselfanarmy “ex-cap- Oulai, Jean-Tony after18monthsindetention. Abidjan, Heiscurrently underhouse arrest in tage”. October 2004for “abduction anda holdingahos- Ramaël openedaninvestigation intoLegréon21 French examiningmagistratePatrick Gbagbo. Simone brother-in-law ofthepresident’s wife, being lured intoanambushsetby MichelLegré, after an Abidjan supermarket on16 April 2004, kidnapped by acommandofrom aparkinglotof T D ÔTE ’I VOIRE president. allclosetothe kept by thoseinvolved inthecase, investigating onthespotandlaw ofsilence thedifficultiesof ween FranceandCoted'Ivoire, hamstrung by theappalling stateofrelations bet- Buttheinvestigation hasbeen put onprobation. 2006inFranceand holding ahostage”inJanuary also putunderinvestigation for “abduction and was organised thekidnapping ofthejournalist, andaccusedby somewitnessesofhaving tain”, 18 2007 Annual Report - Africa D paign wastheoccasionfor publicandprivately- Therecent presidential electoralcam- nic clans. madeuseofby politicaloreth- Congolese media, newspaper columnsorontheairwaves ofsome Hatespeechalso regularly findsitsway into cians. mailers ormouthpiecesofunscrupulouspoliti- ting themselves intheposition ofmasterblack- put- columns intheirpapers tothehighestbidder, Many journalistsselltheir the Congolese press. there isalsoacorruption problem with Indeed, P injustices are frequent. ofthejudicialsystem, the corruption attheheart ontopofthis, Given, standing” ofthecomplainant. fact ofwhetherornotit “harms thereputation or truth oftheincriminatingnews butonly onthe underwhichjudgesneednotruleonthe sation”, punishinga and abusinganarticle “damaging accu- Theauthoritieshave notyet given upusing vain. sofarin nalists tobeputinpreventive detention, which provides for prisontermsandallows jour- on thegovernment toreform thedefamationlaw, Danger (JED)have over several years beencalling Journalist in organisation, Borders anditspartner Reporters Without call from thepolicechief. oraphone plaint from apoliticianorbusinessman, frequently onthebasisofasinglecom- (CPRK), andRe-educationCentreKinshasa Penitentiary senttolanguishinthecellsofsinister years, asinprevious nalists working inthecapital were, editorsandjour- upto15publishers, During 2006, unfair arrests andpolicebrutalityare deaththreats, commonplace. andunruly, polemical, fuse, where the press ispro- Inthecapital Kinshasa, try. of theproblems facedby journalistsinthiscoun- The vastnessoftheformer Zaire reflects thescale played adangerous role, civilwar. whichcouldhave tippedthecountry intoanew presidential election.Whileseveral journalistsfellvictimtopoliticalhatred, others biggest missionintheworld oversee in2006toorganise was and launched ahistoric mic poverty pushthemintoallowing whichcan themselves tobecorrupted. The UN’s theirleaders, and tical militants theanarchy whichreigns insomeregions theende- and poli- western Europe, thepress by theviolenceof isbuffeted In thiscountrythesize of JosephKabila. Head ofstate: French. Language: 57,549,000. Population: km. 2,344,860sq. Area: C RIA MEDIA ARTISAN ONGO EMOCRATIC R PBI OF EPUBLIC T second degree burns. StéphaneKitutuwith channels’ director general, ( Canal Congo télévision suspicious fire destroyed theofficesandstudiosof a on 18September, Onemonthlater, candidates. Bemba between thepraetorianguards ofthetwo around the TV buildingowned by Jean-Pierre fightingbroke out on20 August, dential elections, declaration ofthefirstround results inthepresi- theday afterthe In anothersignofthetimes, “the other”. their militiaormilitantstosilencethevoice of whohadnohesitationinsending their opponents, were thetargetofattacksfrom Pierre Bemba, cularly thoseofJoseph KabilaandhisrivalJean- parti- media, partisan aresult, regard for ethics.As frequently withno one candidateoranother, owned mediatonoisily declare theirallegiancefor gk n i ieHln pk,were murdered Ngyke andhiswife HélèneMpaka, politicaljournalistFranck Less thanayear earlier, diers lookingfor easymoney. probably by sol- murdered athishomeon8July, was tion editorialistnewly returned from exile, anopposi- Bapuwa Mwamba, half monthsearlier. the prosecutor hadordered hisrelease oneanda despitethefactthat exposing acorruption case, Expansion ontheweekly KazadiMukendi, nalist, Onesuchjour- those whoembezzlepublicfunds. freedom ortheirlives —for challenging safety, butpaytheir work ahighprice—intheir honestly, Many out otherjournalistsdotheir besttocarry CKTV RASADSAOYAREAS SHADOWY AND HREATS ) and spentamonthandhalfinprisonfor , Radio liberté Kinshasa Radio liberté ( CCTV ), Canal Kintélévision ( Ralik ,leaving the ), Lubilanji 19 2007 Annual Report - Africa D cal meetings. Jean-Pierre Bembareturning from oneofhispoliti- offices were ransacked on27July of by supporters Itwasagainstthisbackground thatits “partiality”. the authorityhastocopewithconstantchargesof not tocondemnabusesby thepropaganda media, Atthesametimeasfindingitimpossible normally. to suchpressure thathefindsitdifficulttowork arespected journalistsubjected Modeste Mutinga, isheadedby High Authority on Media (HAM), the inadequacyofregulation andself-regulation.The itwasalsoabletoestablish imprisoned journalists, sation wasabletosecure therelease ofthree theorgani- and theleadingmediaexecutives.While thelocalUNmission ministers andambassadors, several tomeetPresident Joseph Kabila, Kinshasa, Reporters Without Borders sentadelegationto inMarch, To confront allthesechallenges, close for for comfort some. were too by peopleclose totheinteriorministry, abouttherole particularly played their investigation, suggeststhatthequestionsthey raisedin Tshivuadi, general of theorganisationanditssecretary Tshivis president threats againstDonatM'Baya Tshimanga, However repeated death confirmed ordisproved. conclusionshave neverof theauthorities.The been nounced disregard for thishypothesis onthepart despitepro- the aimofexploringpoliticallead, with JED carried outitsown independentinquiry, three former soldierswhosemotives were unclear. somewhat muddled trialofthree allegedculprits, ledtoa ned toshedlightonthedoublekilling.This aninvestigation wasope- country’s recent history, for thefirsttimein international organisations, Under pressure from Congolese journalistsand in dubiouscircumstances attheirhomeinKinshasa. C ONGO EMOCRATIC R PBI OF EPUBLIC disappearance. toincludethisunsolved Hague duringtheyear, to The transferred Lubanga, warlord Thomas toextenditsinvestigationsCriminal Court into Borders hasmoreover calledontheInternational Reporters Without red by localmilitiamen. thing pointstotheconclusionthathewasmurde- went missinginIturi in2003andevery- Kisembo, curity. A local A curity. journalistswork incompleteinse- cal objectives, areas infested by privatearmieswithvaguepoliti- In thrown intoaditchby unknown assailants. brutally beatenand waskidnapped, Lubumbashi, P Radio télévisionnationalecongolaise cameramanwith RickyNzuzi, on18May, one case, In beat upjournalistsshowing toomuch curiosity. local leadersregularly sendingtheirhenchmento with The situationislittlebetterintheprovinces, her by thepro-Kabila daily paign withxenophobic overtones wasdirected at on herinthepreceding monthsandahatecam- ministerhadlaunchedavirulentattack tiative.The athisini- wasexpelledfrom thecountry Dupont, foreign a correspondent for July, On3 rules onseveral occasionsduringtheyear. demonstrated hislackofregard for democratic Theministeralso Pierre Bemba’s channels. ordered anunceremonious blackout ofJean- whenhe asitdidattheendof August, regularly, hasno hesitationinby-passing it Kabila’s party, a “hardliner” inJoseph under HenriMova Sanakyi, Theinformation ministry, modern democracy. no respect institutionof for thisimportant Political militantsare nottheonly onestoshow RAETHOSTILITY ERMANENT AFP correspondent Acquitté , L'Avenir . RFI Ghislaine , ( RTNC ) in 20 2007 Annual Report - Africa E guage service of guage service vice on Senait Tesfay, presenter ofa Tigrinya-language ser- of "Bahja"Idris, these swoops were:Ahmed Journalists picked upin staff withoutexplanation. where state-runmediaare basedandarrested up daily attheofficesofinformation ministry, securityforces agentsturned From 12November, defections initsusualway -withacrackdown. The Eritrean government responded torepeated O racks tocompletehis “patriotic re-education”. container andthenspentseveral weeks inabar- health afterbeingheldfor 18monthsinametal Thejournalistwasreleased inpoor loved ones. of soldierslearningthedeathincombattheir July 2003for areport onthegrieffelt by families Hehadbeenarrested in beginning ofDecember. crossed theEthiopianborder secretly atthe dent ofthe Eri-TV ofthepublicchannel the English-languageservice includingstarpresenter of fled intoexileabroad, around ascore ofthem In2006, they left. great, Whenthepressure becametoo obey orders. of thisopen-airprisonhadnochoicetobut dissent from theauthoritarianismofmasters Journalists who ses ofPresident Issaias Afeworki. thestatemediacontinues tosingtheprai- Abdu, Ali Under theleadershipofInformation Minister, dent only since1993. indepen- SudanandtheRedSea, between Ethiopia, squeezed dency tocriticisminthissmallcountry hand down severe punishmenttotheleastten- continue toexert totalcontrol andto (PFDJ), the Popular Front for DemocracyandJustice armyand silence.The commandandthesoleparty, Eritrea hasjustcompletedafifthyear ofterror apenalcolony. conditionsreminiscent of result of themmaywell have diedasa Threenalists have injail. just spenttheirsixthyear of politicalprisoners, atleast13jour- threat tonationalsecurity. Amongthehundreds of guarded ultra-nationalist by asa soleparty an whichseestheleastdemocratic claim prison open-air Africa’s country, newest since1993,hasbecomeakindof independent Issaias Afeworki. Head ofstate: Language:Tigrinya. 4,401,000. Population: km. 117,600sq. Area: E OTMTFRTEPRESS THE FOR CONTEMPT PEN RITREA ,Temesghen former correspon- Debesai.The Eri-TV Voice of America alsKdn,ofthe Amharic-lan- Paulos Kidane, , Eri-TV and public ( VOA ),Aklilu Solomon, ),Aklilu Radio Dimtsi Eri-TV , I Borders. Without Reporters asaformer prisonertold final destination”, to torture thembefore transferring themtotheir detention centre is “where policetake prisoners company whichpreviously stoodatthatspot.This inreference totheoil complex known as “Agip”, inapolice-run Asmara, tedly heldinthecapital, whosuffers from diabetes.They are repor- service, of presenter onthe Arabic-language service Khaled, eeSyu shy o shy) afreelance were Seyoum Tsehaye (or Fsehaye), They all working for the privately-owned press. Other prisonerswere referred tointhisreport, these presumed deaths. Eiraeiro prisoncouldhave beenresponsible for extremely harshconditionsin any comment".The "We reply. only thecurt are notprepared tomake theEritrean government gave international media, report by Reporters Without Borders andseveral Questioned aboutthis party’s reformist fringe. vately-owned mediaandthearrest oftheruling of President Issaias Afeworki’s "suspension"ofpri- intheaftermath week of18-23September2001, lists andoppositionfigures rounded upinthe Haile and Yusuf Mohamed Ali were amongjourna- Medhane Said Abdulkader, desert. north-eastern situatedinaremote army-run prisonofEiraeiro, imprisoned for thepastfive years haddiedinthe 2006 thatthree ofthe13journalistssecretly Credible sources reported attheendof centres. been doneinoneofthecountry’s many detention But isalsoseemsthattheirreparable may have guage service of guage service Dimtsi Hafash,Temesghen ofthe Abay, Tigrinya-lan- ofRadio oftheOromo-language service Mussie, Hafash of thestate-run HMNPIO CONDITIONS PRISON NHUMAN Eri-TV n mrIrhm journalist onthesame and Amir Ibrahim, , Vieo h ra ass,Daniel (Voice oftheBroad Masses), Eritrean NewsEritrean Agency Radio DimtsiHafash ,Yemane Haile, ( ENA ,Fathia ), 21 2007 Annual Report - Africa nalist andmemberoftheboard of ekypirt 01 thepoetanddramatist weekly priorto2001, the co-founder of Reporters Without Borders alsoobtainednews of tedly heldinEiraeiro. editorof and Emanuel Asrat, E founder of editorandco- Dawit Habtemichael, journalist, RITREA Meqaleh TmshnGbeeu,jour- ,Temesghen Gebreyesus, Setit thecountry’s top-selling , Zemen and allrepor- Keste Debena light. litround theclockby electric 2.50 metres high, inanunderground cell1.5metres wideand south, after beingheldpreviously inDongolo jailinthe reportedly beingheldinCell18atEiraeiro prison, is He “Joshua”. as known Fessehaye Yohannes, 22 2007 Annual Report - Africa E ooo rgw,of Solomon Aregawi, added tothelistof “November prisoners”. two otherjournalistswere 2006, Since 1stJanuary were 2007. stilldetainedasof1stJanuary were arrested andsentencedindefamationcases.All otherjournalists From Decemberonwards, 2005. rounded upinthespaceofonemonthNovember newspaperFourteen editorsorpublisherswere Tigreans like himself. neer acoupandtotake revenge onethnic was nodoubtthattheoppositionwantedtoengi- there For him, Minister MelesZenawi tobudge. failedtogetPrime Ethiopia’s traditionalallies, includingfrom Thegeneraldisapproval, May. trials before openedon2 thefederal highcourt overthrow thegovernment Their and “genocide”. “conspiracy”to press prosecuted for “treason”, civilsocietyandtheprivate bers oftheopposition, ofagroup part ofatleast76mem- Addis Ababa, Some20journalistsspentitincells tic one. 2006inEthiopiawasasta- After adisastrous year, down onthe oppositioncoalition. 15 journalistshave beeninprison sinceNovember beingpicked 2005after upinacrack- theriotsness. Butthepollingfiascoand whichfollowed Around themdashedthishope. agenuineopen- “authoritarian thebeginningof democracy” and would mark theendof The internationalcommunitymighthave believed thatlegislative electionsinMay2005 MelesZenawi. Head ofgovernment: Language:Amharic. 77,431,000. Population: km. 1,104,300sq. Area: the warwithSomaliaandstandoffat aggravated by It isagainstthistensebackground, in absentia. were andtried chargedwhileoutofthecountry journalists andoppositionfigures ororganisations, ged with “treason” on19 number ofother April.A Lisane Hezeb oftheweekly GoshuMoges, bers oftheCUD, membersorsupposedmem- 32 otherprisoners, alongwith ting theConstitution”and “genocide”, waschargedon21March 2006with “insul- 2005, THIOPIA arrested waschar- on19February , Hadar arrested inNovember , vision working for ofpublictele- theOromo service abouttheplightoftwo journalists since 2004, Reporters Without Borders hasbeenworried Ethiopia. is essentialtobeallowed towork legally in which accreditation from theInformation Ministry, Foreign mediahave great difficultinobtaining gedly “tarnished theimageofcountry”. leave for having on22January alle- thecountry plausible. hypothesis ofpolitical censorshipappear more whichmakes the mysteriously disappeared, theseonlinepublicationsagainst November, attheend of However, being behindit. Thegovernment denied ble inthecountry. blogs andoppositionwebsites were inaccessi- most From May toJune 2006, web censorship. government appears tohave launcheditselfinto theEthiopian For thefirsttimeinitshistory, the separatistOromo LiberationFront (OLF). journalists were accusedofbeinginformers for two 2004.The on4January University campus, student demonstrationonthe Addis Ababa following aviolentcrackdown onanOromo alongwithother year, king for the wor- Mitchell, pondents closely watched.Anthony held toanimposedpatriotismandforeign corres- Ethiopianjournalistsare issues. larly onmilitary particu- Self-censorshipiscommonplace, Ababa. newspapers are continuing toappear in Addis thatseveral privately-owned Eritrean border, ETV They were arrested in . April ofthat Associated Press ETV tf,sincereleased, staff, ( AP ,wasforced to ), 23 2007 Annual Report - Africa G amhrpid “Idonotbelieve inmurder. Jammeh replied: Questioned aboutthekilling inSeptember,Yahya vately-owned daily co-founder andeditorofthepri- Deyda Hydara, country’s greatest journaliststwo years earlier. commemoration ofthemurder ofonethe the ded tomaskanothermore dreadful event: This major “musical” festival wasperhaps inten- youth todevelop itsmusical talents”. for Gambia’s celebrationandanopportunity tory calleda"bigvic- of thevote inSeptember2006, re-elected indubiouscircumstances with67.4% attendedwhattheone-timecoupleader, Taiwan, generousprime ministerofthevery Republicof includingthe heads ofstateandgovernment, Many his re-election for anew five-year term. mony on15and16December2006tocelebrate President Jammehheldalavish investiture cere- press freedom isconcerned. President as Yahya asfar Jammeh’s thisistheterrible fear: track record of mate of amurdered journalistbesmirched by cli- thegovernment apermanent and memory of responsibility orcomplicity, the thepresident are suspectedof for whichsupporters of Ten journalistsarrested, others onemissing,many countlessunsolved murders inexile, Head ofstate:Yahya Jammeh. English. Language: 1,517,000. Population: km. 11,300sq. Area: A onecouldhardly expectanything else. activists, of hiscontemptfor journalistsandhumanrights where thepresident boasts likecountry Gambia, Butina killed becauseofsomekindsexcase. couldhave been referred toasa “provocateur”, whowas trumped-up suggestionthatHydara, produced the sixmonths afterthemurder, tors, cial statementmadeby theGambianinvestiga- only offi- identify thekillersorinstigators.The Noseriousinvestigation washeldto Borders. missions carried outby Reporters Without asshown by two investigative police barracks, carried outinastreet runningalongsidea killing, minuteshad himundersurveillance before the who been threatened by theintelligenceservices, Hehadpreviously employees homeinhiscar. whilehewasdrivingtwo December 2004, was gunneddown on16 Borders inBanjul, Agence France-Presse E IHU UEO LAW OF RULE WITHOUT REA AMBIA The Point ( AFP ) and Reporters ) andReporters Without correspondent for , fia no A) thecontinental organisation, African Union(AU), This appalling record hasnotprevented the butnocharges hadbeenmadeagainsthim. date, been heldinaprovincial policestationsincethat Without Borders learnedinearly 2007thathehad Observer of theprivatepro-government Manneh, Ebrima and detainedinsimilarconditions.“Chief” at leasttenjournalistswere arrested during2006 Like them indefianceofalllegalprocedure. April, nearly three weeks between 28March and20 editor MusaSaidykhanwere secretly heldfor andhis GambiaPress Union(GPU), lists’ union, whoisalsopresident ofthejourna- Madi Ceesay, managingdirector ofthenewspaper,Hydara.The parliament two days before themurder of Deyda adoptedby providing for heavy prisonsentences, Heisbeingtriedunderadraconianlaw beach. touristcomplexesfrom theluxury onBanjul justafew hundred metres access toalawyer, withno than amonthby theintelligenceservices whohasbeenheld for more LaminFatty, nalists, againstoneofitsjour- nable trialhasbeenstarted intermi- from appearing since28March 2006.An hasbeensealedoffandillegally prevented Guard, parliamentarian asmembersoftheNational ched in2004by menidentifiedby anopposition The Independent Iwilldoit.” newspaper’s offices, IfIhave good reasons toclosea should getlost. “Everyone Yahya Jammehreplied: police unit, tely-owned bi-weekly arrests ofjournalistsandtheclosure ofthepriva- who challengedhimaboutthefrequent unfair willlearnalessonfromryone it.” To ajournalist Theneve- and leave himtosinkintoadecline. We release him too oldtobefed by thestate’. we willsay,‘Oh heis atsomepoint, Then perhaps, I believe inimprisonmentfor therest ofyour life. a enmsigsne7Jl.Reporters has beenmissingsince7July. whichhaditsprintingpress tor- , The Independent by anelite Daily 24 2007 Annual Report - Africa G annual headsofstateandgovernment summit The for thegovernment. unconditional support from continuing tooffer Alpha OumarKonaré, presided over by former Malianheadofstate AMBIA discussing theactionsofitshostsonthisissue. Human andPeople’s bodyalsoavoids Rights.This ofthe headquarters African Commissionon was heldinBanjulandtheGambiancapital isthe 25 2007 Annual Report - Africa K meeting hadever taken place. Kibaki andKalonzoMusyoka deniedthatsucha Kenyan press officesofbothPresident people.The the headofstateandfinally rejected by the againstthedraftconstitutionproposed by tion, November 2005andcampaigned withtheopposi- Musyoka hadleftthegovernment in Mr. alliance. todiscussapossiblepolitical Kalonzo Musyoka, Kibaki andtheformer environment minister between President a meetingtwo days earlier, referredshed thegovernment’s article to ire.The weekend editionofthe whichappeared inthe an article on25February Group timeitwas andStandard Newspapers.This thepowerful inparticular NationMedia press, President Mwai Kibakiandtheprivately-owned mounting hostilitybetween thegovernment of Itcameaftermonthsof red thepoliceoperation. acknowleged ithadorde- John Michuki, Minister, through itsInternalSecurity The government, shown around theworld. of thetelevision camerasinsceneswhichwere Standard seized copiesofthe2March editionofthe Simultaneously policeofficers four staffmembers. arrested andthenquickly released computers, includinganumber of seizingequipment, unit, Police stormedthefilmproduction following day. took thestationoffairuntilearly afternoonofthe which floor asthey wrecked broadcast equipment, They forcedat the stafftolieonthe TV station. triggered panic police officersarmedwith AK-47s, numbers of Afterbeatingthewatchmen, zone. of thedaily Kenya Network Television onslaughts ontheHQofprivately-owned whenpolicemadecoordinated 1am on2March, remembered chiefly for theraidwhichcameat theyear 2006willbe For Kenyan journalists, cracies. mostdeveloped thecontinent’s demo- theprivately-ownedment and media,inoneof relations theappalling between thegovern- the world. Theincidentwas revealing of mostrespected thecountry’s newspapers were relayed around oneof burning copiesof against raid Kenyans woke on2March thatpolicehadovernight 2006tolearn carried outabrutal Mwai Kibaki. Head ofstate: English. Language: 34,256,000. Population: km. 580,370sq. Area: ENYA at theprintersandburnedtheminfront The Standard The Standard The Standard ( KTN inaNairobi industrial , ) andattheprinters The Standard esae n eeiinsain otg fpoliceofficers of atelevisionstation.Footage and newspaper whichunlea- , repor- The V of afully functioningdemocracylike Kenya. are totally counter-productive for thegovernment proving thatphysical attacksonthemedia debate, lity? These questions continued tonourishthe knew what? Who gave theorders? Why suchbruta- political andmedialife for therest oftheyear.Who police raidanditsconsequencespoisonedKenya’s this Far from solvingwhatever problems there were, euros). were released on bailof50,000shillings(580 with theintentionofpanickingpublic”and were chargedwith “publication offalserumours were notreleased untiltheday afterthe raid.They ming ofthenewspaper camethree days later.They Thestor- inNairobi. police stationinKileleshwa, were arrested andtaken toa Ayub Savula, nalist, andjour- DennisOnyango, editor, Chaacha Mwita, managingeditorof 28 February, on Inthefirststageofitspunitive operation, ment. But thatwasnotenoughtoplacatethegovern- withtheaimofdiscrediting him. Musyoka belonged, ofthecoalitiontowhich cions ofaplotonthepart ted thesedenialsbutalsoreferred toitsown suspi- sitn utnAwk,wr retd Several arrested. were assistant AustinAlwaka, anddistribution printerPaulKimani, Oyando, Ken Catherine graphic designer, receptionist, Teyie, journalistJohnstone Mativo, During thisoperation, several printersinthecapital on20February. offices ofthetabloid carried outamajorsearch atthe Isaiah Osugo, deputy chiefoftheprovincial criminalbrigade, and Julius Ndegwa, of operationsfor Nairobi, ledby head policeunit, “overstepped themark”.A have intheeyes ofthegovernment, who, media, Police are stilloftensenttosettlescores with IOLENCE h eky Citizen The Weekly The Standard and at 26 , 2007 Annual Report - Africa K is theendemicviolencethatexistsinoneof Another problem confronting journalistsinKenya and “first lady”LucyKibaki. Wambui, Mary woman presented ashissecondwife, that apower strugglewas going onbetween a and Stanley Murage, powers toaspecialadvisor, haddelegatedhis pable ofrunningthecountry, inca- Ithadreported thattheheadofstate, dency. ried several criticisingMwaiKibaki’s articles presi- hadcar- whichspecialisesinsexcases, The weekly, released afew days later. street vendors were were alsopicked all up.They ENYA ces ofprivately-owned continent’s Nairobi offi- mosttroubled regions.The promoted conversion toChristianityfor Muslims. which “Jesus istheway”, of aprogramme called, followed aSwahili-languagebroadcast extremists, whichtheradioblamedonMuslim The attack, also injured asthegangfledafterraid. studios andtakingthestationofair.A passer-by was security staffandapresenter before fire-bombing theninjuringanothermemberofthe him instantly, of whomopenedfire onanightwatchmankilling two the nightof12May by abandofnineassailants, evangelical Pentecostal Church wasstormedduring Radio Hope oftheprotestant , 27 2007 Annual Report - Africa M between thegovernment andpoliticalmovements thesepolls were preceded by consultations 2007, for thepresidential elections dueinMarchches.As the greatest number possibletohearthespee- teeing diversity inpublicdiscourseandaccessto guaran- elections went offinfavourable conditions, rendum andNovember municipal andlegislative theJune constitutionalrefe- Likewise, spectrum. their columnstothecountry’s entire political journalists whohave openedtheirairwaves and public mediahave beenentrustedtoresponsible Butthemajor sation are takingtimetofirm up. state control andtheCMJD’s promises ofliberali- thebroadcast landscape isstillunder Certainly, police tyranny. and constantsurveillance years ofoppression, after20 nalists canfinally breathe easily again, Mauritanianjour- appointed toregulate thesector. Authority ofPress andBroadcasting (HAPA) was A High oftheinternationalcommunity. support shed through negotiation andwiththewatchful Censorshipwasthusaboli- Democracy (CMJD). Councilfor JusticeOctober by theMilitary and the new law waspromulgated atthebeginningof amended by theprofession afteritspublicrelease, slightly CompletedinMarch, Without Borders. incollaborationwith Reporters top officials, juristsand independent journalistsinNouakchott, drawn upby aspecialcommissionmadeupof was ting upmechanismsfor democraticregulation, decriminalisingpress offences andset- A new law, thispromise waskept. theendof2006, freedom.At sed torestore press democracyandinparticular overthrew President MaaouiyaOuld Taya promi- juntawhich themilitary tion” of August 2005, Following the “palace revolu- tructive example. thecaseofMauritaniaprovides anins- freedoms, can produce positive results for civilandpolitical If proof wasneededthatinternationalpressure censorship. promises rulers new by kept thecountry’s of hasbeentheabolition sofar democracy which shouldculminateinapresidential electioninMarch 2007.Amongthe to transition forced aprocess juntabegan departure, 2005,amilitary of inAugust oustedpresident MaaouiyaOuldTaya, Afterhis now livinginexile. vate fiefdom”of In two years, there forpress gains have beenspectacular freedom intheformer“pri- ElyOuldMohamed Vall.Head ofstate: French. Languages:Arabic, 3,069,000. Population: km. 1,025,520sq. Area: AURITANIA provided themwithoptimismwhichallows them But theexperienceof15years ofcensorship has to respecting theethicalrulesofjob. angeringjournalistscommitted and officialevents, papers continue tobe invited topress conferences thoseresponsible for thesenews- highest bidder, tle presents” andkeen tothe toselltheirservices Chasersafter “lit- — continue tocauseproblems. vious regime todiscredit theindependentpress sionalism andtreated favourably underthepre- press —irregular publicationsofdubiousprofes- thephenomenaof “peshmerga” Elsewhere, reasons which remained unclear. shed butthejournalistwithdrew hiscomplaintfor allowedintervention thoseresponsible tobepuni- Government fearing for hissafety. went intohiding, reportedtheincidentandthenimmediately injury, ceeded ingettingaway from thescenewithout Hesuc- drive vehicle inthecentre ofthecapital. driving hiscarwhenhewashitby afour-wheel thejournalist was Onthesameday, king for him. burstintotheofficesofhisnewspaper loo- man, figure undertheformer regime turnedbusiness- aprominent Mohamed MahmoudOuldDeh, undertheorders ofexColonel armed men, Ascore of 2006. in Nouakchotton15February N toNouadhibouinthewest. extend itsservice tions openedwiththechannel’s managementto were resumed andnegotia- in November 2000, International capital by French publicstation Moreover, broadcasts inthe most radicalelements. includingthe so astosatisfyeveryone involved, of the Arabic-language daily editor KhalilOuldJdoud, clan andtribalpressures. inovercoming particularly Mauritanian journalists, A number ofchallengesremain however for WOBJECTIVES EW ( RFI ,suspendedby theformer regime ), al Akhbar wasattacked , Radio France 28 2007 Annual Report - Africa M rmwti.I utogns tef becomeprofes- Itmust organiseitself, from within. Theonly threat tothepress now comes others. Idon’t seewhy we shouldgive way to power. stood uptotheauthoritieswhichhadall “We have already to faceupthechallenge. AURITANIA red mostfrom censorshippriorto2005. tor of Heismanagingedi- Reporters Without Borders. new predators,” Ahmed OuldSheikhtold andshow solidaritytoconfront its unite, sional, Calame oneofthenewspapers whichsuffe- , 29 2007 Annual Report - Africa M nAeu atrsd ahv nMpt.He on Avenue Martires deMachava inMaputo. Cardoso wasmurdered on22November 2000, head ofstateshouldbebrought before acourt. ties before decidingwhether thesonofformer judgewillnow haveMaputo.A allpar- tointerview ral’s in officessentthefileto theHighCourt Theprosecutor-gene- “various economiccrimes”. was beinginvestigated for “complicity” and He author” behindthemurder ofCarlosCardoso. Nyimpine Chissanowasallegedly the “moral opened aninvestigation intotheaccusationthat Mozambique’s publicministry on9May, However, fully cleared up. have beenever been of having ordered thekilling, accused NyimpineChissano, the former president, nor accusationsofcomplicityagainsttheson probably withhelpfrom withinthepolice, escapes, cumstances ofthedefendant’s two spectacular of doubtstillexistinthecaseandneithercir- key areas Certainly, tohishomecountry. deported Portuguese-national Anibalzinho shouldbe tence, theentirety ofhissen- judge saidthatafterserving The list’s driver whowas injured intheambush. lion meticals(51000-52,000euros) tothejourna- and1.5bil- billion meticals(about490,000euros), ordered topay damagestoCardoso’s family of14 Anibalzinhowasalso nearly 30years inprison. wassentenced to mando whokilledthejournalist, theleaderofcom- known as “Anibalzinho”, Anibal Antonio dosSantosJunior,On 20January, financial scandalsinceindependence. while hewasinvestigating thecountry’s biggest daily editorofthe after themurder ofCarlosCardoso, sixyears what happened inMozambique2006, Thiswas of verdict tobethoroughly welcomed. for thiskind ler tobeeffectively brought tojustice, It issufficiently rare in Africa for ajournalist’s kil- formerpresident JoachimChissano. Nyimpine Chissano, sonof ministry even intothepossible investigation by went complicityof openingan further which killedhimwas definitively sentencedtoalong prison public term.Mozambique’s thecommando journalistCarlos Cardoso, theleaderof Six years themurder after of EmilioGuebuza. Head ofstate:Armando Portuguese. Language: 19,792,000. Population: km. 801,590sq. Area: Metical OZAMBIQUE who waskilledinNovember 2000 , A two Satarbrothers and Vicente Ramaya. the names ofthree powerful very businessmen, citedthe hehadparticularly Inhisarticles (BCM). euros from theCommercial BankofMozambique the embezzlementofequivalent14million journalistwasatthetimeinvestigatinginjured.The diedinstantly andhisdriver badly wasvery head, whowashitby several bulletsinthe Cardoso, men blocked theirroute andopenedfire onthem. was travelling inhiscarwithdriver whentwo community newspaper news editorandareporter from the the editor, imprisonmentof hours before beingreleased.The was arrested andheldfor atMaputo 24 airport tor ofthedaily whentheedi- recorded ofjournalistssince2003, There hadbeennoarrests never imposethem. inpracticethecourts penalty for defamation, Even ifprisontermsstill exist asa the press. forced thegovernment togive more respect to The casesentshockwaves and across thecountry superior. ofthedeputy prosecutor’spersonal intervention following the after aweek ofbeingheldillegally, The three menwere freed deputy prosecutor. released for lackofevidence by theofficeof andthen accused ofstealing70headcattle, ted thathehadrecently been arrested afterbeing Thenewspaper hadrepor- Tiago Pangaia. district, tion” suitlodgedby aninfluentialbusiness inBarue nalists were imprisoned onthebasisofa “defama- Jose the deputyprosecutor, three jour- Abede.The ontheorders of Chimoio, the provincial capital, were arrested in and journalistPatreque Francisco, news editorJoão Mascarenhas, Sebastião Canjera, Editor withpolicecomplicity. local despots, larly revealing oftheabusepower by small-time andwasparticu- fore provoked surprisein2006, UEO POWER OF BUSE Imparcial Mabarwe , José Armando Chitula, José Armando , n3My there- on3May, , 30 2007 Annual Report - Africa donors. investigation ledtoanauditby Niger’s international embezzlement offundswithintheadministration.This Le Républicain that hebelieved theirarrests were intendedtopunish toldReporters Without Borders from custody Abou, Maman liquidating allbusinessesbelongto Whites”. risking asplitwith “Western foreign ministriesand Hama Amadou of"strenuously wooing theIranians", drops the accusedthePrimeMinister West for Iran”, headlined “Hama Thestory, published on28July. inthe the stateofNigeragainstanarticle thebasisofacomplaintlodgedby ted on4 August,on for againstOumarou Keita.The two menwere arres- hadaskedfine was100timeswhatthepublicministry ted thepenaltycalledfor whilethe by theprosecutor, news” and prisonsentencesreflec- “defamation”.The CFA francs(about460 euros) finefor “spreading false lion CFA francs(7,600euros) damagesanda300,000 N weekly tively publisherandeditoroftheprivately-owned sentenced Maman respec- Abou andOumarou Keita, inNiamey thehighcourt On 1stSeptember2006, has notbeenkept the and thepress law. In2006,thispromise President Tandja Mamadou topromise reform of the weekly of themanagement 2003,of The crisis prompted by theimprisonment, attheendof Mamadou Tandja.Head ofstate: French. Language: 13,957,000. Population: km. 1,267,000sq. Area: IGER Le Républicain for publicationin April ofareport into Le Républicain o1 otsi rsn 5mil- to18monthsinprison, , hc a enhgl-rtclo thegovernment, pushed , whichhadbeenhighly-critical of Républicain Républicain management went backtojail. management ait unchecked orexaggeratedreports. nalist, rulesofjournalismby publishingsensatio- mentary side ofthelaw from mostly afterdeparting theele- Thesethree journalistsgot onthe wrong political. Butthesecaseswere different andmuch less 2006. highly-placed journalistswent toprisoninNiger other not theirfirstbrushwiththeauthorities,three for whomthiswas fromApart thesetwo journalists, end ofthehearing. four monthsinprisonthey were released atthe Since thetwo journalistshadalready spentnearly sixofthemsuspended. months imprisonment, Hecalledfor nine the lower wastooharsh. court prosecutor ruledthatthesentenceimposedby before they were finally released.The November, on27 The journalistshadtowaitfor theirappeal, sations. pite multiple appeals from press freedom organi- lar theprimeministerremained immoveable des- provokedthe outcry by thiscaseandinparticu- The government didnotgive way inthefaceof 31 2007 Annual Report - Africa A SamOminyi Egwu. mation” ofthegovernor, with and “conspiracy”,“sedition” “defa- Ebonyi state, capital of were in chargedby acourt Abakaliki, Ebonyi ned,“Is A FailedState?” The two journalists headli- on16 April, anarticle, aftercarrying August, from 14June to25 than two monthsinprison, spentmore Oluwole Elenyinmile, of hisjournalists, N dures whenjournalistschallengedPresident The government alsousedabusive judicialproce- tor ofthenewspaper are edi- thetargets of choice.The ruption,journalists carried outagainstabackdrop ofviolenceandcor- inwhichpowerIn acountry strugglesare generally rities andtheirprotégés. the faceofcontemptandbrutalityautho- juntas andforoppression now working ofmilitary in highpraiseforjournalists deserve enduringthe Nigerian For thisreason, news andinformation. plete impunityandhave norespect for therightto whoenjoy com- ministersandbusinessmen, nors, gover- figures, military punch bagsfor thepowerful, are also routinelyone caseofintimidation.They the oneunfairarrest and oneabusive sacking, ship order, onecensor- three physical assaults, month period: It madethiscommentafterrecording over athree- fer from thedaily violencewhichreigns inNigeria”. suf- Without Borders stressed inMarch,“journalists ButasReporters sinceindependence. country juntasanddictatorshipswhichhavemilitary bledthe people andalongtraditionofresistance todifferent buoyed ofthe upby thesupport and irreverent, vigorous theNigerianpress ispluralist, Undoubtedly, amongpoliticiansandbusinessmen. tary, annoyed localauthoritiesandcorruption inthemili- arrests that casesfor theleastarticle incertain tality, have hadtofacepolicebru- ling year in2006.They Nigerian journalistsyet againlived through anappal- governors laydown thelaw. where thestatecapitals, and journalistsinLagos powerful threats are lot of thedaily ready toprotect foranything theirprivileges. Beatings, arrests, trials abusive death and politicians ped between thebelligerence endemiccorruption public and violence, of Journalists inthis“West biggestoilproducer, African thecontinent’s giant”, are trap- OlusegunObasanjo. Head ofstate: English. Language: 131,530,000. Population: km. 923,770sq. Area: EEIINSAINI H IIGLINE FIRING THE IN STATION TELEVISION IGERIA Ebonyi Voice m z,andone ImoEze, , oe o orfrhryas Parliamentrejected power for years. four further sident andthefederal state governors toremain in thepre- amongotherthings, would have allowed, which ofPresidentted by supporters Obasanjo, presen- an amendmenttothe1999 constitution, assembly debateslive onthe controversial issueof authorities’ sightssinceitbroadcast national hadbeeninthe country’s oldestprivatechannel, Nigerian leaderstoholdonpower. aboutfailedattempts by previousmentary burst intoitsofficesandseizedthetape ofadocu- SSSagents On14May, rities theprevious month. The adjourned. buthistrialwas he wasarrested on25June, acquitted on10October.As for RotimiDurojaiye, Aruleba wasarrested againbuthewas his work, when heleft Abuja for Lagos inconnectionwith Thefollowing day, suggesting itwassecond-hand. the pejorative word “tokunbo” abouttheplane, for using condition ofreporting hismovements, 14 June andreleased himthefollowing day on (SSS)agentsarrestedSecurity Service Aruleba on InternalintelligenceState the Nigerianpress. whichprovoked ahugecontroversy in the subject, ( cast thenextday on broad- “Focus Nigeria”, Inhisprogramme, plane. timing oftheacquisitionanew presidential in whichhespeculatedaboutthedetailsand CostofPresidential Jet”, “Controversy Over Age, cle inthe Durojaiye wrote anarti- of anew presidential jet. connection withtheircommentsonthepurchase in had beenannulled by ruling, a1983appeal court were chargedwith “sedition” underalaw which Daily Independent reporter onthe andRotimiDurojaiye, gramme, presenter ofapopularpolitical TV pro- Aruleba, Mike Gbenga Accordingly, Olusegun Obasanjo. AIT ,presenter Mike Gbenga Aruleba alsoraised ), AIT channel alsohadabrushwiththeautho- Daily Independent spenttwo days inprisonand , African Independent African Television n1 ue headlined, on 12June, AIT the , 32 2007 Annual Report - Africa N eea ieinjunlss suggestedthatFalobi several Nigerianjournalists, passedonby JAAIDSand of theinvestigation, he wasatthewheelofhiscar.The firstconclusions killers fired several bullets into hisforehead when His intheOgbadistrict ofLagos. the association, of whenhehadjustlefttheheadquarters 10pm, waskilledon5Octoberataround AIDS (JAAIDS), der andexecutive director ofJournalists Against list ontheprivately-owned daily aformer journa- OmololuFalobi, have tooperate. the kindofviolentuniverse inwhichjournalists reveal proof thekillingswere linked totheirwork, even ifthere isno circumstances oftheirdeath, tims were well-known journalistsinLagos andthe Bothvic- the year wasmarked by two murders. theendof on theNigerianpress wasnotenough, As iftheclimateofpermanenthostilityweighing T of Press Freedom”. on Reporters Without Borders’ listof “Predator hasbeenplaced against theprivately-owned press, whichoftenlaunchescommandooperations SSS, it afew days aftertheraidonnewspaper.The OJUNLSSKILLED JOURNALISTS WO IGERIA The Punch foun- , and uncompromising take onpoliticallife. hecontinued toprovide anironic (1993-1999), dictatorship ral newspapers underthemilitary in lined articles whoregularly hadby- was awell-known journalist, Godwin sayingAgbroko thekillerswere robbers”. saying thatoneshouldnot “fool peoplebytheory, were alsonottouched.” Hedismissedthepolice wristwatchandotherthings Hiscash, untouched. whichwas left worth several thousandNairas, “He hadatelephonewhichwas an assassination. the Nigerianpress thatthefamily believed itwas nevertheless told Tobor Agbroko, Hisson, sons. that theory Agbroko waskilledfor criminalrea- Police saidthey were working onthe district. two passers-by were alsoshotdeadinthesame three policeofficersand Onthesamenight, stolen. Noneofhispersonaleffects hadbeen his office. justafterhehadleft a roadside intheIsolodistrict, by on22December, dead atthewheelofhiscar, of theprivately-owned daily chairmanoftheeditorialboard Godwin Agbroko, been arrested. butnosuspecthas was killedfor criminalreasons, This Day .A former editorofseve- .A This Day was found , 33 2007 Annual Report - Africa R of Inthelatestedition received threats by telephone. Healso been followed homeby apolicevehicle. Bizumuremyi had Theprevious evening, house. the fourbours intervened mencalmly leftthe neigh- ruling RwandanPatrioticFront (RPF).After unfavourableto stoppublishingarticles tothe warninghim house andthreatened thejournalist, they beganransackingthe Onceinside, capital. on thedoorofhishomeinapoorsuburb four menbrandishingclubsandknives whobanged weekly theneditoroftheprivately-owned Bizumuremyi, Bonaventure pers stillappearing inKigali. the editorofonerare independentnewspa- The year 2006moreover beganwithanassaulton its policies. the government orrevealing theshadowy sideof Journalists are madetopay thepricefor annoying press shouldbeguaranteedgenuine freedom. and hisgovernment have never acceptedthatthe ButPresident PaulKagame bourhood genocide”. place tobringtrialthoseresponsible for “neigh- structure hasbeenrebuilt andasystemputin emerge from country’s thesedarkyears.The infra- Rwandahasstruggledto the Tutsis in1994, terribly scarredA country by thegenocideagainst security services. hostilityfrom permanent theirgovernmentjournalists suffer by surveillance the and press Rwandan and isinnoway guaranteed Butfreedomtised by the 1994 genocide. of trauma- acountryleftdeeply Huge challengeshave beenmetinthereconstruction of Paul Kagame. Head ofstate: Swahili. English, French, Kinyarwanda, Languages: 9,038,000. Population: km. 26,340sq. Area: ftecut ostl esnlsoe.Hehas tosettlepersonalscores. of thecourts judgesintheRuyumbadistrict andtheuse courts) gacaca(people’s ofcertain ruption onthepart the firstissueof tendays afterpublicationof in September2005, Hehadbeenarrested linked to the1994genocide. allmore orless undervariouspretexts, Gitarama, spent11 monthsinprison Jean-Léonard Rugambage, Oneofitsjournalists, tions. The newspaper isusedtogovernment machina- try. which hesaidwasincapable ofrunningthecoun- tion ofpowers inRwandaandcriticisedtheRPF, Umuco WANDA Umuco hehadcondemnedthelackofsepara- , was woken by at3amon 15January Umuco in whichheexposedcor- bring down thegovernment. tolaunchawave ofbombingsinKigalito abroad, now living inexile cer intheRPF’s specialservices, aformer offi- ring withLieutenant Abdul Ruzibiza, thenewspaper accusedhimofconspi- faked letter, government bi-monthly includinginthepro- campaign ofdenigration, Kabonero wasalsothetargetofavicious In April, building heowned. office spacetoseveral para-stateinstitutionsina Kabonero alsorevealed that Polisi rented out Tutsi diasporawhichsoughtrefuge inBurundi. generalandformer secretary memberofthe party Polisi’s politicalweight intermsofhispositionas amongotherthings charge?” sizedup, The article whoisreally in “Between KagameandPolisi, headlined: whichappearedarticle in August 2004, over an generaloftheRPF, ment andsecretary deputyspeaker ofparlia- was suedby DenisPolisi, Thepublisherof government wasrun. criticalofhow the published aseriesofarticles lion Rwandanfrancs(about1450euros) for having suspended prisonsentenceandafineofonemil- andaone-year editoroftheweekly, Kabonero, med a “public offence” conviction againstCharles confir- thecountry’s highestjurisdiction, Rwanda, of theHighCourt On3 August, cal analyses. respected for itspoliti- the Kinyarwanda language, anger ofthegovernment is The othernewspaper whichhasfrequently felt the then hehasresumed hispostaseditorof Since ges on26and28July 2006andreleased. Hewasfinally acquittedofthesetwo char- charge. threat ofacompletely unsubstantiatedmurder himandwas stillunder appointed totry court ofthepresidentdoubt ontheimpartiality ofthe aftercasting November for “contempt ofcourt”, been sentencedtooneyear inprisonon23 C NENDFRPLTCLANALYSIS POLITICAL FOR ONDEMNED Focus Umuseso Onthebasisofa . , a weekly a in , Umuseso Umuco 34 . 2007 Annual Report - Africa R of strategicpostsand “influence-peddling” which condemningfavouritism inthedistribution RPF”, sonette from President Habyarimana’s timetothe ofthemai- headlined,“transfer published anarticle Gasasirahadinparticular JamesMusoni. finance, the managementofministereconomy and tocriticise with otherindependentpublications, along the Rwandanauthoritiesfor having dared, The newspaper becauseofseriousthreats againsthisperson. try whohaddecidedtoleave thecoun- Bizumuremyi, authorities information aboutBonaventure Hehadrefused toreveal tothe intelligence agents. threats andwasfollowed everywhere by military August 2006hewasthetargetofrepeated phone Umuvugizi editoroftheweekly BoscoGasasira, services. phere by oftensionandsurveillance thesecurity exile ratherthancontinue tolive withanatmos- several journalistsdecidetogo into year, Every WANDA , told Reporters toldReporters Without Borders thatin , Umuvugizi was alsotargetedby RFI the country’s economy. the ministerwasallegedly involved intocontrol also shutdown the but broke offitsdiplomaticrelations withFrance, Rwandanotonly in April 1994, Habyarimana, the planethatkilledformer president Juvénal for allegedinvolvement intheshootingdown of arrest warrants againstPaulKagameandhisaides Jean-Louis Bruguière issuednineinternational theFrench judge AndwheninNovember, visa. on10June forthe country failingtorenew her International accredited correspondent for Rolley, Sonia drew government in2006. fury Rwanda, tions of “disinformation” aboutthesituationin with press freedom andhumanrightorganisa- regularly accused, theinternationalpress, Finally, NTELN FFIRE OF LINE THE IN ( RFI nKgl,wasordered toleave ) inKigali, RFI transmitter. Radio France 35 2007 Annual Report - Africa S tely-owned Shabelle Radio Warsan journalist working for Fahad Mohammed Abukar, Puntland inthenorth-east. aswell asinsemi-autonomous government, ofthe theheadquarters Baidoa inthesouth-west, suchas regions taken by theIslamicCourts, well as asinthe theUICbase, east ofthecountry, during theyear bothinMogadishuthesouth- some30journalistswere arrested As aresult, R image ontheinternationalscene. irritable andworried aboutits nal government, (UIC) andontheotherwithafederal transitio- nationalistUnionofIslamicCourts the devout, they have hadtocopeononesidewith weapon, in whichdisinformation andlieswere amajor asembarrassing witnessestoawar In2006, nors. businessmen orself-proclaimed gover- powerful, they were already thefavourite targetsof the protected by militia, adolescentmercenary lords, wasdividedintofiefdomsofthewar- country Whenthe themselves facingnew challenges. Somalijournaliststherefore found government. movementcal-military andafragiletransitional scene ofclashesbetween afundamentalistpoliti- became inthespaceofjustafew monthsthe archipelago ofterritories controlled by warlords, of2006wasachaotic whichatthestart Somalia, thebelligerents. tion, were arrested by oneof disinforma- liesand some 30Somalijournalists, witnessestoaconflict embarrassing of Oneforeignlong time. correspondent inbroad was killedinMogadishu daylight,while themostviolentyears forthepress fora in 2006madeitoneof thewar The return of Head ofstate:Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. Somali. Language: 8,228,000. Population: km. 660sq. 637, Area: a ae a ee racs.Likewise, had taken wasnever broadcast. The footage whichthey before beingreleased. They were heldfor oneweek Somali territory. aswell asofEthiopiantroops on Burhakaba, Ethiopian soldierofSomali originkilledin film cameraonwhichthere wasfootage ofan journalists were found inpossessionofadigital three 15kmsfrom Baidoa.The lage ofDaynunay, by government militiaon24Octoberinthevil- PAE ARRESTS EPEATED OMALIA n utrMhme ts,ofpriva- andMuktarMohammed Atosh, , HornAfrik oamdAaeAa,of MohammedAdawe Adam, , radio stationwere arrested Radio etfo t oaih fie,o uy forcing on3July, ment from itsMogadishuoffices, in thepay of a rivalexpelledtheNUSOJmanage- Militiamen organisation defending press freedom. backs duringtheyear asitsreputation grew asan tion inSomaliaalsoexperienced numerous set- Reporters organisa- Without Borders’ partner O several NUSOJ officials went intoexile. reprisals, for fear of Following this, never returned tothem. released thesameevening buttheirproperty was they couldread thejournalist’s were emails.They cell andforced themtoreveal thepassword so policeofficerinterrogated theminthe phones.A andbothmen’s andmobile passports carrying, ted Osman’s computeranddocumentshewas Police confisca- police stationin Waberi district. beforeairport beingtaken blindfolded tothe were firsttransferred toapolicestationatthe They before onabusinesstrip. airport starting were arrested atMogadishu AliMoalimIsak, tor, andtheorganisation’s co-ordina- Faruk Osman, Omar Union ofSomaliJournalists (NUSOJ), on17 generalofthe National thesecretary December, Moreover, on theIslamicCourts. hours laterafterbeingorder tostopreporting and Adam MohammedSaladwere released afew Ismail Sheik Layla Sahro AbdiAhmed, September. three journalistsfrom UIC militiainKismayo inthesouth-eastarrested without really convincing anyone. but Addis Ababa hadspenthalftheyear denying, whichthegovernments inBaidoa and Somalia, the “massive presence” ofEthiopiansoldiersin punishinghimfor reportingon mal-treated him, kept captive for three days by militiamenwho after beinginvited toafake press conference and Hewasseized on24November. militia inBaidoa, fell intoatrap setby transitionalgovernment Abdullahi journalistonRadio YasinWarsan, Jama, SRCIN AE YTHE BY FACED BSTRUCTIONS HornAfrik NUSOJ radio on29 36 2007 Annual Report - Africa S enBio n oaih n4Ags,and ween BaidoaandMogadishuon 4 August, were travelling wasambushedontheroad bet- AcarinwhichNUSOJofficials in theworld. isstilloneofthemostdangerous This country and theIslamicCourts”. “likely tocreate conflictsbetween thepeople preventing themfrom puttingoutnews the press, imposition ofadraconian “code ofconduct”on theorganisationmanagedtoavert the dership, afternegotiations withtheUIClea- In October, the organisationtofindnew premises elsewhere. OMALIA gave details. nofurther but saidithadmadeanumber ofarrests, murder, whichcondemnedthe TheIslamicCourts, June. he wasfilmingagroup ofdemonstratorson23 while ded manwhofired abulletintohischest, waskilledby ahoo- Martin Adler, conflict zones, lance reporter accustomedtoworking in Afree- oftheIslamicCourts. rally insupport killed inthecapital inbroad daylight duringa aSwedish journalistwas reporter KatePeyton, months afterthestillunpunishedmurder ofBBC And18 waskilled. Madey Garas, their driver, 37 2007 Annual Report - Africa S Suleiman Abakar Moussaanddriver Idriss for thedaily whoisalso correspondent Salopek, without avisa. mation” aswell asenteringSudaneseterritory ged with “spying” and “illegally disseminatinginfor- Hewaschar- which are available ontheInternet. andsatellitephotosoftheregion conflict areas, acommonpracticefor journalistscovering ports, Hewasinpossessionoftwo USpass- assistants. ted by government securityforces alongwithtwo for theUSmonthly Paul whowasreporting ontheSahelregion Salopek, journalist, anAmerican 6 August, on nalist, A few weeks afterthearrest oftheSlovenian jour- 2 Septemberafternegotiations. Kriznar wasfinally given apresidential amnestyon onthesituationinDarfur.www.tomokriznar.com, newspapers and posted onhiswebsite, Hehaswrittenseveral for Slovenian articles tive”. seenas him avisabecauseofhisarticles “nega- hadrefused to grant Austria, embassy in Vienna, Sudanese but deniedthechargeofespionage.The tation oftheSudanLiberationMovement (SLM), entering SudanviaChadwithoutavisaattheinvi- Kriznaradmitted hearingon1st court August, news” and this “entering Sudanwithoutavisa”.At “publicationoffalse for “spying”, the statecapital, years ofalFashir, inprisonby thecriminalcourt Hewassentencedon14 August totwo 19 July. wasarrested Darfuron inNorth try’s president, Tomo whoisalsoanadvisortohiscoun- Kriznar, Slovenian photographer andhumanrightsactivist, der withChad. catastrophe inthehugeborder region onthebor- son for having taken toocloseaninterest inthe whenthey were thrown inpri- sensitivity in2006, their assistantspaidthepricefor thisextreme want anyone totouch.Two foreign journalistsand andonewhichthegovernment doesnot Sudan, The massacres inDarfurare anopenwound for reporters, witnessestomassacres embarrassing inDarfur. to justifyrepression. Some15journalistswere arrested in2006,aswell astwo foreign nationalismtingedwithreligionlegislation and alsoexploits theregion’s and conflicts journalistsareSudanese easyprey draconian foragovernment abuses whichusesand OmarHassanal-Bashir. Head ofstate: English. Languages:Arabic, 36,233,000. Population: km. 2,505,810sq. Area: UDAN Chicago Tribune National Geographic hisinterpreter , wasarres- , E foreign reporters inDarfurandKhartoum. dation andbarely-veiled threats directed against There have beenanumber ofincidentsintimi- Sudanese government wantedtokeep hidden. tocover news thatthe and politicalobstacles, despiteadministrative above alltohave arrived, The mistake thesetwo journalistsmadewas BillRichardson. nor, ofNewsistent intervention Mexicostategover- thankstotheper- on9September, only released, were bothChadiannationals, Abdulraman Anu, months. Hispaper wassuspendedfor two list bekilled. major demonstrationstodemand thatthejourna- organised imams inKhartoum appeared, articles Afterthe cast doubtontheprophet’s genealogy. old Islamicmanuscript whichapparentlycentury referred toamore thanfive- Muslim Brotherhood, himselfamemberofthe written by thejournalist, offending article, al-Sunnah.The talist group,Ansar 2005 afteralaw suitwasbrought by afundamen- Mohamed Taha hadbeentriedfor “blasphemy” in car anddriven away toanunknown destination. abduction immediately afterhewasbundledintoa Hisfamily calledpolicetoreport the before. his homeintheeastofcapital theevening after several masked menhadsnatchedhimfrom Khartoum’s southernsuburbson6September al-Wifaq editoroftheprivately-owned Sudanesedaily Taha, Thedecapitated bodyofMohamed crackdowns. which wasalready livinginfear ofgovernment traumatisingthewholeprofession, even murdered, Oneofthemwas inJuly 2005. state ofemergency, despitetheofficialliftingofcensorshipanda 2006, More than15ofthemwere arrested during ment. Sudanese journalistsare easyprey for thegovern- S PREY ASY wasfound by policeinastreet in , 38 2007 Annual Report - Africa S etme o1 coe,officially inconnection September to15October, owned ajournalistontheprivately- Obeida Abdallah, Abu was oneoftheiropenly-stated enemies. for whomMohamed also onrebels inDarfur, Tama but Suspicions immediately fell onIslamistradicals, UDAN al-Rai al-Aam washeldincustodyfrom 29 , any satisfactory conclusionaboutthemurder.any satisfactory Sudaneseinvestigators hadnotreached the year, Attheendof filtered outabouthisinterrogation. Nothing government andrebel groups inDarfur. covered the Abuja summitinMay between the with theinvestigation into Taha’s Hehad murder. 39 2007 Annual Report - Africa Z pended thepublicationlicenceof theMICsus- from thefirstweek 2006, ofJanuary Readytouseblackmail, ditations for journalists. about re-examining newspaper licencesandaccre- every year sets the mediafor thegovernment, whichtightly controls theMIC, regulation body, themedia responsibility, In linewithitsstatutory R tice metedouttoZimbabwe’s journalists. themselves responsible for allotherforms ofinjus- of thePeople Independent 2006 onprivately-owned weeklies itwasabletocrackdown in Commission (MIC), Thankstothedreaded MediaandInformation try. independentvoicesthe few inthecoun- surviving ithasnever letuppressure against opposition radio, andjammed down theleadingdaily inthecountry closed Kafkaesque press laws onthecontinent, the government pushedthrough oneofthemost when Ever since2002, Mugabe. Robert president, isanobviousobsessionofZimbabwean the cost, whatever Keeping absolutecontrol over thenews, started todisavow thegovernment itsagencies. and notbeingrespected, has tice system,zealously guarding itsprerogatives tired and of to keep firmcontrol over jus- Thingshave gotsobadthattheZimbabwean thenews. justiceare allbrought tobear power denialof and ment, censorship of abuse blackmail, threats, journalists.Surveillance, imprison- vicious onthecontinentinitstreatment of most The countryheadedsince1980by thenow isoneof octogenarian Robert Mugabe Mugabe. Robert Head ofstate: Ndebele. Shona, English, Languages: 13,010,000. Population: km. 390,760sq. Area: rt rtepoeto fjunlss Hisstanceis truth ortheprotection ofjournalists. isclearly notthepublicationof head ofstate, anoldcomradeofthe life by Tafataona Mahoso, chaired for The majorpreoccupation oftheMIC, had appeared theprevious week. paper topublishacorrection which ofanarticle Zimbabwe Independent renewed theaccreditation ofjournalistsonthe theMICfinally on2February, Likewise, decision. andreversedfrom theintelligenceservices its defunct deciding toaward alicencetotheowner ofthe after previous week abouthow thecommission, whichitpublishedthe carried adenialofanarticle LNLS STRUGGLE ELENTLESS IMBABWE Daily News , Financial Gazette ( VOP ). The intelligence services made Theintelligenceservices ). finally gave way topressure , only afterforcing thenews- , ( FinGaz FinGaz ) andthe Zimbabwe unlessit , Voice and itssupplementthe licence tothepublishinghouseof quashedanMICdecisiontorefuse a Court, theHarare on8February High Accordingly, fairly. cases Commission isincapable ofjudgingcertain justice systemhasrecognised thatthe theZimbabwean Besides, common knowledge. rs,ofwhichtheMICistireless watchdog. press, get round draconianlegislation ontheprivate to published intheUKandprinted inSouth Africa, one ofthecountry’s lastindependent dailiesis Thepaper,copies oftheprevious week’s paper. copy ofthepaper’s authorisationaswell import as Zimbabwean in Harare of theprivately-owned daily Police raided oneofthedistributionpoints police. or accreditation anddenouncing journaliststothe threats torevoke licences journalist, a particular weapons for investigation” ofchoiceare:“calls into Its veillance andpunishmentofdiscordant voices. The MIChastherefore calmly continued itssur- nodecisionhasyet beenmade. fact, in And, with impunitytodelay makingadecision. every meansfrom legalquibblestolaw breaking ButtheZimbabwean government used lified MIC. intheplaceofdisqua- on allowing publication, soastoforce thegovernment todecide Jokonya, information andpublicityminister Tichaona per’s publishinghouseon28March challengedthe the newspa-these two legaldecisionsinitsfavour, Boostedby quently review thelicenceapplication. andthattheCommissionshouldconse- services, undertheinfluenceofintelligence been biased, Harare saidthattheMICdecisionhadeffectively judgein TheHighCourt that hewasbiased. for thefirsttime, Supreme whichhadruled, Court to withdraw indespiteofa2005decisionby the arguingthattheMICchairmanhadrefused court, Thepaper’s lawyers hadgone to ned since2003. n3Otbr Police tookaway a on 3October. Daily News onSunday Daily News ban- , The 40 2007 Annual Report - Africa Z deciding todrop chargesagainsttheradio’s ten VOP adjournment inthetrialofprivately-owned radio decidedtorefusecourt theprosecution athird thepresident oftheHarare On 25September, resisting theabuseofpower by thegovernment. But theZimbabwean justicesystemisincreasingly R was backing “regime change”. whichhesaid, Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe), press freedom organisationtheMediaInstituteof lently attacked theZimbabwean branchofthe theCommissionviru- On28September, the MIC. withoutobtainingpermissionfrom Washington, for USpublicradio accusedofworking Nunurai Jena, West province, investigation inMashonaland oftheZUJsecretary Mahosoalsomadeanorder for an the sametime, At the Netherlandsembassyandfrom UNESCO. askingfor fundsfrom ment drawn upby theZUJ, Heclaimedtobeinpossessionofadocu- lobby”. grounds thatitwasfomenting an “anti-Zimbabwe onthe Zimbabwean UnionofJournalists (ZUJ), on theinformation ministertoinvestigate the Tafataona on1stOctober, Mahosocalled earlier, few A days tion withintheZimbabwean police. sources spokewhich military outagainstcorrup- thepaperin carried anarticle The previous week, SSAC RMTEJSIESYSTEM JUSTICE THE FROM ESISTANCE “hsi unn noacru” esi,before hesaid, isturningintoacircus”, .“This IMBABWE Voice of America ( VOA ,basedin ), government ordered jammingofthe from thesecondhalfofJune the staff arrested, Unabletohave foreign-based Organisation (CIO). thepowerfuland inparticular CentralIntelligence the Zimbabwean government callsonthearmy whenlegalrecourse willnotanswer, As aresult, the capital. police search oftheradio’s officesinthecentre of were heldfor four days inDecember2005aftera Nyanyiwa,Takunda ChigwandaandNyashaBosha, Radiostaffers Maria without permission”. “possessing andusingbroadcast equipment hadbeenarrested 2006for inJanuary Masuku, Lawrence Chibwe andJohn Nhlanhla Ngwenya, David Masunda, IsabellaMatambanadzo, Phiri, Board members Millie Arnold Tsunga, defendants. signed between thetwo countries. economic andtechnicalcooperationagreement underan and radio-communications counterparts to traintheirZimbabwean telecommunications the presence inHarare invited ofChineseexperts Borders thisjamminghas beenmadepossibleby information obtainedby Reporters Without based Radio Africa 2005onprivately-ownedmes sinceFebruary that whichhasbeenjammingshortwave program- identicalto are now blocked witharattlingsound, They gramme Studio7beamedintoZimbabwe. VOP ic etme 05 According to sinceSeptember2005. , based inLondonandof Amsterdam- VOA pro- SW 41 Canada

United States

Mexico Cuba Dom. Rep. Jamaica Bélize Porto-Rico Guatemala Honduras Haiti El Salvador Nicaragua Trinidad and Tobago Costa-Rica Venezuela Guyana Panama Suriname Colombia French Guyana Ecuador

Peru Brazil

Bolivia

Paraguay

Chile

Argentina Uruguay 2007 Annual Report AMERICAS

42 A YEAR FULL OF DANGER

Do economic development and democracy ensure true freedom of the press? Not if you judge by the 2006 record in the Americas, where the holding of 12 major elections was offset by a grim toll for journalists. From five killed in 2002, the figure rose to seven in 2005 (after 12 in 2004) to 16 in 2006, plus four others who disappeared.

Mexico recorded nine dead and three missing as drug-trafficking spread, political instability was aggravated by serious unrest in Oaxaca state from May onwards and the 2 July election of Felipe Calderón to the presidency was disputed. The shooting death of American cameraman Brad Will, of the Indymedia news agency, while he was filming a 27 October teachers’ demonstration in Oaxaca showed the ready violence of the authorities and continuing failure to punish those responsible for attacks on journalists. Two policemen reportedly close to the state governor who were involved in the killing were freed after being held for a month.

Three journalists were killed in Colombia and a dozen others were forced to flee their region (and sometimes the country) after being threatened.The break-off in negotiations between the government and the FARC guerrillas once more prevented the media travelling to some parts of the country.

The failed demobilisation of the right-wing paramilitary forces, many of whom switched to drug-trafficking and contract killings, was a major threat to local journalists in the northern provinces and coastal regions. “Demobilised” paramilitaries were reportedly behind the 4 February shooting in the northern town of Montería of Gustavo Rojas Gabalo, of Radio Panzemu, who died six weeks later in hospital.

CARIBBEAN PRISON

Cuba, the last dictatorship in the Americas, is thus no longer the only country in the region to jail journalists but it remains the world’s second biggest prison for them, with 24 detained. President Fidel Castro’s handover of power to his brother Raúl on 31 July did not soften the regime’s attitude to dissident media and secret police hounding and summoning of journalists increased in the second half of the year.

Two journalists arrested in 2005 were freed but two others were imprisoned. They were Armando Betancourt, a freelance working with the Nueva Prensa Cubana agency in Camagüey held without trial by state security police since 23 May,and Raymundo Perdigón Brito, founder of theYayabo Press news agency, who was given a four-year prison sentence on 5 December for “socially dangerous behaviour.” Guillermo Espinosa Rodríguez, of the Agencia de Prensa Libre Oriental (APLO), was put under house arrest for two years.

A 25th journalist is a prisoner in Cuba but Sami Al-Haj, a Sudanese cameraman for the Arab TV network Al-Jazeera, was being held by the United States at its military base of Guantanamo (in southern Cuba) among 400 “enemy combatants” out of the reach of US laws in the name of the US “war on terrorism.” He has not been charged, but has been interrogated almost daily and is now in his fifth year of captivity in this base, which is largely out of bounds to the media and which the international community has urged be closed.

This legal and humanitarian scandal was accompanied by a worsening of press freedom in the US, as shown by the imprisonment on two occasions of blogger Josh Wolf (in August and in September). He could stay in jail until July 2007 unless he formally agrees to hand over his video archives. More than a dozen cases concerning the privacy of journalistic sources are before federal courts, while 33 US states recognise a journalist’s right not to reveal them.A federal bill to do the same, proposed in February 2005, has not yet been debated or voted on.

PEACE OR FREEDOM?

In Central America, the media is fairly free in Costa Rica and Panama.The rarity of physical attacks on journalists in Nicaragua and El Salvador has less to do with true press freedom and more due to political control of the media and self-censorship. In Guatemala and Honduras, these problems combine to 2007 Annual Report - Americas ReportAnnual - 2007 Introduction

43 produce violence against a lively media. Guatemalan radio journalist Eduardo Maas Bol was killed on 9 September and Vinicio Aguilar Mancilla, of the independent station Radio 10, escaped assassination in August. Journalists on the Honduran website Revistazo.com were repeatedly threatened by a security firm. Politicians committed violence against journalists or demanded their dismissal.

In Haiti, the media only suffered a few physical attacks or abuses of authority in 2006. However the killers of journalists murdered under the rule of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the interim government that succeeded him remained unpunished and the suspects walk freely in public. New President René Préval has a big job ahead of him to create a fair and effective system of justice.

In South America, three journalists were killed and one vanished.Two were murdered in Ecuador in 24 hours in February, though only that of José Luis León Desiderio, of Radio Minutera, may have been because of his work.The disappearance and probably murder in Paraguay of Enrique Galeano, of Radio Azotey, on 4 February and the attempted shooting of a reporter of the daily ABC Color showed how exposed the media was to shady links between politicians and organised crime.

Peru kept its regional record for daily physical attacks and threats against the media, with more than 100 recorded during the year.Two politicians jailed for killing two journalists in 2004 were controversially freed.

POLITICAL ROWS

Tension remains high between the privately-owned media and President Hugo Chávez’ government in Venezuela. Nearly five years after a failed coup against him and his easy reelection on 3 December 2006, the country’s broadcasting groups remain under pressure but the government has made little use of the media-curbing laws it has pushed through, such as the November 2004 media social responsibility law and a March 2005 reform of the criminal code. Indeed, 25 articles of the new code have been appealed against by the prosecutor-general as unconstitutional.The media paid the price of persistent lawlessness. Jorge Aguirre, a photographer of the daily El Mundo, was shot dead by a bogus policeman during a demonstration and a score of journalists were physically attacked, especially during the presidential election campaign.

Violence also increased at election time in Brazil, where a journalist was beaten to death by a town councillor and a community radio commentator was shot and wounded by a gunman while he was on the air. Some media outlets were targets of legal harassment, censorship and sometimes spying by federal police during the election campaign in October. But relations between government and the major privately-owned media became easier.

In Argentina however, President Néstor Kirchner still refused to hold press conferences. Intimidation, political pressure and especially blackmail by withholding public advertising led to broadcasts being censored and journalists at local and national level dismissed.The personal e-mail accounts of two journalists on the national daily Clarín, were hacked into in May, causing a scandal.

Though it came top among southern hemisphere countries in the 2006 worldwide press freedom index, Bolivia once more plunged into crisis in the last quarter of the year. Evo Morales, who took office in early 2006 as the country’s first indigenous president, now faces the threat of secession by four provinces. The media was the first target of the struggle between government and opposition. As happened in Venezuela, the gap between state and privately-owned media has widened and a “media war” may erupt.Two fire-bombs damaged the pro-government TV station Canal 7 in the opposition-controlled city of Santa Cruz.

Benoit Hervieu Head of Americas desk 2007 Annual Report - Americas ReportAnnual - 2007 Introduction

44 2007 Annual Report - Americas missed withoutexplanationamonthearlier. hadbeendis- Marcela Pacheco, whose presenter, “Desayuno” onthestate-run TV station andinJuly tothemorning programme May, on3 Kirchner’s homeprovince ofSantaCruz, A the “SéptimoDía,” on happened toaprogramme, Thesamething €20,000 worth ofadvertising. government hadthreatened towithhold avital Butthereal reason wasthattheprovincial tics. more andlessfor timefor poli- entertainment officially becausemanagementwanted March, tion “Periodismo de Verdad” programme on TV sta- the provinceIn thenorthern of Tucumán, cians. the dictatesofprovincial governors andpoliti- advertising oftenforced themedia tofallinwith Threats towithholdpublic towards themedia. for criticisingthefederal government’s silence Hesaidhehadbeendismissed from 1January. sion programme “Esto quepasa”wasdropped the state-owned of 2006 beganbadly for José “Pepe” Eliaschev, miss journalistswhopresented them. TV stationstodrop programmes andeven dis- and provincial level hascausedsomeradioand conferences andpoliticalpressure atnational Kirchner himselfstillholdsnopress media. relationship between theauthoritiesand tense whichdidnothelptocalmthevery 9 July, “ignoramuses” onnationalindependenceday on publicly calledjournalists “fools” and Fernández, Cristína Sen. President NéstorKirchner’s wife, provincialnal and mediatocensorthemselves. public advertising have ledsomenatio- pressures through blackmail and attribution of Relations between thepresidency themediaare and whilepolitical stilljustastense, NéstorKirchner. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 38,750,000. Population: 2,780,400sq.km. Area: LU12 RadioRíoGallegos 5 ATS RGENTINA was suspendedindefinitely on13 Radio Nacional station inPresident whosediscus- , Canal 7 , ched parliament’s agenda. cate advertising more fairly butthey have notrea- oppositionhasproposed threetary billstoallo- Theparliamen- for the2007presidential elections. advertising have becomeissuesinthecampaign Relations withthemediaandallocationofpublic and 15years inprison. facebetween threelent earlierinthemonth.They while covering ademonstrationthatturnedvio- “arson”and “assault” “incitement toviolence”, city ofCórdoba since 20 Decemberfor alleged have beendetainedinthenorthern Francischelli, NéstorPasquiniandHugo Two radiojournalists, Clarín includingtwo onthedaily paper press journalists, The personale-mailaccountsofseveral national- where physical attackswere common. province, inEntre Ríos criticised themayor ofSantaElena, three monthswearing abulletproof vest afterhe 2 deoctubre oftheradiostation CarlosFurman, or police. civilservants oftenby politicians, during theyear, journalists wereThirty-four physically attacked the localrulingJusticialistandhospitalised. Party was physically attacked in August by apoliticianof Pedro Navarro, Thestation’s director, been done. COMFER torestore thembutthishasstillnot thefederal chamberofdeputiesurged InJune, ces. committee (COMFER)nottorenew theirlicen- Quilmes 106.9 owned radiostations- triedtoshutdown two privately- Sergio Villordo, The mayor ofQuilmes(Buenos Aires province), eehce noi a,causingascandal. were hacked intoinMay, , hadtohideinahotelfor more than , - by gettingthefederal broadcasting FAN 103.9 and Radio 45 2007 Annual Report - Americas B constituent assembly (electedin August) isalso natural gasandoilresources andsummoningofa Hisnationalisationofthecountry’s owned media. growers’ leaderissuspiciousoftheprivately- list whocalledCastro adictator.The former coca- hepublicly rebuked a TV journa- 2006, in January Soonafterhisinauguration President FidelCastro. Cuban ademocratwhosupports Morales, Evo 2005 by electingitsfirstindigenouspresident, reached amilestoneinDecember The country crisis arose. score-settling inDecemberwhenaconstitutional wasthe first targetofpolitical and opposition, bothpro-government Themedia, tical situation. may notlasthowever volatile duetothevery poli- The current relatively calmperiodfor themedia corruption. tive topicssuchasdrug-traffickingandespecially bours andjournalistsseldomdare totacklesensi- weak inBoliviacompared withthatinitsneigh- this wastempered by thefactthatmediaisstill But ArgentinaandBrazilfor press freedom. Peru, Boliviadidbetterthanneighbouring ded in2006, With only 13physical attacksonjournalistsrecor- owned media. privately- between stateand maywidenthegap journalists. Butpoliticalinstability wide press freedom 2006thanks indexpublished inSeptember attacks tovery few on topintheAmericasThe countrycame inthelatestReporters Without Borders world- EvoMorales Ayma. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 9,182,000. Population: 1,098,580sq.km. Area: OLIVIA by government on12October. supporters station owned TV tely-owned mediaandthestudiosofprivately- The government inturndidnotspare thepriva- October. while covering clashesbetween minersin from station Two fire-bombs damagedthepro-government TV demonstrations andattacked state-owned media. staged provinces andhasthreatened secession, The oppositiongoverns four ofthecountry’s nine thatonceheldpower.right-wing parties fiercely opposedby thecountry’s oligarchy and o.Another for. committee afterherefused tosay whoheworked was physically attacked by membersofalocalcivic anotheroppositionbase, thern province ofPando, owned radiostation correspondent ofthestate- Domingo Juan Yanique, Thesameweek, opposed toMorales. whichisstrongly of theUniónJuvenil Cruceñista, Theauthoritiessaiditwasthework stronghold. themostvehement opposition of SantaCruz, ai eeiin Popular Radio Televisión Canal 7 Canal 7 on 8Septemberintheeasterncity Unitel Red Patría Nueva reporter andacolleague in LaPazwere ransacked were alsoattacked in thenor- 46 2007 Annual Report - Americas A were recorded duringtheyear. attacks andtheransackingoffour mediaoffices About40casesofthreats andphysical (PCC). criminal group FirstCommandooftheCity abouttheriotsincitysparkedan article by the 3,000 copiesoftheMay 18issuewhichcontained Livre the newsroom oftheSãoPaulodaily Three heavily-armed andhoodedmenbroke into the case. daily for more thanamonthandonly afterthenational after repeated deaththreats wasnotdealtwith Ambiente do Meio editorof by environmentalist Vilmar Berna, Acomplaintfiledon7June tointimidate. efforts sometimes themselves involved inthreats and oftenreactpolice andcourts slowly andpoliceare Local corpses by organisedcrimeintheRioarea. into hidinginlate August for revealing aracket in B uzInco“ua aSlasLbu at,was Luiz Ignacio “Lula” daSilva’s LabourParty, anactivistofoutgoing President Gedimar Passos, when just before theOctober generalelections, The nationalpress wasalsoinvolved inascandal ofthedaily MariaMazzei, papers. especially for localradiostationsand media, The riskofreprisal isstillhighinthecountry’s he wasontheairinMay. town ofQuiterianópolistoshoothimdeadwhile attempt by themayor’s soninthenortheastern radio presenter CameloLuisdeSáescaped an Community irregularities inthetown government. on 24July becausehehad reported onfinancial Osvaldo Vivas inGuapirimim (RiodeJaneiro state) wasbeatentodeathby town councillor 73, Freelance journalist Ajuricaba MonassadePaula, October. in thegeneral electioncampaign mediaoutletsaccompanied Threats censorship and of a communityradio presenter local media. inMaycontinuedtheviolence against abidtokill journalistAjuricaba and RiodeJaneiro Monassanear inJuly The murder of LuizInácioLuladaSilva. Head ofstate: Portuguese. Language: 186,405,000. Population: 8,547,400sq.km. Area: UBLN CAMPAIGN TURBULENT roughed upseven staffmembersandburned , A Folha deSãoPaulo RAZIL inNiterói(RiodeJaneiro state), , carried an article about carried anarticle O Dia hadtogo , Imprensa Jornal and belong to a journalism institute.The issuehas and belongtoajournalisminstitute.The nalism by requiring journaliststohave adiploma vetoed on26July aproposed law toregulate jour- He of Chapultepec onpress freedom on3May. the Inter American Press Association’s Declaration President Lulasigned pect freedom ofexpression. thefederal government promised tores- offences, tatorship thatallows imprisonmentfor media the 1967press law dic- inheritedfrom themilitary Despite theseobstaclesandthecontinuance of and theFederal District. Paraná MinasGerais, tes inthestatesof Amapá, seize materialfrom mediaoutletsornews websi- deputyorgovernor tobanpublicationor senator, authorities gave intodemandsby candidatesfor regional andfederal election October 2006, Between August and offices on8September2005. ted oforganisinganarsonattackonthepaper’s two were alocaldeputy.The already suspec- son, ters offormer mayor Abelardo Camarinhaandhis was physically attacked on1Octoberby suppor- deMarilia Diario The electioncampaignalsohitlocaljournalists. had theslightestcontactwithPassos. Police wantedtoknow which journalists the file. ped by ofthescandalover federal policeaspart that phonesinitsBrasiliaofficeswere beingtap- The daily pressured toreveal theirsources inthematter. summoned by federal policeinSãoPauloand three journalistsoftheweekly tial vote, Two days afterthissecondround ofthepresiden- Lula atthe29Octoberelection. whowasbeatenby Geraldo Alckmin, its leader, (PSDB)and opposition SocialDemocraticParty to beusedbuyacompromising fileaboutthe whichwas with abriefcasecontaining€600,000, arrested on15SeptemberinaSãoPaulohotel A Folha deSãoPaulo basedinMarilia(SãoPaulostate) , said on8November Veja were 47 2007 Annual Report - Americas B the blog “Repiquete nomeiodomundo." Federal Brazil’s blogosphere wasfuriousattheclosure of A unanimously rejected ittwo weeks later. it, whichisabove it andtheFederal Supreme Court, on8November HighCourt voted for ment.The disagreefederal courts onthediploma require- divided thecountry’s mediaandthetwo highest ORIGPRECEDENT WORRYING RAZIL publications regardless decision. ofacourt providerslocal Internetservice tocensoronline worrying precedent becauseitmay encourage a ded ofitsown accord toshutdown theblog, thendeci- UOL, Theblog’s Brazilianhost, didate. on 17 August toremove ofasenatecan- acartoon justice officialshadordered theeditorofblog 48 2007 Annual Report - Americas C oalse xet are alsothreatened by attacks to alesserextent, like theirUScolleaguesbut Canadian journalists, (APEC) summitinNovember. silence atthe Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation mediaalsocriticisedHarper’s of thosekilled.The includingamongfamilies days latercausedoutrage, lists atthe Trenton basethree (Ontario)military bodies from exclusionofjourna- Afghanistan.The broadcast coverage ofthereturn ofsoldiers’ icy whenthegovernment on22 April bannedall Relationswith themediabecame whose ally heis. sometimes similartotheUSadministration, Hisgovernment’s attitudetothemediais nalists. seemstodistrustjour- winning generalelections, 2006after became primeministeron6February who leaderStephenHarper, Party Conservative keep journalisticsources secret. primenew courts have Harper and beenunderminingtheright ministerStephen to Relations between thefederal government themediahave sharply cooledunder and MinisterStephenHarper. Prime Head ofgovernment: French. English, Languages: 32,268,000. Population: 9,970,610sq.km. Area: ANADA of hisappeal. of hissources andisstillwaitingtoheartheresult fined $30,000in2004for refusing todiscloseone was Ken Peters, Another reporter onthepaper, Theorder isbeingappealed. sed ofmurder. pected drugdealerwhosebrother hadbeenaccu- hand over hehadwithasus- notesofaninterview Hamilton Spectator ofthedaily whenreporterBillDunphy, 2006, The law wasusedfor thefirsttimeinFebruary fine and/oruptosixmonthsimprisonment. onpainofamaximum $250,000 a criminalcase, and videorecordings ifasked of by policeaspart notesandsound them tohandover documents, new law passedon15September2004requires A on theconfidentialityofjournalisticsources. wasordered to by acourt , 49 2007 Annual Report - Americas C or arrested infront ofthepresidential palacein Eightjournalistswere attacked office inMarch. whotook under President MichelleBachelet, the bruntduringfirstbigdemonstration habits ofthedictatorshipandjournalistsbore Police andtroops have not yet losttheirbad a group offormer politicalprisoners. ting thenamesofex-torturers withthehelpof of hisjobatthebeginningyear afterpos- of theonlinedaily Jorge Molina, tent lackofdiversity inthemedia. about hisregime andmany complainofapersis- Journalists are stillmeetingawallofsilence his funeral. were attacked ontheeve by hissupporters of Several TV journalists and mediaassistants. including68journalists people duringhisrule, without beingtriedfor murdering some3,000 whodiedon10December2006 Pinochet, Augusto the 1973-90dictatorshipofGen. not yet finishedsettlingaccountsconcerning pared withtherest ofLatin America buthas Chile hasagood namefor press freedom com- three others arrested ademonstration on30May. after left over from dictatorship. themilitary Five journalistswere physicallyattacked and Physical attacks are stillrare have notlost army repressive butthepoliceand habits Bachelet. Michelle Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 16,295,000. Population: 756,630sq.km. Area: HILE El Mostrador.cl wasforced out , ii avda of TV stations Libio Saavedra, Gustavo Pavez and Cameramen Marco Cabrera, reform thatwasharshly repressed by police. the 30May protest demandingeducational not necessarily succeed. thoughthey do and defamationsuitsare common, Press offences have stillnotbeendecriminalised defaced by them. The staffoftheweekly day. thenext OsvaldoJara, of thespecialpoliceforces, media ledPresident Bachelettodismissthehead attheseattacksonthe Theoutcry arrest them. wasreasonChilean Communist Party enoughto where they were toldthattheirlinkstothe lists were alsoforcibly taken toapolicestation, Oliva oftheweekly EditorJulio similarly beatenhadtobehospitalised. They andtwo photographers ten ontheground. Canal 9 studios ofthenational TV station ayear afterthe threats fromValparaíso neo-Nazis, were stonedby policebefore beingbea- , El Siglo Impacto and two otherjourna- Red TV received death TVN , Canal 13 had been and 50 2007 Annual Report - Americas atgn,may have beenkilled on22 August Cartagena, Toledar programme director of Segundo Pérez, lawlessness andhumanrightsviolations.Atilano also tackledothersensitive subjectssuchas crime hasnotbeensolved butthejournalist Estéreo ofthecommunity radiostation Sánchez, with themurder onthe9thofMiltonFabián August wastheworst month for themedia, in hospitalsixweeks later. dying two menon amotorcycle on4February, denounced localcorruption and wasshotby Hehad northwestern town ofMontería. C aao(E aa) of Gabalo (“ElGaba”), were arrested inthemurder ofGustavo Rojas includingtwo former paramilitaries, Four men, killings. ply switched todrug-traffickingandcontract whowere notdisarmedandwhosim- dom too, threatened by thesepredators ofpress free- whocontinued tobe cially notlocaljournalists, espe- Sotheplansatisfiednobody, punished. inexchangefor notbeing of Colombia(AUC), of theright-wingUnitedSelf-Defence Groups April 2006demobilised30,000militiamembers The 2003 “Justice andPeace” planthatendedin ries. and thefaileddemobilisationofparamilita- politiciansandtheparamilitaries ruling-party anotherabout linksbetween to theFARC, bogus attacksby thearmy thatwere attributed ascandalabout enemies ofpress freedom), (about 17,000fighterswhoseleadersare active Armed Forces ofColombia(FARC) guerrillas new breakdown intalkswiththeRevolutionary witha offhissecondtermpoorly, started 2006, reelected on28May President Alvaro Uribe, continue toterrorise especiallyinnorthern provinces. people, beingthreatened.country after forces, Theparamilitary butnotdisarmed, dismantled Three journalistswere seven others killedand forced toflee theirregion oreven the Alvaro Uribe Vélez. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 45,600,000. Population: 1,138,910sq.km. Area: OLOMBIA , in the northern town ofLos inthe northern Alpes de , inthewestern The town on Yumbo. , Radio Panzemu inthe , Yumbo Radio F paramilitaries. activities ofasupposedly demobilisedgroup of because hepublicly denouncedthecriminal Colombia andtheUnitedNational Board for Free (renamed The DemocraticFront for Free were alsomadeinthreats in June by paramilitaries accusationsofworking withguerrillasDefamatory publicly criticised. whosehandlingofthecivilwarhe Uribe himself, the government andPresident enraged thearmy, Morris also former paramilitarieswere behindit. But video presenting himasaFARC spokesman. station run TV ducer oftheprogramme “Contravía” onthestate- pro- Peace triedtocompromise HollmanMorris, Thealso-unknown SocialFront for Democracy. Action andJustice Front for Freedom and July afterrepeated threats from amysterious gramme on tage andpresenter ofthe “Voices ofcaptivity” pro- aformed FARC hos- HerbínHoyos Medina, flee. Nine otherjournalistswere similarly forced to she worked for escaped AUC attemptstokillherin2002when who accusedherofbeinga “guerrilla.” Shetwice afteranultimatumfrom1 February two strangers to leave thesoutherntown ofFlorencia quickly on Shehad FARC chieftaininOctober2005. military and beenspiedonever sincesheinterviewed a Herald OlgaCecilia of theUSdaily Vega, country. forced themtofleetheregion andsometimesthe oftenthreatened journalistsand coastal provinces, Freedom (FLIP)andwell-established innorthern of themediaby thecountry’s Foundation for Press condemnedasleadingenemies The paramilitaries, RE OG NOEXILE INTO GO TO ORCED hasreceived deaththreats andwarnings , Radio Caracol Canal Uno RCN Radio by distributingabogus , , fled the country on6 fledthecountry , . The New 51 2007 Annual Report - Americas C Venezuela (Uribesuspects Venezuelan President The simmeringconflictwithneighbouring December. Galeón especially againstlocalmedia, the north Eagles” commandowagedaterror campaignin A includingFLIP. “Black for Peace and28others, Colombia Self-Defence) againsttheNGOMedia OLOMBIA ae nSnaMra from Octoberto basedinSantaMarta, , Radio based Latin American TV station Colombiacorrespondent for theCaracas- Muñoz, affected themediafor thefirsttimewhenFreddy Hugo Chávez ofcollaboratingwiththeFARC) was conditionally freed2007. on9January dence) ofbeingbehindaFARC attackin2002but lion andterrorism.” Hewasaccused (withoutevi- November andchargedamonthlaterwith “rebel- wasarrested inBogotá on19 close tiestoChávez, Telesur whichhas , 52 2007 Annual Report - Americas C the website correspondent for Lamasiel Gutiérrez Romero, makingatotalof24beingheld. others, this wasquickly madeupfor by thejailingoftwo Two were freed in2006but son for journalists. Cubaisstilltheworld’s secondbiggestpri- nalists. especially independentjour- hounding dissidents, Sofartheregime hascontinued 31 July 2006. over from hisailingbrother asactingpresident on Castro allow more basicfreedoms aftertaking Will defence ministerandarmy commanderRaúl Cyber-freedom Prize. for free Hewas awarded InternetaccessforallCubans. theReporters Without Borders Guillermo Fariñas several Hernández, staged hungerstrikes over seven months, calling them, pressure 24journalistsremain mediaand ontheindependent inprison. Oneof hisbrother didnotreduce Raúl President FidelCastro’s of infavour stepping-aside RaúlCastro (interim). Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 11,270,000. Population: 110,860sq.km. Area: underground magazine, Nueva Prensa Cubana afreelance working withthe Armando Betancourt, ged withanything. dents inHavana inJuly 2005andwasnever char- arrested ontheeve ofademonstrationby dissi- Hehadbeen months inprisonwithouttrial. Decoro co-founder ofthe González Pérez, OscarMario banned from leaving theisland. Youth underheavy andwas policesurveillance tance.” Shereturned toherhomeontheIsleof month sentencefor “civil disobedienceandresis- prison inHavana province aseven- afterserving wasfreed on22March from Mantonegro Youth, small news agency, Just afterRaymundo Perdigón upa Britostarted Hetoohasnever beencharged. any visitors. confinementandnotallowedwas putinsolitary and sentaweek latertoapolice stationwhere he ted on23May by statesecuritypoliceinCamagüey prts he orge lai,2,ofthe Jóvenes sinCensura 22, Ahmed Rodríguez Albacia, Spíritus. provincial inthecentralprovince court ofSancti dangerous behaviour before an offence” by the year prisonsentenceon5Decemberfor “socially hewasarrested andgiven afour- 17 November, UBA gny wasfreed on20November after16 agency, Nueva Prensa Cubana gny alsorefused todrop his agency, Yayabo Press agency andeditorofasmall El Camagueyano withhissisteron , Grupo de Trabajo on theIsleof wasarres- , atn orge,aHavana freelance for Santana Rodríguez, same thinghappened on2November toRoberto The in Havana andtheeasterncityofHolguín. held for aday on13Septemberinpolicestations of Ricardo, Milisa Valle Odelín Alfonso, correspondent for correspondent Odelín Alfonso, number ofroutine threats andphysical attacks. during thesecondhalfofyear exceededthe detentions(about30) Arrests arbitrary andshort Havana. in December atstatesecurityheadquarters journalistic activitiesandwasheldfrom 4to12 gny who wasgiven aseven-year prison agency, Gil Alberto ofthe Triay Casales, Llorente were repeatedly beaten by theirguards. of Carlos Herrera Acosta, Juan losis andsentbacktojailthree weeks after. to hospitalon5December Periodistas IndependientesdeCamagüey headofthe Normando Hernández González, butwasnotreleased. health, by poor aprisondoctorbecauseofhisvery Trabajo Decoro ofthe José UbaldoIzquierdo Hernández, “political check”andonefor anothermatter. onefor a had toappear before a Havana court, sed in2004andforbidden toleave thecountry, relea- Espinosa ChepeandJorge Olivera Castillo, IndependentjournalistsOscar for healthreasons. lists stillinprisonandthosewhohave beenfreed boththe20journa- the March 2003crackdown, Pressure wasmaintainedonthoserounded upin viour.” arrest for two years for “socially dangerous beha- Prensa Libre Oriental ofthe Guillermo EspinosaRodríguez, InSantiago deCuba, and in February April. who hadbeensummonedtwicebefore by police wasdeclared “unfit for detention” , AL) wasputunderhouse (APLO), Jóvenes sinCensura APLO with cellulartubercu- andFabio Prieto , La Estrella Solitaria Cubanet wastaken , Colegio de Agencia de Grupo de Cubanet were , and , 53 , 2007 Annual Report - Americas C software installedby theCubanpolicethattrig- all theInternetcafes andleadinghotelscontain the computersin Secondly, more easily monitored. and “youth computerclubs”where theiractivityis universities access pointssuchasInternetcafes, Cubanshave togo topublic or checktheire-mail, Toprivate Internetconnections. surftheInternet ithasmore orlessbanned Firstly, way. tionary” that thismediumisnotusedina “counter-revolu- Cuban government usesseveral levers toensure Without Borders inOctoberrevealed thatthe Aninvestigation carried outby Reporters tries. Cuba isoneofthemostbackward Internetcoun- With lessthan2percentofitspopulationonline, T ganda,” went onhunger-strike inSeptember. sentence inNovember 2005for “subversive propa- HE I UBA NTERNET Prize on12December. Borders -Fondation deFranceCyber-freedom Hewasawarded theReporters Without Internet. all Cubanstobeallowed free accesstothe several hunger-strikes hisdemandfor tosupport Cubanacán Press headofthe Guillermo FariñasHernández, defying theregime’s censorship. Few Internetusersdare toruntheriskof illegally. get five years justfor connectingtotheInternet for foreign articles websites.Youtionary” caneven get 20years inprisonfor writing “counter-revolu- government alsorelies onself-censorship.You the can Finally, with peopleabroad isanordeal. for whomcommunicating pendent journalists, there isnoInternetaccessfor dissidentsandinde- Theregime alsoensures that words are spotted. messagewhenevergers analert “subversive” key- gnyi at lr,staged agency inSantaClara, 54 2007 Annual Report - Americas E prsjunlsso 1My Eightjournalists journalistson31May. sports from apart brutalpolicehandlingoftwo in 2006, Gutiérrez andfew attacksonthemediaoccurred April 2005overthrow ofPresident Lúcio Assaults onpress freedom have declinedsincethe work. his murder didnotappear tobelinked withhis Sandoval wasalsokilledthere thesameday but Freelance photographer RaúlSuárez unsafe. thoughthecityisnotoriously revenge killing, gramme andhiscolleaguesdidnotruleouta Hepresented adiscussionpro- of Guayaquil. not farfrom hishomeinapoorneighbourhood Minutera of Journalist José LuisLeónDesiderio, fortheNovember presidentialcampaign electionsexcessively polarised themedia. journalistscastashadow over press freedom in2006.The Two unsolved murders of Rafael Correa. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 13,230,000. Population: 283,580sq.km. Area: CUADOR wasgunneddown early on14February , Radio geted byscores. thosewantingtosettle itrisksbeingtar- both sidesduringthecampaign, tense andeven thoughthemediawere attacked by to destroy thecountry.” The atmosphere isstill station accusedthe right-wing TV banana magnate Alvaro Noboa, Hismainrival, mist RafaelCorrea. whichwaseasily won by left-wingecono- contest, the 26November presidential electionadirty Themediahelpedtomake for thepastdecade. no president hasmanagedtocompletehisterm remains politically very unstableand the country The relative peacefor themediamay notlastsince of awomen’s prisoninGuayaquil. were alsoseizedfor several hoursby theinmates Ecuavisión of backingCorrea and “helping 55 2007 Annual Report - Americas G ne atnTx correspondent for Ángel Martín Tax, but death andhiswork hasnotbeenfound, Adefinitelinkbetween his local policestation. five bulletsinitfound inhiscarparked nearthe home inthetown ofCobánandhisbodywith Punto acorrespondent for Eduardo MaasBol, tion. nalist waskilledandanotherescaped assassina- Onejour- militaries from the1960-86civilwar. privatesecurityagentsandformer para- diers, sol- oftencommittedby police, and journalists, physical attacksandthreats againstthemedia But thispositive rulingdidnotstopdozensof lations. expression must notbecurbedby laws orregu- whichstipulatesthatfreedom of constitution, 35ofthenational they contradictedarticle said Thecourt were unconstitutional. official, and two years for defamingapublicbodyor head ofastatebodyandbetween sixmonths three years imprisonmentfor offending the providing for between oneand criminal code, 411and412ofthe2006 Destarac thatarticles nal journalisminstitutepresident MarioFuentes theargumentofnatio- accepted on1February Theconstitutionalcourt lising press offences. andParaguay indecrimina- Peru,Argentina Rica, Costa Guatemala in2006followed Honduras, to exert pressure onit. themediahelpsauthorities journalists are stillfrequent narrow and ownership of press physicalattacks offences, on attempt tokillhim.Despitethedecriminalisation of narrowly another 2006,amonthafter A journalistwas an killedinSeptember escaping OscarBerger. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 12,600,000. Population: 108,890sq.km. Area: wasshotdeadon9Septemberhisway , UATEMALA Radio Radio nues. Impunity for crimesagainstjournaliststhusconti- three years earlierinwhichajournalistwaskilled. for aviolentdemonstrationofhissupporters ofresponsibilitycleared on30January by acourt was was defeated atthelastpresidential election, who EfraínMontt, former dictator(1982-83)Gen. and The consequencesofthecivilwarstillpersist, them hasnotyet beenapproved by parliament. Aproposed law toregulate without alicence. of themlegally broadcasting and2,500doingso withonly 250 nity radiostationsisanurgentissue, thelegalityofGuatemala’s commu- As elsewhere, garchy. keep themediainhandsofcountry’s oli- campaign hesays istostophisinvestigations and forhounded by courts “illegal broadcasting,” a human rightsviolationsandisconstantly been been involved inexposing corrupt politiciansand Castañedahaslong result hefledthecountry. him tostopinvestigating taxevasion andasa got aphonecalltheday before warning Castañeda, OscarRodolfo station’s director andfounder, Radio 10 oftheindependentstation Vinicio Aguilar Mancilla, Two motorcycle gunmentriedtokillreporter was “next onthelist”afterMaasBol. Sonora latergot aphonecallwarningthathe , n2 uut u nyboehsjw The butonly broke on23 hisjaw; August, , 56 2007 Annual Report - Americas H the capital on 3 November. A UN military spo- A UNmilitary the capital on3November. shes between themand in Aristide supporters stabilisation force (Minustah) soldiersduringcla- Nouvelliste Aphotographer from thedaily paper capital. reporting onastudentdemonstrationinthe identified himselftothemasajournalistwhile of Police broke thearmofErnst Cadichon, authorities. The mediaalsosuffered atthehandsof May inanattackapparently unrelated toherjob. of Lumière Journalist Lydie Bain Abdon, money. cameamidanew wave ofransomsfor Pétionville, September inPort-au-Prince’s easternsuburbof on14 thestation’s editor, Stéphane Pierre-Paul, Radio Kiskeya An attackby armedbanditsontwo journalistsof fell sharply duringtheyear. butattacksonjournalistsfor doingtheirjob May, whotookofficeon 14 President RenéPréval, Lawlessness isanurgentissuefor Movement. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s Lavalas oftenlinked withformer reprisals by gangs, were liableatany momenttobethetargetof whenjournalists and inview ofrecent history, Port-au-Prince) (mostly inthecapital, country prising inview ofthehighlevel ofviolenceinthe wassur- fewvery physical attacksonjournalists, with The more positive press freedom situation, end toimpunityhowever. government Thenew hasnotputan electionsdespitecontinuinglawlessness. February physicalattacksNo journalistwas killedin2006and the onthemediadeclinedafter RenéPréval. Head ofstate: French. Creole, Languages: 8,530,000. Population: 27,750sq.km. Area: AITI narrowly escaped beingkidnapped on26 , rnosLus wasroughed upby UN FrançoisLouis, , LilianePierre-Paul andherbrother , Radio Galaxie inOctoberafterhe , Radio Le daily headoftheculture deskatthe Jacques Roche, of theJuly 2005kidnapping andkillingjournalist Solino neighbourhoodofthecapital andsuspected agangleaderinthe François “Bibi” Daniel, daylight. killing journalistsare alsostillwalkingfree inbroad Gangleaderssuspectedof means ofinvestigation. inthelawlessnesspart andjudgesstillhave no Thenationalpolicetakes proper justicesystem. may continue ifPréval’s government failstobuilda Impunity and thesubsequentinterimgovernment. from thetraumaitsuffered during Aristide’s rule The mediahasalongway togo before itrecovers later. kesman formally apologised tothepaper five days rgo idr of Brignol Lindor, become a civil party inthecase. become acivilparty ruledin2006againstthefamily’s bidto years, Goâve in2001)hasbeenstuck for thepasttwo inthesoutherntown ofPetit-Aristide supporters where thecaseof Lindor (killedby supreme court, The andathird hasfledabroad. minal activities, where they have reportedly resumed theircri- tal, asouthernsuburbofthecapi- living inMartissant, ders suspectedofkillingDominiquein2000are headof Jean Dominique, appointed intheenquiriesintomurders of New investigating judgeshave stillnotbeen ment andretraining commissionon12September. handing over weapons tothenationaldisarma- Le Matin even triedtobuyhisimmunity by , Radio Echo 2000 Radio Echo Radio HaïtiInter Two ganglea- . and , 57 2007 Annual Report - Americas H e iea at PAi ádns whoadmit- MP mer LiberalParty Amid Cárdenas, for- was summarily dismissedin April by herboss, “Denuncias 49,” on gramme, TV station presenter ofaninvestigative pro- Wendy Guerra, the attack. wasnotpunishedfor mission for ethnicminorities, com- who isvice-president oftheparliamentary Bueso, Martha Vásquez andtriedtostrangleher. and hurledracistinsultsatindigenousjournalist in thesouthwestern town ofIntibucáon2 April Indigenous OrganisationsofHonduras(COPINH) into ameetingoftheCivicCouncilPopular and stormed accompaniedby armedmen, Melghem, worst MPRomualdo Bueso whenLiberalParty the A dozensuchincidentsoccurred in2006, politicians whoare sometimesalsomediaowners. especially asitisoftenby remains alarmingly high, Violence againstjournalistsandpressure onthem were alsothreatened by aprivate security firm. awebsite or harassing journalists, especiallythemostvulnerable ones.Two editors of whoareEven politicians mediaproprietors physicallyattacking have noqualmsabout ManuelZelaya. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 7,205,000. Population: 112,000sq.km. Area: ONDURAS Canal 49 , avjl ofradiostation Carvajal, Octavio Reporter He reinstated heron3May. ted heyieldedtopressure from politicianfriends. December. wasmurdered on4 DionisioGarcía, lawyer, Tegucigalpa on31 Octoberbuttheir court were cleared of”defamation”and “insults” by a and attemptswere made toblackmailthem.They labour violationsatsecurityfirmDeltaSegurity wed andhoundedafterrevealing fraudand were follo- Association for aFairer Society(ASJ), of thewebsite Journalists MarínGarcía Roberto andDinaMeza, The privatesectoralsothreatened themedia. the firmwasbeingrun. the presidential secretariat aftercriticisinghow ded by thestatephonecompany Honduteland inMaycountry for three weeks afterbeinghoun- Revistazo.com STC Noticia and membersofthe fledthe , 58 2007 Annual Report - Americas killers thatwassenttothe according toavideoconfession by two suspected life hadbeenputoutby theCiudadJuárez cartel, Acontractonhis probably by professional killers. on 9 stateofChihuahua, August inthenorthern M the monthly founder andeditorof Enrique Perea Quintanilla, drug-traffickingexpert, tres intheregion.Another afterhereported onnew drug-smuggling cen- July, stateofCoahuila)on8 Moclova (inthenorthern ofthedaily Martínez, ping RafaelOrtiz wereThe drugcartels alsosuspectedofkidnap- fickers. Contreras suggestedhiskillerswere drug-traf- Theweapons usedtomurder Téllez Laredo. local radiostation ofthe Michoacán andRamiro Téllez Contreras, Arturo Olvera Bravo inthesouthwestern stateof freelance photographer Jaime on 9and10March: wounding oneperson.Two journalistswere killed seriously stateofNuevothe northeastern Laredo, opened fire onthestaffofdaily whengunmen The violencebeganon6February of thepastdecadein Americas. vent oneoftheworst annual press freedom tolls Butthesegood intentionsdidnotpre- offences. reveal theirsources anddecriminalisingpress senate) recognising therightofjournalistsnotto criminal codeon18 April (already passedby the chamber ofdeputiesapproved amendments tothe Thefederal with physical attacksonjournalists. 2006todeal on15February set upaspecialcourt serious threats tothecountry’s mediawhenthey Federal authoritiesseemtohave realised the aspecialfederal court topunishphysicalattacks onthemedia. blishment of inFebruary the Americas was secondonlytoIraq in2006and forthenumberkilled,despiteesta- With ninejournalists murdered three and missing,thecountryhasworst record in Felipe Calderón. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 107,029,000. Population: 1,958,200sq.km. Area: on 8Octoberwhilereporting neartheborder the onlineversion oftheweekly editorof Guevara Guevara Domínguez, vanished. between OctoberandDecembertwo others An unprecedented sixmore journalistswere killed October. EXICO Dos Caras Exa 95.7FM , Una Verdad TV Azteca Siglo 21 alsoinNuevo , was shotdead , station on12 El Mañana vanished , Zócalo ,in in the 8Decemberkillingofcolumnist RaúlMarcial settling between indigenousmovements caused Thegovernor alsoclaimedscore- after amonth. policemen suspectedofkilling himwere freed tried toblamehisdeathonthe APPO andtwo city Localinvestigators physical attacksonjournalists. included ransackingofmediaofficesandmany of thegovernor on27Octoberduringriotsthat P managing editorofthedaily theformer Sixdays later, by alethalinjection. withhishandsboundandkilled on 10November, dead inamotelthesouthernstateofGuerrero news agency an American cameramanfor theindependent Will, Brad Assembly ofthePeoples ofOaxaca(APPO). andhisopponentsinthePopularRuiz Ortiz open warfare between aidesofGovernor Ulises the southernstateofOaxacaeruptedinMay into The festering year-long politicalandsocialcrisisin of theweekly editorJosé Antonio García Apac Michoacán state, Two Ten brothers days were earlierin arrested. victim ofscore-settling between highway bandits. FM Veracruz whoworked withthe TV station Guzmán, thebodyof Adolfo Sánchez Also in Veracruz, street on21November afterreceiving threats. wasshot deadinthe ther drug-traffickingcentre, kly deputyeditorofthewee- MarcosRoberto García, ment. found stabbedtodeathinhisMexicoCityapart- was government tothetakeover ofthepaper, ticising theattitudeofPresident Vicente Fox’s whohadjustpublishedabookcri- Sánchez Nava, regional daily Misael managingeditorofthe Tamayo Hernández, between andChihuahua states. Durango (North) THDBTL NOAXACA IN BATTLE ITCHED a on n3 oebr apparently the wasfound on30November, , Testimonio and radiostation Indymedia in theeasternstateof ano- Veracruz, El Despertar delaCosta El Despertar Ecos delaCuenca waskilledby abodyguard , Xhora Estereo 99.3 Ori Excelsior vanished. , José Manuel , wasfound , Televisa 59 2007 Annual Report - Americas and sexualabuseofthree young foreign journalists. Salvador Atenco on3and4May includedviolence demonstration intheMexicoCitysuburbofSan harshcrackdown Avery onapeace authorities. September withtheprobable complicityoflocal M were madeonthedaily four attacks In thesoutheasternstateof Yucatán, was killedbecauseofhiswork. investigation didnotconsiderthepossibilityhe intheofficesofdaily Pérez, EXICO Por Esto! between June and El Gráfico The . prosecuted there. ces andabout40journalistsare currently being imprisonment ofuptonineyears for press offen- Chiapas statelaw allows again on19December. thenfreed onbail ting thetermsofhisprobation, was imprisonedon11November 2006for viola- He local officialinthesouthernstateofChiapas. 2003andOctober2005for libellinga January Hehadbeenarrested in freed on€8,000bail. was jailedbetween andthen 4and22February ne ai seat,ofthedaily Ángel MarioKsheratto, Cuarto Poder Cuarto 60 , 2007 Annual Report - Americas P with drug-traffickers. suspectedofties of therulingColoradoParty anMP the presence ofNuñezandMagdalenoSilva, seizure ofashipmentweapons andcocainein Galeanohadreported the Before hedisappeared, divers failedtofindhimon21October.service Localfire killed himandthrew hisbodyinariver. before beinghandedover todrug-traffickers who orders ofNuñezand held by two ofhisaides SPP saidGaleanohadbeenkidnapped onthe The commissioner OsvaldoNuñezdeniedthis. thoughdistrict traffickers justbefore hevanished, had asked policetoprotect himfrom localdrug- Theinteriorministersaidthejournalist enquiry. said hehadbeenhaving anaffairandshelved the police Three monthsafterGaleanodisappeared, suspected ofbeinginvolved. tion moved slowly andlocalpoliticalfigures were (SPP) delegationon6Octoberbuttheinvestiga- the matterwithanationaljournalists’association President Frutosdiscussed NicanorDuarte 2006. vanishedon4February Concepción province, of journalist EnriqueGaleano, Paraguayans andtheirmediawere shocked when President Duarte Frutos. has madenoprogress investigation media. Theofficial despitethepromises of drug-traffickers withlocal authorities, inleague thecountry’s traumatised deeply radio journalistEnrique Galeano, hisprobable and murder by of The disappearance Frutos. NicanorDuarte Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 6,158,000. Population: 406,750sq.km. Area: ARAGUAY Radio Azotey ,in FM Radiostations independent newspapers. are unfriendly tocommunity radiostationsandsmall theauthorities As inmostLatin American countries, 27 February. anattempttoshoothimon survived gling centre), southern town ofEncarnación(anotherdrug-smug- thepaper’sJuan correspondent inthe Augusto Roa, Color on sentence (commuted tocommunity service) also confirmedon5Decembera10-monthprison Thecourt for saying hewasinvolved incorruption. ally ofPresident Frutos, Duarte Carlos Galaverna,an Juan topaycourt $200,000inlibeldamagestoSen. The daily probe toodeeply intoscandalsinvolving politicians. journalistsdonotdare Transparency International), according to ruption (theworst inSouth America, In suchafragiledemocracywithdeep-rooted cor- the pretext ofalanddispute. inOctoberby order ofthemayor using Asunción, El EspectadorLuqueño equipmentofthenewspaper down on19June.The were forcibly shut on theirbroadcasting frequency, and journalist Luis Verón for “insults” and “libel”. Tenondé FM ABC Color whichwere awaiting adecision , was ordered by thesupreme a etoe nLqe near was destroyed inLuque, Manantial ABC 61 2007 Annual Report - Americas P crew from the TV station town of the northern Tarapoto torama totry cial accusedofcorruption usedademonstrationin alocaloffi- weeks later, Lima on8February.Three Activists beatup TV journalistKarinaChávez near García. President Alan who lostinthesecondround ofvoting toformer meetings ofnationalistcandidateOllantaHumala, especially atelection were beatenandinsulted, adozenjournalists three monthsoftheyear alone, Inthefirst April presidential electiondidnothelp. aggressive Thevery campaignfor the9 vious year. red withacombinedtotalofaboutonly 60thepre- compa- 2006 to54physical attacksand47threats, Violence againstthemediaisstillhighandrose in was shotin the headatademonstration. themediaduringagainst theyear. Onejournalistwas targeted another by abomband 100threats about physicalattacks and hadarecordThe countryonceagain numberof AlanGarcíaPérez. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 27,970,000. Population: 1,285,220sq.km. Area: Tropical correspondent for Wilman Caychigua, Línea Roja co-op officialstriedtogetintothehouseof lier, Four monthsear- only materialdamagewascaused. But reported onmismanagementofacredit co-op. a bombexplosionnearhishouseafterhehad wasnearly killedon30 September by coca growers, whohadreceived deaththreats from Ayacucho, nal daily kly editoroftheregional wee- Elías Navarro Palomino, ofChimbote. through port thewestern military because shereported ondrugshipmentspassing of deaththreats tointimidateher andefforts in to fleethecountry April aftermore thanayear Freelance journalistMarilúGambiniLostanauhad dangerousvery subjectsfor themediatoreport. vity by theShiningPathguerrillas inthe Andes were drug-traffickingandresumed acti- Local corruption, extremist leader. lists andseizedinformation aboutthemurder ofan Amistad Police in Aucayacu burstintoradiostation cycle. Línea Roja ERU and thedaily h aemnh tookthenamesofjourna- the samemonth, La República ’s printer. and localcorrespondent for thenatio- El Chasqui in thesouthwestern town of Red Global in thesoutheastern with amotor- Radio Inca Echeandia. the 2004murder ofjournalist Antonio dela Torre sentenced onappeal to17years inprison eachfor the Ancash provincial supreme afterbeing court andtwo henchmenwere freed on20July by León, mayor ofthewestern town of Yungay,Amaro León Theex- pus writin April andwent intohiding. Solio Ramírez Garay) were freed onahabeascor- councillor town and LuisValdez Villacorta mayor butthosewhoordered thekilling(former each, 2006for betweenled inFebruary 10and30years wereeast-central town ofPucallpain jai- April 2004, Oriental Five peoplewhokilledradio station PRISON FROM RELEASED OR LARGE AT KILLERS involving anintelligenceofficial. refusing toreveal hissources case inanextortion ges for an “offence againstthejudicialsystem”after year prisonsentenceandpayment of€2,500dama- Pajuelostillrisksafour-Journalist Ortiz Humberto whichPeru hasratified. Freedom ofExpression, American StatesDeclarationofPrincipleon His prosecution violatedtheOrganisationof wasclearedAguirre inOctober2006. Corvalán paign in2000andhadallowed themediatouse it. haduseditduringhisfather’sAlberto electioncam- Fujimori’s son made whenhewasinpower in1998. September 2003ofex-President Fujimori Alberto secrets.” The journalisthadshown a video in for “disclosing state Poder, gramme Cuarto former presenter of TV station year prisontermfor Mauricio Aguirre Corvalán, public prosecutor calledon15 August for aneight- gaveThe courts themediaarough Lima year.The were righttouselive bullets. InteriorministerPilarMazzettisaidpolice coma. Hewastaken tohospitalinadeep on 5December. during aviolentdemonstrationagainstlocalofficials wasshotintheheadby police town of Abancay, journalist RiveraAlberto Fernández inthe Canal 4 Frecuencia ’s pro- ’s 62 2007 Annual Report - Americas U during whichapolicevehicle wasattacked and med ademonstrationat G8 summitin2005 The 24-year-old Californian hadfil- jail however. Blogger andfreelance journalistJosh Wolf went to PRISON TO SENT BLOGGER A ofthe Mark Fainaru-Wada, Lance Williams and to dowithnationalsecurity. someofthemnothing of sources are underway, and more thanadozencasesinvolving protection “national security”argumenttopunishjournalists meanwhilecontinueFederal tousethe courts before Bushleaves officein2008? been stuckincongress 2005, sinceFebruary whichhas pass theFree Flow ofInformation Act, Willit controlled by theoppositionDemocrats. must now work withacongress of civilliberties, already criticisedfor itsviolations administration, the 7November Bush congressional elections.The journalists thisrighthasbeendelayed becauseof A vote onaproposed federal “shield law” giving allow themto. government, butnotthefederal diction that33USstates, thuscontinuing thecontra- reveal theirsources, 5 June toruleontherightofjournalistsnot The federal supreme declinedonceagainon court tion guaranteesit(through itsFirst Amendment). whosenationalconstitu- freedom inthecountry 2006saw adeclineinpress name hersources, Miller for three monthsin2005for refusing to After thejailingof nued topunishjournalistsforrefusing toreveal theirsources. remained aprisoner With government support, atGuantanamo. federal courts conti- freelance journalistJoshWolf. forAl-Jazeera cameraman TV, ASudanese al-Haj, Sami blogger and The press freedom situationworsened in2006withtheimprisonment of George Bush. W. Head ofstate: English. Language: 298,213,000. Population: 9,629,090sq.km. Area: appealed. Thecaseisbeing figurestop sports withdrugs. Cooperative) suspectedofsupplyingLaboratory jury’s -Bay findingsaboutafirm(BALCO Area ofagrand journalists hadreported in2004part The reveal theirsources orface imprisonment. were ordered by afederal judge on15 August to NITED New YorkTimes San Francisco Chronicle S TATES reporter Judith , judge in February 2005. judge inFebruary had won arulingintheirfavour from aNew York provide journalists thenamesoftheirsources.The PhilipShenon, demand thatsheandacolleague, on1 vice leakshadledafederal court August to intelligenceser- Further includingMiller. reporters, the paper must handover phonerecords oftwo November tosuspendalower rulingthat court the federal supreme refused court on27 tim ofthegap between stateandfederal law when wasonceagainavic- activities, phone surveillance tration for revealing thegovernment’s bankingand The not toreveal sources enjoyed by journalists. on26Maycourt allowed bloggersthesameright vehicle California attackinJuly stateappeal 2007.A finishesitsinvestigationuntil agrandjury ofthe meaninghewillprobably stay there November, which refused torehear thecaseon16 to jailon18Septemberby afederal appeal court, thensentback prison for amonthin August 2006, hewassentto over hisfilmandwhenherefused, Afederal judgeordered himtohand damaged. rsnr eeucntttoa.Despitethissmall prisoners were unconstitutional. thebase’s tribunalssetuptotry the military 400 The federal supreme declared court on29June that for thefirsttimeofkillinghimself. hespoke been threatened by thebase authorities, whohas himself CliveBritish lawyer, Stafford-Smith, Duringarare contactwithhis and Al-Qaeda. supposed linksbetween theQatar-based interrogated about150timestogethimconfess base atGuantanamo(Cuba)since13June 2002and has beenimprisonedwithoutchargeattheUSnaval Sudanese The worst press freedom casewasthatof GUANTANAMO IN YEAR FIFTH A New YorkTimes Al-Jazeera criticisedby theBushadminis- , aeaa aia-a,who cameraman Samial-Haj, Al-Jazeera 63 2007 Annual Report - Americas U yteSnt nJn 06 Theprinciple is cur- by theSenateinJune 2006. The principleofInternetneutralitywasrejected way anditsprospects are uncertain. butismakinglittlehead- of theseInternetgiants, House ofRepresentatives toregulate theactivities Online Freedom Act (GOFA) -wastabledinthe Abill-theGlobal to censorsearch theirresults. GoogleandMicrosoft (MSN)have agreedYahoo!, USsearch-engines ter the Web andinChina, ping repressive regimes in Tunisia andBurmatofil- However, USfirmsare hel- the InternetinUS. ment tothenationalconstitutionby notcensoring The government hasrespected thefirstamend- THE CENSOR HELP FIRMS US Angeles Times from thedaily media andfour USjournalists, thebaseisstilllargely bannedtothe legal victory, as oneofthelastactsoutgoing congress. prisoners tobetortured waspassedon 17 October law A allowing the were expelledfrom iton14June. NITED , Miami Herald and S I NTERNET Charlotte Observer TATES Los , said. thecourt of themessagescanbeprosecuted, Only theauthors libellous messagesare posted. forum moderatorsandmanagersofblogswhere Thisalsoapplies to their customerspostonline. (ISPs) cannotbeheldresponsible for thecontent providers thatInternetservice a defamationcase, in supreme whichruledinNovember court 2006, Good news camefrom theCalifornia state speeds thancommercial websites. andbeavailablecut-price service atmuch slower willpushedintoa especially blogs, publications, smallonline price paidby contentproviders, offer different levels according tothe ofservice expression.” Iftelecomoperatorsare allowed to Internet neutralityisdefending freedom of “defending that says Borders Without Reporters website have arighttosamelevel ofservice. smallblogandabigcommercial online service.A individuals andorganisationsthatprovide an com firmsare notallowed todistinguishbetween rently respected worldwide and meansthattele- 64 2007 Annual Report - Americas U aitEuroPee ofthe TV station nalist Eduardo Preve, The Montevideo ofinvestigative apartment jour- was president from 1981to1985. who Gregorio Álvarez, notably retired Gen. tions, against soldiersandpolicefor humanrightsviola- therecent oflegalproceedingssupported start from aself-styled “active soldier”afterhepublicly received writtendeaththreats inOctober2006 station the TV of Alfonso Lessa, onthedictatorship, An expert too closely atthispainfulperiod. still seemedunwillingtoallow themediatolook thearmy dictatorship, ved inthe1973-85military begantocallaccountthoseinvol-the country Butas Latin America,” atleastfor press freedom. its long-standingreputation asthe “Switzerland of whenUruguay maintained were recorded in2006, and only onephysical few attackandvery threats No mediaoutletswere ransacked orcensored expression. freedommade adecisionthatharms of rights dictatorship. violationsundertheformermilitary Thesupreme court hasalso freeThe mediaisfairly butjournalistsstillrun human intoobstacleswhen investigating Tabaré Vázquez. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 3,463,000. Population: 176,220sq.km. Area: RUGUAY Canal 12 and thedaily paper Canal 10 El País , , had saidtheoppositeinasimilarcase1997. It more thanfreedom important ofexpression. rulingthatreputation was reversedcourt this, butthe Hehadearlierbeencleared onappeal, cian. now-closed weekly ofthe son sentencepassedonCarlosDogliani, med on18Septemberasuspendedfive-month pri- Thesupremeconfir- court prietor inatalk-show. ment for “insults” aftermakingfunofamediapro- sentenced on18May tothree monthsimprison- of ces andGustavo EscanlarPatrone, Parliament hasstillnotdecriminalisedmediaoffen- had fallen. cooperation hadcontinued afterthedictatorships Hehadreported thatthis torships inthe1970s. insixLatin intelligence services American dicta- Condor Planfor cooperationbetween military received secret army documentsaboutthe afterhehad two policemenguarding thebuilding, was mysteriously burgledon26March despite El Regional for libellingapoliti- , Canal 10 was , 65 2007 Annual Report - Americas V h ode a re ekltr Legalaction the soldierwasfreed aweek later. house arrest on15March but afterapologising to Pacheco wasconvicted andput under certificate. had accusedasoldieroffalsely obtainingalawyer’s Nacional ofthedaily time in2006againstIbéyisePacheco, Itwasapplied for thefirst ning thanapunishment. hasbeenused more asawar- ties andinstitutions, increased penalties for “insulting” publicauthori- which The March 2005criminalcodereform law, on 14February. national mediaworkers’ associationwasrejected Anappeal againstthedecisionby the income. outlets between 1and2%oftheirprevious year’s responsibility law thancanfineoffending media the November 2004broadcasting mediasocial Themove wasbasedon name ofakey witness. of Judge Danilo Anderson andfrom citingthe the investigation intotheNovember 2004murder banned themfrom broadcasting anything about Venezolana de Televisión stations, state-owned TV includingtwo accused10mediaoutlets, January on23 ACaracascourt being littleuseduntilthen. begantobeapplied duringtheyear after dom, greatly curbingpress free- ment in2004and2005, The spateoflaws pushedthrough by thegovern- attacks onothers. the deathofonejournalistandascore ofphysical despite record wasbetterthanexpectedin2006, Tension isstillhighnearly five years laterbutthe attempt tooverthrow Chávez in April 2002. inafailed oftenaccusedoftakingpart media, between hisgovernment andtheprivately-owned 3 December2006raisedfears ofnew tensions The easyreelection ofPresident Hugo Chávez on journalistsrarely produce results. althoughprosecutionstense, of tion. Relations between thegovernment privately-owned and mediaoutletsare still others physicallyattacked, especiallyintherun-up tothe3Decemberpresidential elec- A journalistwas during killedby aboguspoliceman ascore ademonstration and of Hugo ChávezFrías. Head ofstate: Spanish. Language: 26,749,000. Population: 910,050sq.km. Area: ENEZUELA and aharshcriticofthegovernment who of “obstructing justice”and , Canal Metropolitano and El and columnistfor thedaily paper presenter onthestation ted mastermindofthemurder ofMauro Marcano, suspec- arrest ofdrugtrafficker Ceferino García, The fightagainstimpunityadvancedwiththe ruling isstillawaited. The ofthenew criminalcode. lity of25articles Prosecutor-generalasked toruleontheconstitutiona- Isaías Rodríguez thehighcourt months. “insults” wasalsodropped on16May afterthree station formerly with Prosecution ofNapoleón Bravo, TV the rightsofdefence.” dropped ongrounds of “insufficient respect for was had beenhatchedinthepresidential palace, claimed inprintthataplotagainsttheopposition against herfor “inaccurate information” aftershe tl eoe wasquickly arrested. still beone, whowaspretending to Aformer policeman, tion. by amaninuniform ontheedgeofademonstra- with the Caracasdaily photographer a Jorge Aguirre, lawlessness. Journalists were victimsofthestill-high level of western province ofZulia. governor ofthenorth- of hisrivalManuel Rosales, ofChávez bothby supporters andthose campaign, to censorothersduringthepresidential election them were physically attacked andattemptsmade routine violenceagainstjournalistsandascore of The calmerjudicialatmosphere contrastedwith pected oflinkswithdrug-traffickers. police andarmy officersinMonagasprovince sus- Buttheinvestigation didnottouchsenior Maturín. town of 1 September2004inthenortheastern Venevisión El Mundo and now with Radio Maturín1.080 AM waskilledon5 April, , Unión Radio El Oriental ,for on , 66 Mongolia North Japan Korea China Afghanistan South Bhutan Korea Pakistan Nepal Bangladesh Laos Burma Taïwan India Hongkong Thailand Vietnam Philippines Cambodia Brunei Maldives Malaysia Singapour Sri Lanka Papua New Guinea Indonesia Timor Samoa Fiji

Australia

New Zealand 2007 Annual Report ASIA

67 INDIA OR CHINA, A CHOICE OF MODEL

Has there been any improvement in press freedom in Asia in 2006? The very high numbers of journalists still being killed or assaulted and numbers of media censored would suggest not. However,Asians now have access to more independent and better quality news.A score of military or communist dictatorships view the media simply as channels for relaying propaganda. But, in 2006, authoritarian regimes, particularly that of King Gyanendra in Nepal, were swept away by democratic revolutions.

Press freedom violations in Asia are still at alarming levels: Sixteen journalists were killed, at least 328 arrested, 517 physically assaulted or threatened and at least 478 media were censored in 2006.

These disturbing figures are paradoxically signs of greater freedom. For example, journalists in Bangladesh suffer constant assaults and death threats because they tirelessly expose nepotism and corruption among local politicians. In China, the propaganda department regularly removes editorial chiefs in an attempt to curb their desire for independence.

In Asia,it is not war that is responsible for the deaths of journalists. In the Philippines for instance, where six were killed during the year, it was local public figures who put the lives of journalists in danger. It is the same story in India, China and Indonesia, where five journalists were murdered. However, in Sri Lanka, media representatives are, along with thousands of other civilians, the innocent victims of a war which is stoked up by the government and the Tamil Tigers.The para-military Tamil groups have sown terror in the north and east, killing four journalists and attacking around a dozen media.

CENSORSHIP, AN "ASIAN CUSTOM"

Censorship remains a very widespread phenomenon in Asia.At its extreme end is North Korea where the “dear leader” Kim Jong-il and his loyal inner circle impose total control on news content. Journalists, who are under police surveillance and the threat of re-education, have no choice but to relay grotesque official propaganda.To a lesser extent, the other communist regimes, Laos,Vietnam and China, use the press to put over the message of the sole party. But quite often, media more dependant on advertising than on state subsidy, take the risk of handling previously taboo subjects. Some liberal publications in China and Vietnam have breached state control entirely. But the party still knows how to set limits. At the start of the year, the Chinese propaganda department removed renowned journalist Li Datong from the editorship of the weekly Bing Dian.Among other things, he had authorised publication of an article taking a fresh look at a controversial period in Chinese history. In Vietnam,the information ministry suspended at least five publications within a few days after articles appeared on scandals implicating family members of a prominent figure in the regime.

The junta in Burma imposes relentless advance censorship on the Burmese press.At times more than a third of the articles and illustrations in privately-owned publications are banned by army officers employed by the censorship bureau.Any item containing the least reference to democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi is banned.There is no permanent censorship in Thailand, but hundreds of local radios have been closed by the military junta which overthrew Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September.

News is also controlled through financial leverage exerted by investors close to the authorities. In Singapore and Malaysia, the authorities only award licences to press groups of whose loyalty they are assured. Former members of the security services head the leading privately-owned publications in Singapore.

Religion is also a source of censorship and self-censorship. Criticism of the religious authorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan can lead to a blasphemy suit.A score of media have also been sanctioned in Asia for having reproduced or referred to the cartoons of the prophet Mohammed published in Denmark. Upholding morals is also a favourite reason for censorship in Asia. A TV channel in Kabul was heavily fined for showing Indian films seen as contrary to Islam. In December, law suits were taken out against eight Indonesian stations for showing too much “sex” and “violence”. In the same country, the editor of the local version of the magazine Playboy was taken to court.And authorities in Sri Lanka closed a radio station because it talked about sexuality. 2007 Annual Report - Asia ReportAnnual - 2007 Introduction

68 Asian monarchs also know how to impose censorship on news about themselves. The crime of “lese majesty” is punishable in Thailand by several years in prison. A Bangkok press baron narrowly escaped prison in 2006 after being accused of insulting the king. In Bhutan, the media, only one of which is privately-owned, are obliged to speak about the king in the most respectful terms. Finally, in Brunei, the sultan and his family are almost systematically featured on the front pages of the press and criticism is extremely rare.

There are very few Asian countries which allow absolutely anything to be said or written. Even in South Korea, a favourable position towards their northern neighbour is liable to mean a prison sentence. It is not easy to speak freely about organised crime or violent nationalist groups in Japan. New Zealand is in this context a successful example of virtually total respect for press freedom.

SIGNS OF HOPE

There are some genuinely hopeful signs on the continent.The development of privately-owned TV channels brings news free from government control into hundreds of millions of homes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and India. Breaking decades of state monopoly on broadcast news, Geo TV in Pakistan, Tolo TV in Afghanistan, Phoenix TV in China or CNN-IBN in India, have pushed back the boundaries of censorship. Some countries are resisting this progress.The Maldives government has failed to honour a promise to open up the electronic media sector before the end of the year.And in Burma, the army bans people from watching independent DVB TV, broadcast by satellite from Norway.

The number of journalists imprisoned in Asia is down overall. Detention centres in Nepal were emptied after the democratic revolution in April.Those in Burma hold fewer and fewer journalists, even if U Win Tin, laureate of the 2006 Reporters Without Borders - Fondation de France press freedom prize, is still serving a 20-year sentence for his pro-democracy articles. China has freed Jiang Weiping and Gao Qinrong, given heavy prison sentences for writing articles about corruption and no journalist arrested in 2006 was held in custody.

However governments in Asia still have a number of laws at their disposal which allow them to imprison journalists for press offences.This year, only Cambodia made the courageous decision to decriminalise defamation. Indonesia, for its part, has lifted the offence of insulting the head of state, which was used against journalists in the past. On the other hand, governments in Manila and Dhaka have done nothing to prevent a raft of abusive defamation cases being brought against the press. In the Philippines, the hus- band of the president, Gloria Arroyo, has taken out more than 40 law suits against privately-owned media. In reply, journalists’ organisations are claiming a peso per inhabitant in damages.

Asia’s two heavyweights, India and China, have chosen a radically different model of press freedom. In the first, the media make themselves felt more every day as an effective counter-balance to government, capable of exposing even the most powerful. In the second, the press, although subject to competition, is still under the control of the party-state which is sure of its authority and which has no intention of dropping its capacity to censor.

Vincent Brossel Head of Asia-Pacific desk 2007 Annual Report - Asia ReportAnnual - 2007 Introduction

69 2007 Annual Report - Asia the firsttobetargetedby thereligious conservati- However privately-owned television stationsare stronger every day.” mediaisgetting realise whatthewarlords are.The People “Themediaisthewinnerinthis game. ted: Journalist ZarghonaSaberhascommen- their news. had areal effect ontheway inwhich Afghans get But theboominprivately-owned radioand TV has to increase distribution. nMzreSai,thedaily in Mazar-e-Sharif, publication becauseofalackadvertising.Similarly, most independentpapers, oneofthe InNovember, limitedcirculations. very Mostofthetitlesare weeklies with more complex. agencies andsix TV channels -thereality ismuch five news 50privately-owned radiostations, cations, Behind theencouragingofficialstatistics-400publi- armed mennearKandahar. was kidnapped andheldhostagefor three weeks by Italianphotographer Gabriele Torsello bombing. Aryana acameramananddriver for AbdulQodus, In July, made journalists’work more andmore dangerous. havebombings intheeastandsouthofcountry The volatile situationandtheincrease insuicide censorship andself-censorshiponjournalists. no timefor toimpose freedom ofspeechandtry said thosewhoare protected by privatemilitiahave has Samander, Rahimullah Journalists Association, Theleaderof Afghanistan’s Independent Karzai. paper criticalofPresident carried anarticle Hamid Jarida Mohammad Hassan editor of Wolesmal, touch awarlord oragovernment official,” said freedom endstheminute you relations.“Media tary basis ofacomplaintfrom theministerofparliamen- A the weekly awritercontributingregularly to In October2006, pressed government. security, threats from warlords, conservative religious leaders increasingly an and hard- deteriorating the Taliban regime. of Butitremains asjournalistsfeeltheeffects fragile thefive years of sincethefall achievements of thefew Press freedom isoneof HamidKarzai. Head ofstate: Uzbek. Dari, Pashtu, Languages: 29,860,000. Population: km. 652,090sq. Area: whosehomewasattacked in March afterthe , FGHANISTAN television waskilledin adoublesuicide Payame Mojahed Baztab wasarrested onthe , Kabul Weekly closed afterfailing Afghan Milli ceased , services orderedservices journaliststostopusingthe Thesecret international coalition’s foreign policy. broadcasting tothecountry’s news contrary orthe outlawed contactwiththe Taliban and rejected, whichthepress immediately Thislist, ned news. summoned inJune tobegiven a24-pointlist ofban- Leadingmediaeditorswere degree ofcensorship. toimposea totry has ledthesecret services The growing presence inthemediaof Taliban rebels TV propaganda hasamajorrole inthiswar,” said They know that their criticismofthegovernment. "They needsomeonetoputout the press in2006. studentssteppeduptheircontactswith theology However,We have theIslamicrighttokillthem". information from NATO we willtargetthem(…) they useincorrect inthefuture, to journaliststhatif, year a “Iwanttosay Taliban chiefwarned, military ofthe thestart without askingtheirpermission.At for oneweek afterthey entered Helmandprovince they detainedtwo Pakistanijournalists November, Attheendof in several southernprovinces. holdsway The predators ofpress freedom, Taliban, families. death threats in2006from politiciansortheir least 20journalistswere assaultedorreceived henchmen toattacka warlord Abul Sayyaf senthis previous month, The it broadcast footage ofslumberingdeputies. for themtobeexpelledfrom thepremises after physically attacked ateamfrom membersofparliament conservative In August, going before acourt. sion whichwillbeabletoimposefineswithout law whichprovides for thecreation ofacommis- isenragedby thenew media Ahmad Shah Afghanzai, Itseditor, and videosdeemedtobeun-Islamic. more than1,000euros for broadcasting Indianfilms e.InJanuary, ves. presenter MassodQiam. Afghan TV Tolo TV was finedtheequivalentof crew nearKabul.At Tolo TV and called Tolo 70 2007 Annual Report - Asia A omn,i onr oendb hra Butpar- governed inacountry by Sharia. lopment, gives arelatively liberalframework for mediadeve- The government’s adoptionofathird press law of nationalsecurity. tives hadtobetaken intoaccountintheinterests impera- certain hesaid, because, authors ofthelist, confirmed thathehadbeenconsultedby the HamidKarzai Despitetheoutcry, the Afghan army. expression of theefforts “warlord” andtosupport FGHANISTAN other thanIslam. a banonpromotion viathepress onany religion before parliamentatthebeginningof2007includes Thedraftlaw whichcouldgo territorial integrity. nationalsecurityand tostability, of news contrary rences toIslamicprinciplesandbannedpublication and Cultural Affairs Commissionhasincreased refe- Religious amendments.The up alistofreactionary hasdrawn which isdominatedby theconservatives, the inparticular Wolesiliament, Jirga(lower house) 71 2007 Annual Report - Asia A Two reporters onthe the courts. force journaliststogive information topoliceor The 2005anti-terror law hasalready beenusedto investigating terrorism ororganisedcrimecases. ping withoutany real judicialcontrol ofjournalists lawsively allows phonetap- againstthepress.The the risksofanti-terror legislationbeingusedabu- law oninterception ofcommunications increased ofthe inMarch 2006, The adoptionby theSenate, expression. tofreedominformation and of whichrepresent athreat toprotect tojournalists’capacity theirsources of some of anti-terror laws, upitsarsenal of The JohnHoward government hascontinuedtobeef JohnHoward. Head ofgovernment: English. Language: 20,200,000. Population: km. 7,741,220sq. Area: right toprotect theirsources. afterrefusing torecognise their ted theirappeal, rejec- acourt In August, government. conservative ces for areport onacontroversial decisionby the prison sentencesfor refusing toreveal theirsour- USTRALIA Herald Sun are stillfacing asylum-seekers. cover theplightofpeoplein Australia’s campsfor restrictions are imposedonjournalistswantingto numerous Generally speaking, Papuan refugees. from freely covering of thearrival inthecountry thegovernment alsobannedthepress February, In is embarrassing orpolitically inconvenient”. ties a “fresh impetustosuppress information that the decisionwhichitsaidwould give theauthori- The Australian Press Councilcondemned policy. documents onthe Australian government’s tax refusal inSeptembertoallow ajournalistaccess to Another setbackin2006wastheHighCourt’s 72 2007 Annual Report - Asia B This hasmadeitextremely difficultfor themto bing thedaily incidentsofviolence againstthepress. President KhaledaZiahasproved incapable of cur- Despite anapparent commitmenttopress freedom, D members oftheBNP. ofthedaily Hossein, against 12defendants inthe2004murder ofKamal handeddown sentences thecourts same time, Dainik Shamokal of chief suspectinthemurder ofGautamDas, policearrested the inMarch, On theotherhand, mostly intheKhulnaregion. in2005, Chakrabarty, Humayun KabirBaluandDipankar Manik Shaha, trials connectedtothemurders ofjournalists tion andefficiencyinpursuinginvestigations or Police andthejusticesystemalsolacked determina- activists whowere investigating thisnew threat. had cracked down onjournalistsandhumanrights it wasthissameministerandhispredecessor who However, the extentofdangerthey represent. wasforced toadmit LutfuzzamanBabar, Minister, through itsInterior thegovernment, country, down theexistenceofjihadistgroups withinthe groups as alongperiodofplaying “un-Islamic”.After seenbyintimidation for armed writingarticles Nearly 25news correspondents were targetedfor flee citiesrunby theBNPduring2006. Threats forced more than30journaliststo press. in KhaledaZia’s government inabidtosilencethe action were allputtouseby deputiesandministers torchings andabusive legal beatings, Threats, tions. were behindthemajorityofpress freedom viola- (BNP) especially theBangladeshNationalistParty Militantsintheruling politicalparties, services. criminalgangsorthesecurity by politicalmilitants, there were almostdaily violentattacksonthepress Although nojournalistslosttheirlives in2006, job. arrest. Butforthefirst timeinseveral years, nojournalistswere killedwhiledoingtheir cases, puttingjournalistsatrisk defamation abusive of Politicians pursued numbers of A perpetual politicalcrisis prevented thepress from working normallyin2006. Iajuddin Ahmed. Head ofstate: English. Bengali, Languages: 141,822,000. Population: km. sq. 144000, Area: IYVIOLENCE AILY ANGLADESH h a ildi 05 Atthe who waskilledin2005. Ajker Kagoj Five ofthemwere . Shoaib Choudhury ofthe Shoaib Choudhury EditorSalahUddin groups andby theauthorities. Some journalistswere threatened bothby extremist members oftheopposition Awami League. from the anexperiencedreporter including ShafiqueKajol, Eightotherswere inthecapital, hurt Mohonganj. Rajshahiand by policeordemonstratorsinDhaka, journalists were either injured attheendofOctober, Fifteen marked thecountry’s politicallife in2006. job duringthemany street demonstrationswhich andphotographers struggledtodotheir Reporters constituency. the holdingofaconference onpress freedom inthe members ofthepolitician’s family forcibly prevented few A weeks before, the south-eastinSeptember. in Kawser beatenupandthenarrested inComilla, Ahsan MunshihadjournalistMizanur Rahman BNPdeputyManjurul leagues afew days earlier. lists demonstratedagainstanassaultonthree col- asjourna- ShahidulIslam, deputy intherulingparty (western Bangladesh)by henchmenof Kushtia, 25journalistswere InMay, injured in the north-west. in at anoppositionpress conference inSharishabari, of theBNPyouth movement beatup11journalists members InMarch, tion orhumanrightsviolations. corrup- ween politicalleadersandorganised crime, suchascollusion bet- freely cover crucialsubjects, npriua h ainldiis continued to the nationaldailies, in particular and themedia, Despite violenceandharassment, totravel andfor trying toIsrael. Jews, role ofthemediaindialogue between Muslimsand the deathpenaltyfor having onthe writtenarticles isstillfacing ShoaibChoudhury (KNM) movement. pite threats from theradical Khatmey Nabuat have always refused toprotect the Police attacked inhisofficeby unknown assailants. TheninOctoberhewas the weekly’s offices. targeted inJuly whentwo bombsexplodedoutside was several monthsinprison2003for “sedition”, Daily Shamokal whowasviciously beatenby , Weekly Blitz Weekly Blitz whospent , des- , 73 2007 Annual Report - Asia GIS H PRESS THE AGAINST B than 40-launchedby BNPdeputiesorministers. significant riseindefamationcases2006-more The privately-owned press wasconfronted witha A towards thegovernment. always conditionalonadegree ofsubmissiveness privately-owned TV channelsbuttheirlicencesare hasfour country stations broadcasting onFM.The World Service Aswell asthe undermine theentire country. investigate thecorruption andnepotismwhich UIECMLIT BROUGHT COMPLAINTS BUSIVE ANGLADESH there are many independentradio , BBC NTV head ofthecountry’s soleterrestrial TV station, AnadvisortoKhaledaZiaisstill political level. Control ofnews wassteppedupatthehighest haddiedtwo years earlier. Shahadat Chowdhury, Oneofwhomcalled, med tobe “defamatory”. and journalistsfacedlegalactionover dee- articles Atotalof18publishers against sixpublications. Mirza Abbas tooklegalaction Former minister, January 2007. January government intherun-uptogeneralelections only showed any views criticalofthe resources, whichhave hugefinancial These two media, andofanew daily , Admadesh (My Country). 74 2007 Annual Report - Asia rg,themonarchy makes few allowances for plu- frage, includingtheintroduction ofuniversal suf- ness, Despite KingJigme Wangchuck’s policyofopen- who isduetoaccedethethrone in2008. sition ofPrinceJigmeKesar Namgyel Wangchuck, settingoutthevisionfor democratictran- article B On itsfirstfront page, achieved withjournalistsshowing responsibility. Ngedup saidthatpress freedom couldonly be PrimeMinisterLyonpo Sangay inauguration, the The kingdom’s firstprivately-owned newspaper remains mostnews totheauthorities. highlyfavourable even if Controlled press by anew law, mediadevelopment sign, encouraging thiscautious isan firstBhutan’s privately-owned inthecountry2006. madeitsappearance newspaper KingJigmeKhesarNamgyal Wangchuk.Head ofstate: Dzongka. Language: 2,163,000. Population: km. 47,000sq. Area: Bhutan Times HUTAN wasfirstpublishedin his April.At , Bhutan Times carried an , weekly includingthe Almostallthemedia, ralist news. 1990s. expelled from thekingdomatbeginningof who are beingheldincampsNepalafter from particularly theLhotshampaminority, gees, tion ofthetensthousandsBhutaneserefu- Internet-users sometimesraisethethorny ques- forums onthewebsite kuenselonline.com. monarch’s policiescanbefound ondiscussion Theonly criticismofthe get Indianchannels. sions connectedtotheonly cableoperatorcan few owners of televi- controlled by thestate.The Kuensel and BBS radio andtelevision are 75 2007 Annual Report - Asia B a contrastwiththestaidprogrammes onBrunei whichmarks includingtheBBC, network viacable, The sultanate’s subjectshave accesstoatelevision sages tothefamily oftheleader. sent “seditious” and “insulting” mobilephonemes- were sentencedtoone year inprisonfor having three men InJune 2006, dom ofexpression limited. Self-censorshipiscommonplaceandfree- news”. sentences ofuptothree years for publishing “false tions inthesultanatecanbepunishedby prison Journalists ontherare privately-owned publica- apluralist press. thebelie- vers, hasnever favoured theemergence of of commander police and of theuniversity, chief minister,financial rector of prime minister, defenceminister, whohassince1967heldthepostsof The sultan, SultanHajiHassanalBolkiah. Head ofstate: Malay. Language: 374,000. Population: km. 5,770sq. Area: RUNEI almost every oneofitsfront pages. aboutthesultan’sphoto oranarticle activitieson Borneo Bulletin of theroyal family” aslaiddown by theauthorities. censor articles toIslamorthehonour “contrary The expansion oftheInternetmakes state-owned. itimpossibleto ofcourse, whichis, television, hc a e eso,carries a whichhasaweb version, , 76 2007 Annual Report - Asia colonialists". In February, information ministry offi- information ministry InFebruary, colonialists". propaganda against “imperialists" andother"neo- regime hassteppedup themilitary United States, In thefaceofever more overt hostility from the department. director oftheinformation ministry’s cinema decision wastaken by Major Thein Htun Aung, B broadcast on the Burmese service ofthe broadcast ontheBurmeseservice ina from activityaftertakingpart allartistic journalist Thura “Zar GaNar”wasinMay banned Thefilm-maker and some oftheirparticipants. casts inBurmesebutthey doharassandpunish The juntadoesnotjaminternationalradiosbroad- the country. social oppression andthelackofpress freedom in the occasiontospeakoutagainstpoliticaland Mandalay.The juntaresented thefactthatsheused founder ofthe Daw Amar, nalists whoattendedthebirthday ofLudu party tia UDSAharassedhundreds ofwritersandjour- political policeandmembersofthepro-junta mili- the InNovember, The control systemnever sleeps. centralBurma. centres inMandalay, withthecreation oftwo new eavesdropping 2006, Telephone tapping capacity wasboostedduring ned toidentifyinternationalmedia “informers”. Civilianshave alsoreportedly beentrai- the press. Force of (Sa hassteppedupsurveillance Ya Hpa), Security reorganised withintheMilitary services, thesecurity But alongsidethesesignsofopenness, up anew constitution. resumption ofthework oftheconvention drawing were invited tocover the for years, country someofwhomhadbeenbannedfrom the lists, foreign journa- inOctober, occasions in2006.And titles were grantedpublicationtitlesonseveral New both theprivatepress andforeign journalists. blows hotandcoldon The information ministry son cell.Theprivately-owned press isstillsubjectedtounrelenting censorship. advance Without Borders -Fondation 2006prize, deFrance spenthis76th birthday inhispri- theReporters on themedia.Burma’s mostrenowned journalist,UWin Tin, laureate of Despite growing internationalpressure, juntahasnotreleased themilitary itsiron grip General Than Shwe. Head ofstate: Burmese. Language: 52,400,000. Population: km. 676,580sq. Area: URMA Ludu DailyNews BBC .This ,in U W what heread. matter becauseofhis “defect” oftakingnotes revealed thatherhusband was deniedallreading of thejailedjournalistandwriter,Than Win Hlaing thewife InMarch, sive” reading matterisremoved. censorship committeeensures thatany “subver- a Even withintheprisons, ted seven ofitsarticles. in DecemberaftertheCensorshipBureau rejec- Padauk Pwint Thit Themagazine were never covered inthepress. demonstrations inthePhilippinesand Thailand Anti-government soften thejunta’s stance. inabidto and UNdiplomatsvisitedthecountry when Asian wasthecasein2006, unreported.This national andinternationalevents routinely go Aung SanSuuKyi andthesocio-economiccrisis, theplightof suchasdemocracy, bidden subjects, traditionally for- to advancecensorship.Alongside allofthemsubjected publications inthecountry, There are now more than100privately-owned Studies. the junta’s theOfficeofStrategic propaganda body, They are writtenby agents of opposition figures. theUnitedStatesand laureate Aung SanSuuKyi, the country’s mediaattackingNobelPeace Prize regularly Identicalarticles appear inmostof press. to respond tocriticismcarried by theforeign correspondents for theforeign press inRangoon cials toldagroup ofBurmesejournalistsandlocal suffered two attacks. heart Hehas hishealthhasdeterioratedbadly. prison, After16years in bring himfood andmedication. whoregularly ofhisfamily, dent onthesupport heisdepen- gives himtwice-monthly checkups, Althoughaprisondoctor an inflamedprostate. is receiving treatment for highbloodpressure and He whohasbeenimprisonedsinceJuly 1989. Tin, U Win Amongthem, were behindbarsinBurma. atleastseven journalists 2007, As of1stJanuary IN T IN , EANDSINCE DETAINED was forced towithdraw anissue 1989 77 2007 Annual Report - Asia a collectionofpoems “Daung Man"(“Thepower years inprisonfor having writtenanddistributed were sentencedto19 student atPegu University, a andZeya Aung, League for Democracy(NLD), amemberoftheNational Also inJune,Aung Than, unauthorised photosofthenew capital Naypyitaw. were arrested inMarch andfound guiltyoftaking They were calledtogive evidence attheirtrial. shadow ofDhamah B rialist onthereligious magazine aliasKo edito- Kyaw and toKo MoeHtun, Thwin, aliasU Thar Cho,photo-journalist U Thaung Sein, three-year prisonsentencehandeddown to theregional inMandalay court uphelda In June, URMA .Itappears thatnowitnesses ). Dhamah-Yate ( The communication thatishard tomonitor. to stopcyber-dissidents from usingameansof aswell as which iscontrolled by statecompanies, fitable long-distancetelecommunications market, todefend thepro- aimwastwo-fold: example.The for blockingGoogle'sGtalk, inJune, services authorities targetedInternettelephony andchat inorder tomonitoruseractivity.The five minutes, ters automatically execute screen captures every inwhichthecompu- close eye onInternetcafes, Itkeeps avery clearly filtersoppositionwebsites. junta Themilitary and Vietnamese neighbours. even more repressive thanthoseofitsChinese The Burmesegovernment's Internetpoliciesare inreference totheNLD). of thefighterpeacock”, 78 2007 Annual Report - Asia C international stationssuchas Khmer-language news programmes broadcast by pressThe oftenpartisan facescompetitionfrom news”. out “false viding for one-year prisonsentencesfor putting Transitional Authority inCambodia(UNTAC) pro- under laws inheritedfrom theUnitedNations Several suitswere entered againstjournalists they risked heavy finesifthey attacked him. ButHunSenpublicly reminded journaliststhat der. stop imposingprisonsentencesfor libelorslan- fewCambodia oneofthevery Asian countriesto Thisdecisionmade quickly passedby parliament. whichwas draft law todecriminalisedefamation, Theheadofstatefollowed thisupwitha ment. along withotherfigures criticalofthegovern- three monthsafterhisarrest national pressure, wasfreed underinter- inJanuary (Ruche FM105), director ofradio Mam Sonando, corruption. journalistsinvestigating suits continuedagainst releasing soonafter radio boss.However ajailed nalising defamation, threats law and decrimi- Prime virtually unprecedented MinisterHunSentookastep intheregion of HunSen. Head ofgovernment: Khmer. Language: 14,071,000. Population: km. 181,040sq. Area: AMBODIA Radio Free Asia Sombok Khmum and Radio France International on Anews programme duetogo outin sion. August Government interference alsoextendedtotelevi- Asia includinga Five otherreporters, Sen. had condemnedthemisdeedsofanephew ofHun He afterreceiving adeaththreatcountry inJune. wasforced tofleethe of anoppositionbi-weekly, editor among highofficialshasnever stopped.The Threats againstjournalistswhoprobe corruption the capital andinthecountry’s cities. reputation indanger. after HunSenaccuseditofputtingthecountry’s abdaTlvso Network Cambodia Television orsodn,were threatened in2006. correspondent, which are popularin very ( CTN ) waspulled Radio Free 79 2007 Annual Report - Asia C for the Zhao aresearcher five years forYan, “espionage”. reporter for aSingapore daily wassentencedto aHongKong ChingCheong, tences in2006. More journalistswere handeddown prisonsen- sorship, theInternetisfiltered foreign and mediavery closely watched. society”.Thepress a“harmonious isbeingforced intoself-cen- of to heelinthename theauthorities,pliant, directed by President HuJintao, have beenbringing themedia withburgeoningFaced socialunrest journalistswhoare and becomingmuchlesscom- HuJintao. Head ofstate: Mandarin. Language: 1,315,844,000. Population: km. 9,598,050sq. Area: 000i 94 have triedtoprevent thepress 10,000 in1994, compared to public order incidentsin2006, whowere confronted by 87,000 The authorities, slapped onthem. judges hadthesamebanonspeakingtopress Chinese InSeptember, ployed andthepeasants. concerning groups suchastheunem- incidents”, from speakingtoforeign journalistsabout “masses were bannedby China’s Association ofLawyers InMarch they down hasalsoextendedtolawyers. crack- placed scores more undersurveillance.This public securityarrested at least 12journalistsand CongressCommunist Party inOctober2007, preparations got underway for thenext As provincialand party officials in August 2006. ambassadors he spoke toanaudienceofministers, when human rightsactivistsandliberaljournalists, lution” backed by theUnitedStatesandledby whom heaccusedoffomenting a"coloured revo- Hu Jintao’s voiced rageagainst “hostile forces", 2007. least 31journalistswere injailasof1stJanuary At confinement. result oflongperiodsinsolitary buthadbeendrivensed inFebruary insaneasa wasrelea- Tiananmen Square massacres of1989, whowasarrested duringthe Yu Dongyue, Onejournalist, before theendoftheirsentences. were released in2006 for investigating corruption, whowere harshprisonsentences serving Weiping, GaoQinrong andJiang On theotherhand, to anappeal hearing. underpoliticalpressure andwithnoright nesses, convicted aftershoddy trialswithnodefence wit- Inbothcasesthey were years for alleged “fraud”. HINA New YorkTimes wassentencedtothree , jects.The newspaper, jects.The who publishunauthorisedreportsonthesesub- up totheequivalentof10,000euros onmedia the People’s Assembly whichwillimposefinesof has tabledadraftlaw oncrisismanagementfor thegovernment In abidtosilenceitsdetractors, A authorities. where peasantshadrebelled againstthelocal travelled toavillageinthesouthofcountry list wasarrested andbeatenupby policeafterhe aUSphoto-journa- few weeks earlier, disorder”.A benefit from thesemassesincidentstospread and foreign journalistswhowere attempting “to on the “hostile forces” ofhumanrightsactivists thenews agency December, In from reflecting thiswidespread discontent. demonstration by workers tricycledelivery in a InJune, in the southofcountry April. about anew caseofavian flu that wasidentifiedin thepress wasprevented from talking For example, be measured intheirtensofthousandseachyear. Censorshipcasescan fear withineditorialoffices. whocultivateaclimateof escapes thecensors, Nothing theunemployed or Tibetans. by peasants, Thesemightbedemonstrations banned subjects. Mediaeditorsreceive regularly alistof Hu Jintao. ofa ideology “harmonious society”proclaimed by tothenew deemedtobecontrary each article The Propaganda continues toattack Department dishonesty”. mes thetoolofcorrupt officialsto concealtheir thelaw beco- provoked by man’(...)Inthiscase, ther behind ‘natural disasters’hide ‘catastrophes law willpreventcorrect.The itbeingknown whe- mation putoutby theauthoritiesisreliable and fact “that there isnoway tocheckwhetherinfor- pointed outthatitdidnottake intoaccountthe condemned thisnew law inaneditorialwhich E LIEA LAW ILLIBERAL NEW Xin Kuaibao Xinhua ( New Express again turned 80 ) 2007 Annual Report - Asia too independent. whichwereauthorities for theirarticles viewed as were againpunishedby the lism for several years, Zhoumo C stock exchanges in Beijing and Shanghai.The coun- stock exchangesinBeijingand Shanghai.The with press groups occasionally quotedonthe The privatisationofthemedia sectoriscontinuing difficulties. butthey have runintothesame censorship press, Many journaliststookrefuge intheonline power. by particularly investigating abuseof censorship, regularly topushatthelimitsof try news area, Guangzhouand inthefinancial particularly press groups, Shenzhen, InShanghai, strengthened. was and censorshipby theheadsofdepartments several editorswere dismissed brought tobook: was under thecontrol ofthe Youth League, The daily role,” saidLiDatong. sector ofthestateallows ustoplay asupervisory (…) butthere isnopress freedom andalmostno believes intheCommunist Party’s new ideology according to Western standards andnolonger “The new generation of journalistshasstudied lance andsentpoliceofficersintoeditorialoffices. putforums usedby journalistsunder surveil- it, theauthoritiesbannedany reference to defiance, Toprofession andthecommunist party. quellthis This purgeprovoked astrong reaction withinthe Datong andLu Yaogang from theweekly dismissedprominentDepartment journalistsLi thePropaganda the beginningofyear, At crackdown onmediajudgedtobetooliberal. The year 2006wasmarked by anideological by broadcast Star Academy suchastheChineseversion of “too frivolous”, was alsoapplied to TV programmes considered strict control ofnews production.” Censorship education andourcountry’s securitydependson rolepublication hasanimportant inideological “News and PublicationissuedawarninginJuly: theGeneral Administration ofPress Revolution, Zedong andthe40thsinceCultural includingthe30thsincedeathofMao ries, Intherun-uptoaseriesofanniversa- coverage. Chinapassedoffwithoutany northern press Xian, HINA standard bearers ofinvestigative journa- , Xin JingBao Zhongguo QingnianBao and theweekly Hunan TV . Bing Dian whichis , Nanfang . I non-Chinese cartoons. authoritybannedeveningtory TV showings of InSeptembertheregula- world ofentertainment. Nationalismalsoreaches intothe press domain. the development ofnew jointventures inthe thegovernment in April banned Elsewhere, before. from financialnews whichwasfreely available whilehoggingthedividends political monopoly, thus isattemptingtoprotect itseconomicand officialagency and filmtotheChinesemedia.The photographs the soleagencyentitledtosellnews, In2006, protectionist. thegovernment ismore andmore since 2001, been amemberofthe World Trade Organisation has Even thoughthecountry expanding market. jostlefor positioninan than 700 TV stations, 8,000magazinesandmore 100 millioncopiesdaily, try’s 2,000newspapers whichthisyear published nal stationswhoseoutputis insharpcontrastto own radiosonwhichthey can pickupinternatio- Hundreds ofmillionsChinese the countryside. Radio remains popular inthecitiesaswell very as withdrawn inresponse tointernationalpressure. Thecomplaintwaslater tories producing iPods. which hadinvestigated working conditionsinfac- from two journalistsworking for med theequivalentofthree million euros damages a Taiwanese supplierof InJune, Apple clai- press. sometimestosilencetheinvestigative common, Defamation casesare alsobecoming ever more in 2006. were killedby police Xianghu andXiaoGuopeng, Wu Two journalists, danger inpursuitofscoops. zeal for crimestoriessometimesleadstheminto risk are reporters ontabloidnewspapers whose mostat rous jobafterminingandthepolice.The journalism hasbecomethethird mostdange- tion, according totheofficialorganisa- But, incidents. Without Borders has recorded around 40such Reporters pay ofbusinessmenare alsoinvolved. Delinquentsorhenchmeninthe security forces. longer beingcommittedonly by membersofthe Increasing physical attacksonjournalistsare no EAAINSUITS DEFAMATION CES NASUT AND ASSAULTS IN NCREASE Xinhua laid down thatitwas Diyi CaijinRibao 81 2007 Annual Report - Asia Tourist hotelsshow only toforeigners andlargenumbers ofofficials. possessionofwhichisaprivilegeopen satellite, Phoenix TV ofHongKong isaccessibleby poken. Shanghai wastaken offtheairfor beingtooouts- thepresenter ofafinancialprogramme in March, In fromsurveillance Beijingandlocalgovernment. Regional dynamicbutunder TV isvery market. whichdominatesthe with apresence inallareas, Butitisthestatebroadcaster, grammes. cable stationsbroadcasting 56,000hoursofpro- 700 nationalandlocalstationsnearly 2,000 hasmore than Thecountry is rapidly expanding. The Television cablestations- sector-particularly in Chinese. with thudding soundsoreducationalprogrammes overlay programmes andmedium wave onshort C uinpoic,southernChinawhere adevasta- Fujian province, several foreign mediacrews were expelledfrom InSeptember,Yunnan province insouthernChina. report onthecontroversial buildingofadamin reporter wasarrested inJuly whilehewasdoinga AGerman against membersoftheforeign press. threats orassaults at least25incidentsofarrests, there were In2006, rules aboutforeign journalists. Beijing government hasannouncedchangesto the the awarding ofthe2008Olympic Games, Criticised for failingtokeep promises madeduring P China. wed by Amnesty Internationalresearcher wasintervie- Thishappened during2006whenan broadcast. unplug themwhenever asensitive subjectis Tibet Without Borders testedthejammingof Reporters In2006, from French company Thalès. create this “great wallofsound”waspurchased Someoftheequipmentusedto casts are jammed. Free Asia Millionslistentothe Chinese radio. OIEO REO O H OEG PRESS FOREIGN THE FOR FREEDOM OF ROMISE HINA and CNN rgamsi hns,buttheirbroad- programmes inChinese, Radio Free Asia on thequestionofhumanrightsin BBC and in Tibet. The authorities The in Tibet. CNN butcensorsstill , BBC and Voice of CCTV Radio , the includingthatof many mediawebsites, Elsewhere, ting cyclonehadjustbattered several cities. I region. reporters covering Chinafrom theautonomous hasworsened apprehension felt by Ching Cheong, sentence againstHongKong-resident journalist Afive-year prison broadcasting withoutalicence. station CitizenRadiowere taken for tocourt runningthepirate are constantly increasing.Those but politicalandfinancialpressures from Beijing Hong Kong continues toenjoy real press freedom of theworld. may oneday beimposed ontherest surveillance, basedoncensorship and China’s Internetmodel, whetherperhaps are wondering theopposite, people enjoying increasing geopoliticalinfluence, withChina Now, sedly uncontrollable medium. asuppo- would berevolutionised by theInternet, many peoplethoughtChinese society andpolitics Just five years ago, sorship isobviously infullforce. self-cen- expressing themselves toofreely online, which 52peopleare currently inprisonfor in inacountry Finally, produced by thebloggers. armies ofmoderatorstocleanupthecontent They employ authorities tocontrol content. are pressured by the both Chineseandforeign, because thecompaniesoperatingtheseservices, Secondly, that block “subversive” word strings. becauseChina’s blogtoolsincludefilters Firstly, stilllesscriticisegovernment policy. sitive issues, few butvery ofthemdare totacklesen- number, Thisisanenormous nearly 17millionbloggers. Chinanow has on blogsandvideoexchangesites. they nowadays concentrate sites andchatforums, Afterinitially targetingweb- expression opensup, gress toensure thatnonew window offree authorities carefully monitortechnologicalpro- The inInternetfiltering. most advancedcountry China unquestionably continues tobetheworld’s TRE NE CONTROL UNDER NTERNET B ol Service BBC World are blocked inChina. , 82 2007 Annual Report - Asia Lorosae boycott ofindependentmedialike government hadopenly criticisedandcalledfor a Theformer headof resign attheendofJune. whowasforced to ofMari supporters Alkatiri, publication for several days underpressure from E Timor Post The had towork insecret for fear ofreprisals. Several publications for journalistsfrom May 2006. red aseriousdeteriorationinworking conditions rebellion againstthegovernmentA military trigge- atmosphere forpress freedom. Alkatiri. theyoungcountrycontinuestoenjoy afavourable Despitethisviolence, theformerprime minister,cations wereMari threatened by supporters oropponentsof thepress easier. any Several publi- politicaltensiondidnotmakeRiots and thejobof XananaGusmao. Head ofstate: Portuguese. Languages:Tetun, 947,000. Population: km. 14,870sq. Area: AST . and ur io Lorosae Suara Timor T IMOR had tohalt Suara Timor thrown by ademonstrator. Presse on9November an Finally, grammes. 29 June demandingthesuspensionofnews pro- leading radioandtelevision channel Post gang ofyouths stonedjournalistsfrom the a On12June, Australian peace-keeping soldiers. ter wasmanhandledandbriefly detainedby an Associated Press repor- On10June, occasions. Journalists were physically attacked onseveral Political militantsransacked theofficesof . correspondent washitinthefaceby astone TVTL Agence France- in Dilion Timor 83 2007 Annual Report - Asia F ir rmtemda We didnottotally censor diers from themedia. “We have withdrawn oursol- Bainimarama said: independence ofthecountry’s mainmedia. thecoupleadersguaranteed A few days later, in themediaoffices. Guards were posted advance censorshiponthem. after visitsfrom soldierswantingtoimpose and and two privately-owned radiostations the leadingdaily independent andfree from censorship.” Likewise, would only resume broadcasting whenitcouldbe announced thatthe The TV had taken power coup. inamilitary Commodore FrankBainimaramaannouncedhe justafew hoursafter ted itsnews programmes, publictelevision interrup- On 5December2006, crackdown criticism onany continued. tothepress. someguarantees Buta Decemberdidoffer control atthebeginningof censorship, advance themilitary, whichtook After threatening asystemof toapply RatuJosefa IloiloUluivuda. Head ofstate: Hindi. English, Fijian, Languages: 825,000. Population: km. 18,270sq. Area: IJI Communications Fiji Fiji Times Fiji Television suspended broadcasts, suspended publication “news service Radio Fiji critical ofthecouptoletterspage. threatened peoplewhohadwrittenlettershighly published inthemagazine whowasquestionedafterhaving anarticle Iqbal, Imraz such asbusinessmanandformer journalist, The coupleadersalsotriedtogagotherpeople, Mesake Koroi.general manager, diers whowere apparently searching for thedaily’s Jyoti Pratibhawasthreatened by sol- on thepaper, confiscatedandthefamily ofareporter passport wasarrested andhadhis an Australian national, Robert Wolfgramm, Thepaper’s editor, reprisals. washowever threatened andsuffered Qarase, Post the peacethatiscurrently prevailing.” The exploiting thesituationtoincitepeopledisturb Butwe wantedtoprevent peoplefrom the press. closetotheoustedPrimeMinisterLaisenia , Fiji Living Soldiersalso . Fiji Daily 84 2007 Annual Report - Asia I our society,” saidapresenter on corruption andrackets thatare toocommonin public anger(…)theseoperationsshow political mediaonly reflects rations toentrap people.“The the broadcast law chiefly tocurbpress stingope- But parliamentariansare determinedtoamend commit suicideoncamera. matches for adesperatemansothathecould local stationsinBiharstatepurchased petrol and journalistson In August, ethical blundersin2006. serious madesomevery lise inspectacularscoops, whichspecia- Privately-owned television stations, rebellions, journalistsare inthecrossfire. caught democratic system.However,the country’s instatesshaken orMaoist by separatist itsfreedoms playsacrucial role and in protective and mediaisdynamic The Indian of ManmohanSingh. Head ofgovernment: 15official languages. English, Languages: 1,103,371,000. Population: km. 3,287,260sq. Area: h ato oa fiilAs,i h ot-at a inthenorth-east, ofalocal official.Also, the part exposing nepotismon killed afterwritingarticles was regional daily in Assam Stateinthenorth-east, working ona PrahladGoala, job during2006. Two journalistswere murdered whiledoingtheir pany headsorpoliticalmilitants duringtheyear. com- criminals, death threats from policeofficers, least65were assaulted orreceivedto reprisals.At The intrepidness ofIndianjournalists oftenleads cities. obtained seven licencesfor thecountry’s major afteryears ofprotectionism. 2006, dred licencesfor privately-run FMstationsin federal governmentAct.The awarded several hun- closed down underthearchaic Indian Telegraphs was young equipmentrepair maninBiharState, Mansoorpur 1 alocalnews andmusic station, year, ofthe Butatthestart development oflocalmedia. radios whichopenedtheway tolong-awaited mulgated arevolutionary law oncommunity The New Delhigovernment inNovember pro- have taken over asthecountry’s leadingmedia. cablenews channels than 60millionsubscribers, moresed toany restrictions on thispractice.With NDIA launchedwithoutalicenceby a , CNN-IBN BBC Worldwide Raghav FM oppo- let himgo. policehave refused to Human RightsCommission, release from thejusticesystemandNational Despitecallsfor his gency publicsecuritylaw. underanemer- been heldsinceSeptember2004, MuhammadMaqboolKhokarhas Photojournalist, November indisturbingcircumstances. News ofthe AbdulRouf, Elsewhere, Srinagar. who were beatenby policeofficersinthestreets of onthree reporters, inSeptember, assault, asinthe implicated inattacksagainstthepress, have Indianssecurityservices alsobeen men. The correspondent inKashmirfor thenationaldaily ShujaatBukhari, InJune, by thesesamegroups. Journalists were alsotargeted the armedgroups. broadcasting channelsconsidered “obscene” by someofthemdecidedtostop for theirsafety, Fearing attacks onlocalcabletelevision operators. singly radicalseparatistgroups threatened suicide Some increa- Pakistani rapprochement inKashmir. The press didnotreally benefitfrom theIndian- up theirwork for fear ofreprisals. pondents onthedaily leasttwo corres- counter theMaoistinfluence.At officers ormembersoflocalmilitiasupposedto were assaultedorthreatened withdeathby police Ascore ofreporters lists meetingMaoistrebels. for journa- imprisonment from onetothree years, A securityorder was adoptedwhichallowed freedom tothefightagainstthisnew “terrorism”. sacrificedpress badly hitby aMaoistrevolt, India, east-central The authoritiesinChhattisgarhState, death by gangstershehadnamedinhisarticles. wasstonedto Narayan Dekate, central India,Arun for aregional newspaper inMaharashtraState, Ayoung correspondent armed communist group. bureau chiefescaped amurder attemptby an Hindu n i ieZea of were arrested in and hiswife ZeenatRouf, , escaped amurder attemptby armed , Hind Sat were forced togive Srinagar 85 2007 Annual Report - Asia the caricatures oftheprophet Mohammed produ- I Petra their demonstrationsagainstlocalpublications Islamistgroups directed For theirpart, press law. under thecriminalcodeandnotunder court the “defamation” casehadgone before the lower Wirantahadseentoitthat Bambang Harymurti. year jailsentenceagainstprominent journalist theSupreme overturned aone- February Court journalists working for the press group In Tempo. harass to Businessman Tomycontinues Wiranta police officersorofficials. mobsandtheotherhalfby by criminalsorangry Halfoftheseviolationswere committed the press. 20 incidentsofphysical assaultorthreats against Independent Journalists (AJI)recorded more than The Alliance of tigating alocalcorruption case. afterinves- was murdered intheeastofJava Island, independentjournalistHerliyanto InMay, regions. journalistsstillsuffer violenceinsome Sadly, for press offences. minal codecontinues toallow prisonsentences thestillarchaic cri- Unfortunately, head ofstate”. edictdecriminalised tutional court “insult tothe aconsti- and in December, freedom ofexpression, The Constitutionandthepress law guarantee struggles toregulate radio and TV channels whichthegovernment media hasledtothelaunchofhundreds ofpirate Enthusiasmfor electronic national TV channels. aswell ascore oflocaland 1,200 radiostations, whichboastsatleast700publicationsand country, develop intheworld’s mostpopulousMuslim Pluralism ofnews andinformation continued to ror security gave law forces very widepowers. broadcast anti-ter- anew licencesand tried torestore itscontrol of over thegranting towards steps took nosignificant improvement. any Onthecontrary, thegovernment press freedom but President Yudhoyono Susilo Bambang of madestatementsinfavour SusiloBambang Yudhoyono.Head ofstate: BahasaIndonesia. Language: 222,781,000. Population: km. 1,904,570sq. Area: NDONESIA and Rakyat Merdeka Online which hadcarried assaulted by policeintheprovince. and ascore ofIndonesianjournalists have been Australian TV crew wasexpelledform theisland An crackdown onanindependencemovement. sceneofa foreign press from working inPapua, The authoritieshave refused toliftabanonthe ments intheIndonesia Army. inwhichsuspicionfell onele- Balibo Five in 1975, Dutch journalistSander Thoenes in2002andthe includingthe of foreign reporters inEast Timor, carried outseriousinvestigations intothemurders hasnever Jakarta Asaresult, sanction itstroops. refuses to sed for itsconductinseparatistregions, oftencritici- The Indonesian wereArmy, censored. andtheBalibombings, rights violationsby thearmy, alsoexposinghuman other filmsonEast Timor, Four ned from beingshown atafestival inJakarta. ries ontheIndonesian Army’s war”wasban- “dirty andoneofhisdocumenta- ned from entering Aceh, USreporter William Nessenisstillban- Elsewhere, two independentradiostationsshutdown inJuly. radioregulator had do notacceptallcriticism.The theauthorities For allthat, term victimsofthewar. whichwere long lidation ofindependentmedia, peacehasalsoallowedand separatists.The aconso- huge reduction inattacksonitfrom securityforces mediathere hasexperienceda press freedom.The and rebels in beneficialeffectsAceh hadvery for The 2005peaceaccord between thegovernment blasphemy charge. editor of the InSeptember, editors ofthethree publications. tooklegalactionagainstthe ponse topressure, edition of butalsotheIndonesian ced by Danishcartoonists, Rakyat Merdeka Online Playboy aaieTeatoiis inres- authorities, magazine.The was acquittedofa 86 2007 Annual Report - Asia J clubs whichbanindependentandforeign journalists and financialcircles maintainthesystemofkisha The deep-rooted rulingLiberalDemocraticParty they attackme,” hesaid. where warcriminalsare honoured.“Whatever Ido, sed tohisregular visitstothe Yasukuni memorial, Junichiro Koizumi accusedthemediaofbeingoppo- former primeminister Before heleftoffice, 1980s and1990s. journalist andseveral attacksagainstmediainthe wound upaninvestigation intothemurder ofa Police are rarely punished. Uyoko groupuscules, mostlikely theextreme right Those responsible, were alsoattacksonforeign TV crews in Tokyo. There lists andwriterswere threatened in2006. Several otherJapanese journa- to nationalistgroups. Shimbun offices ofthefinancialnewspaper abottleofpetrol wasthrown atthe In July 2006, information. kishaclubswhichobstruct thefree circulation of thesystemof reform of threats. and assaults Thegovernment hasnotundertaken any rise inthenumberof impactonpress nationalismhadanegative freedom there and hasbeena The rise of Shinzo Abe. Head ofgovernment: Japanese. Language: 128,085,000. Population: km. 377,800sq. Area: APAN which hadjustbroken news embarrassing Nihon Keizai recognised therightofajournalistfrom theSupreme Court InOctober, press freedom. But thejusticesystemalsoknows how toprotect andtheImperial political parties Agency.companies, large provincial governments, such asministries, majority ofthemoperatewithinpublicinstitutions according tosomesources).The Japan (Upto1,500, of information.There are officially 800kishaclubsin the systemaseriousviolationoffree circulation arepresentative oftheEUinJapan called In 2006, shows nointerest inreforming thisarchaic system. thegovernment press freedom organisations, theEuropean Unionand foreign correspondents, Despitecriticismfrom from gettingsomenews. appeal court in appeal court Tokyo. Shimbun reporter a for InJune, Japanese subsidiary. 1997 for uncovering taxproblems withinits of legalactionby aNorth American company since Hehadbeentheobject vision toprotect his source. obtained asimilarjudgementfrom an NHK Yomiuri tele- 87 2007 Annual Report - Asia L and Burma. particularly Vietnam countries”, ticise “friendly asaresult ofwhichitisforbidden tocri- media, also hasasayministry inthecontentof the revolution’s politicalprogramme”.The foreign the peopleandfor thepeopleandwhichserves itself asa “revolutionary publicationproduced by continues topresent Paxaxon(People), organ, which isfavourable party’s tothesoleparty.The majority ofthemediaonly disseminate news the shing reports onsocio-economicproblems, Vientiane Times Rénovateur Even thoughtheFrench-language weekly service. but thisdidnotextendtoitsLaotianlanguage tobroadcast onFMinthecapital, March 2006, Radio France International can bepicked upinareas closetotheborder. Laotians prefer towatch Thai television which many Since themediaonly offers propaganda, subjects. Khaosan PathetLao(KPL)onawiderangeof dited reports from theofficialnews agency subjects shouldgetpriority.The mediarelay une- which have appeared andtodecideonwhich several timesamonthtocommentonarticles Media bossesandseniorministerialofficialsmeet Information andCulture Ministry. allofwhomare officialsinthe journalists”, media directors of “the party’s policytowards Aseminarwasheldin 2006. Vientiane toremind inJune ned censorshipsincecomingtopower, hasmaintai- formerly defence minister, Choummaly Sayasone, (PPRL) andthusofthestate, As headoftheLaoPeople’s Revolutionary Party day. amoreall mediaand liberal press unveiled in2001has never law seenthelightof Theparty controls ideological line. thecountry’s 2006, hasdonenothingtochange June thesoleparty, in whowas appointed ChoummalySayasone, President leaderof and ChoummalySayasone. Head ofstate: Lao. Language: 5,924,000. Population: km. 236,800sq. Area: AOS and theEnglish-languageweekly occasionally take theriskofpubli- a ie emsin in was given permission, Le government activities”. was sentencedto20years in prisonfor “anti- ders ofapro-democracy movement andin2002 Hewasoneoffive lea- son sinceOctober1999. hasbeeninpri- the needfor democraticreform, cles andleafletsaboutthesituationinLaos theauthorofmany arti- Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, ced by someoftheHmongpeoplebetterknown”. tried to “make thehumanitariantragedyexperien- saying thatthey hadonly oftheirguides, support Falise and Vincent Reynaud have spoken outin Thierry to prisonsentencesof12and20years. “obstruction ofjustice”and “possessing weapons” Phue Khangwere sentencedon30June 2003for ThaoMouaandPa cameraman Vincent Reynaud. to Belgianjournalist FaliseandFrench Thierry in2003, still inprisonfor having asguides, served Two LaotiansofHmongoriginare government. which continue tofightagainstthe Vientiane more theisolatedgroups particularly inthejungle covering theplightofHmongminorityand The foreign press isstillprevented from freely media. licence andallow thecreation ofprivately-owned set outconditionsfor obtainingapublication would protect journalists’sources ofinformation, ment andtheLaoJournalists’ law Association.This it hasbeenamendedseveral timesby thegovern- has stillnever gone before parliamenteven though whichwaspublishedin2001, The draftpress law, culture”. a the country tonational “publication contrary year prisonsentencefor anyone whobringsinto law alsostipulatesaone- weakens thestate”.The tences againstjournalistswho “spread news which The criminalcodeprovides for heavy prison sen- 88 2007 Annual Report - Asia M h aasa rs.Three publicationswere sus- the Malaysian press. casealsocauseddamageto The Danishcartoons accused ofputtingoutindecentnews. 6 (2)ofthepressArticle law topunishmedia Theauthoritiesinvoke banned inthecountry. publications andbooksonsexreligion are Hundreds ofinternational about sexuality. article editor were suspended for having publishedan aweekly andits InNovember, morals inthepress. bodies are prompt alsovery todefend good andcensorship The PublicSecurityministry themselves inthegovernment’s sights. bloggersanddiscussionforums didfind hand, Ontheother any officialharassmentin2006. including online, The rare independentpublicationsare tobefound implicated. larly grisly murder inwhichpoliceofficerswere tell themtocutbacktheircoverage ofaparticu- policesummonedseveralNovember, journaliststo in Inthesameway, of theprogramme wasaxed. in Chinesewasreplaced andthephone-insection thepresenter ofaradiotalkshow InJune, media. petrol went offwithoutany coverage inthemain demonstrations againstahike inthepriceof inMarch, For example, red oravoided completely. Sensitive subjectsare censo- press underpressure. regularly putsthe country’s different communities, issues whichmightprovoke tension between the whichisextremely vigilanton The government, hesaid. suspension orwithdrawal ofalicence”, which couldturnintoa willsendacaution, try theminis- media persistinnotrespecting thelaw, the subjects.“If the mediatowarnthemoffcertain regularlyment thatheplannedtointervene with toldparlia- who isalsopublicsecurityminister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, On 7December2006, members boostedthisyear. hasbeenfurther government of thefamilies of mediaconcentration inthehands and not goneaway topowerwhich hemadewhencame in2003.Censorship self-censorship and have openness thepromisePrime hasstillnotfulfilled AhmadBadawi of MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi. Head ofgovernment:Abdullah English,Tamil. Mandarin, Malay, Languages: 25,347,000. Population: km. 329,750sq. Area: ALAYSIA Malaysiakini which didnotsuffer paper Straits Times the leadingEnglish-languagenewspaper MediaPrimaowns (UMNO) andthegovernment. ruling UnitedMalays NationalOrganization Corporation Berhadwhichhasclosetieswiththe isowned by Malaysia Resources MediaPrima, group, biggestpressween andthemedia.The rulingparties there are strong very links bet- As inSingapore, rulers". about thelanguage(…)andsovereignty ofthe classes” orchallengesto “constitutional articles hostilitybetween theracesor between subjects, provocation “of discontent the justicesystem”, or administration, contempt ofthegovernment, dencies” suchasincitement “to hatred or Itpunishes “seditious ten- ispoorly defined. era, inheritedfrom theBritishcolonial sedition law, The1948 revoke newspaper publicationlicences. ofInternalSecuritytograntor the Ministry Itgives discretion to well asforeign publications. written press covers booksandnewspapers as 1984law onpublicationsandthe its disposal.The The government hasanimpressive legalarsenalat again condemningwestern arrogance. once ment wasquicktopolitically exploitthecase, Thegovern- oneofthempermanently. pended, build aworldwide Chinesepress empire. does nothidehisambitionto south-east Asia, whoalsohasapresence inHongKong and tycoon, Sin Chew Daily Nanyang SiangPau control oftheChinese-languagepress inbuying ness magnate Tiong Hiew Kingstrengthened its thegroup SinChew owned by Malay busi- In 2006, four terrestrial TV channels. Shin MinDailyNews Berita Harian Berita thesecondbiggestMalaysian-language , and adding tohisownership ofthe , , nadto,MediaPrimaowns Inaddition, . Maly Mail Guangming Daily , Harian Metro Harian Thispress . The New and the 89 2007 Annual Report - Asia M raohrdrn h er every journalistand or anotherduringtheyear, Atonetime lence andinsultingtheheadofstate. ment criticismandbeenaccusedofcallingfor vio- The daily against herlife asaresult of thisscoop. Aishath hasreceived anumber ofthreats Velezini, Theeditorofthenewspaper, several officials. advantageous loansmadeto the existenceofvery ding independentweekly inclu- Some titleshave already proved theirworth, 15weeklies and70otherpublications. dailies, six allow theemergenceofmany privatemedia: The endofrestrictions ofpublicationlicencesdid mes imprisonpro-opposition journalists. policecontinue toharassandsometi- Moreover, set outinthe “road map” for democraticreform. promises inrelation topress freedom whichwere hastherefore failedtohonourallits since 1978, whohasbeeninpowerMaumoon Abdul Gayoom, The government headedby theimmovable and television stations have gone unanswered. to theauthoritiessetupprivately-owned radio 38requests made Asaresult, adopted by decree. government hadadraconianlaw ondefamation radio andtelevision has beenpostponedandthe theendofstatemonopoly on Unfortunately, dom would beadoptedbefore theendofyear. be liberalisedandthatlaws toprotect press free- saidthebroadcast sectorwould shortly member, sion ofwhichReporters Without Borders wasa May 2006metmembersofaninternational mis- whoin MohamedNasheed, Information Minister, attacks. repeated Journalistsclose totheoppositionhaveindependent. beenthetarget of crackdownbetween negotiations and inrelation tomedia,whichare growing ever more The government, whichhasembarked onamajordemocratic reform oscillates plan, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Head ofstate: Divehi. Language: 329000. Population: km. 300sq. Area: ALDIVES Minivan has comeinfor regular govern- Adduvas which revealed Minivannews.com pondent intheMaldives for thewebsite Oneofthemwas the corres- southern Maldives. whomthey had arrested onanatollin reporters, theauthoritiesexpelledtwo foreign November, On theeve ofanoppositiondemonstrationin were harassedduringoppositiondemonstrations. statemediaemployees Finally, to doaninterview. while shewasstandingoutsidepoliceHQinMalé based inSriLanka)wasstruckby policeofficers Radio of FathimathShaheeda, the endof August, after undergoing several interrogation sessions.At Hewasfreed two weeks later against thestate. outactivities officers whoaccusedhimofcarrying the politicalweekly oneofthemanagers AbdulHameed, In April, fed whilecovering ademonstrationinthecapital. tographer on pho- a InFebruary, Police actioncanbeviolence. arrest. September afterseveral monthsunderhouse wasreleased in leader Mohamed Anni Nasheed, thenewspaper’s founder andopposition Finally, waspardoned in August. and humanrightsactivist, aphotojournalist Jennifer Latheef, the otherhand, On haveSattar, beenthetargetofseveral law suits. Aminath NajeedandherdeputyNazim Editor, wasarrested inNovember. Abbas, toonist,Ahmed whilecar- hasbeeninprisonsinceMarch, Saeed, Abdullah Oneofthem, threatened orassaulted. hasbeenarrested orsummonedby police, leader, founded by anopposition contributor tothistitle, (the station is forbidden in the country and (the stationisforbidden inthecountry Adduvas basedinSriLanka. , Manas was arrested andhandcuf- was arrested by police Minivan 90 2007 Annual Report - Asia M of censorship.The editorofthetelevision station of censorship.The includingtwo incidents press freedom violations, Reporters Without Borders recorded 12flagrant often harried by thelocalauthorities. vinces butthey are financially limitedandare FM radiosand26television stationsinthepro- 20 areting itself.There more than30newspapers, public radioandtelevision asatoolfor promo- People’s continues touse Revolutionary Party The government headedby theMongolian injustice andwork hard todevelop afree press”. of hisadmirationfor “journalists whofightsocial government Miyegombo Enkhboldspoke inMay their commitmenttopress freedom andheadof The authoritiesinUlanBatorregularly stress or widersocietywere censored. statesecrets”. Mediawhichexposedcorruption withinthestate “violationof tion” and prison sentencesfor“defama- The press ispluralist, butjournalistsremain atrisk of Enkhbayar. Nambaryn Head ofstate: Mongol. Language: 2,646,000. Population: km. 1,565,000sq. Area: ONGOLIA on laidacomplaintagainstaneditorialist Enkhbayar, includingPresident Nambaryn public figures, Some abouther. paper whichhadanarticle seized withpolicehelpallthecopiesofanews- aparliamentarian InMarch, for radicalsolutions. Politicians cominginfor criticismsometimesopt which sheobtainedpoliceprotection. oncredit companiesafter writing anarticle tion. list onthedaily journa- a fewthe miningindustry.A weeks earlier, tion vouchers promised to9,000employees in ting areport onthedisappearance ofprivatisa- Shehadreceived threats afterbroadcas- in July. Nomin Udriin Sonin Udriin was brutally beatenby unknown assailants who madeaccusationsofcorrup- Udriin Sonin Udriin received threats after 91 2007 Annual Report - Asia ultwud.I h atmjrt fcss repor- Inthevastmajorityofcases, bullet wounds. ascore ofthemsuffering covering demonstrations, attacked orinjured by thesecurityforces while at least117incidentsin which mediawere Reporters Without Borders alsorecorded rants. mostly withoutwar- were questionedorarrested, nearly 100press representatives and 10 April, Between 5 cially targetedby thepoliceandarmy. were espe- the front lineofthedemonstrations, in Thejournalists, more than a score ofcivilians. securityforces killed During the April revolution, in February. duringherdetention, tened withrape by soldiers, N the monthly Young journalistBhawana Prasainof conditions. under radicalsecuritylaws andofteninappalling were heldfor several monthsby police monthly, editorofanopposition like Shyam Shrestha, Some, Federation ofNepaleseJournalists (FNJ). byorganised throughout the thecountry inorcoveringeither takingpart demonstrations more than50journalistswere arrested while grab, oneyear aftertheKing’s power 2006, February During thepro-democratic demonstrationson1st media. voked by the government hadaffected many nalists were sacked andtheeconomiccrisispro- more thanathousandjour- Inaddition, since 1990. protection acquired by theindependentpress wiped outalmostalltheconstitutionalandlegal had declared himselfheadofgovernment had Themonarch who ship throughout thecountry. hadoperatedstrictcensor- tor ofpress freedom, apreda- KingGyanendra, Untilhisfall, opposition. all outcrackdown ontheindependentmediaand putanendtothe power-sharing withtheMaoists, the signingofapeaceagreement andhistoric theninNovember, the restoration ofparliament, The democraticrevolution whichin April allowed onwards. themonarchy,line inthefightagainst progressively regained itsrights from April ted, beatenup, censored orthreatened security by rampant forces. Thepress, first in press theindependent underthreat. Several hundred journalistswere arres- tence of Before hewas oustedinademocratic revolution, hadputthevery KingGyanendra exis- Prasad Koirala. Girija Head ofgovernment: Nepali. Language: 27,133,000. Population: km. 147,180sq. Area: EPAL Majdur Aawaj wastortured andthrea- , ii,thefamousdirector of Dixit, 24journalistsincludingKanak The following day, sed by thesecurity forces throughout thecountry. break thecurfew andbanondemonstratingimpo- were arrested afterbeingthefirstto of theFNJ, including thepresident general andthesecretary adozenjournalists, On5 April, through thecourts. bothonthestreets and by thegovernment, struggle for therestoration ofrightsconfiscated The FNJprovided remarkable leadershipinthe censored. Several FMradiostations were also news channels. programmes from ordered cable TV operatorstostopputtingout Information andCommunications on13 April of TheMinistry palace steppedupcensorship. the In thefaceofthiswidespread popularrevolt, in easternNepal. on19 April intheJhapa district injured inshooting, Five journalistswere also Kathmandu on23 April. in television were clubbedby policeofficers, reporters with Koirala andJanakPandit, Tilak Inoneinstance, tely attacked by police. were delibera- whowere easily identifiable, ters, of thelaw onradioandtelevision and 15(1) Article Supreme inMay Court annulled one.The 8 Article publicfreedoms were restored oneby in place, Once thegovernment ofGirijaPrasadKoirala was Nepal. pondent for corres- vandalised theofficesofShankar Thapa, the pro-government press anddemonstrators militantsattacked journalistsworking for liament, After theannouncementofrestoration ofpar- ship ofthepress. Demonstrators chantedslogansagainstcensor- arrested andmanhandled by police. Radio Nepal Kantipur TV nDpyl western in Dipayal, Himal South Asia (KTV) andother Nepal One was 92 2007 Annual Report - Asia N rniinlgvrmn.Dsieti,the Despitethis, a transitionalgovernment. which provided for aconstitutionalassembly and signing anagreement withdemocraticparties after was ending11years ofarmedstruggle, announcedthathisparty Prachanda, the CPN-M, the leader of InNovember, freely todotheirjobs. lists freedom ofexpression andtomove about Without Borders inMarch toguaranteejourna- committee ofCPN-Mpromised Reporters Membersofthecentral than inprevious years. in 2006carried outfewer attacksonjournalists ofNepal-Maoist(CPN-M) The Communist Party government. whichhadbeenapplied by theprevious websites, television stationsandliftedcensorshiponall grant new licencestoprivately-owned radioand theauthoritieswent onto After this, journalists. have beenusedonfrequent occasions to imprison government quashedtheanti-terror law which the Inthesameway, the Gyanendragovernment. promulgated by FM radiofrom broadcasting news, banning tocancelthemediaorder, ded on9May, were ruledunconstitutional The government deci- which of thelaw onpublicationsandnewspapers, EPAL result ofclashesbetween thearmy andtheMaoists. were censored andfour othersdestroyed asa atleast30media Finally, attacked orthreatened. while180otherswere injured Nepal in2006, atleast245journalistswere arrested in In total, them,” saidtheFNJ. they publishortransmitnews whichiscriticalof psychological pressure andunderthreat when (...)journalistsare always under imperfections. not always wantthepress toknow abouttheir “TheMaoistsdo censored atleast15journalists. assaulted andabusively summonedor detained, Maoistmilitants From April toDecember2006, news cadres. by Maoistparty was threatened andaccusedofputtingoutfalse easternNepal Nepalese Journalists inKhotang, Kantipur thecorrespondent for the InOctober, led. Photographer RamSarraf wasmanhand- country. Maoists intheBaradistrictsouthof were heldby agroup of 12 ofthemjournalists, 21people, In August, regions whichthey control. Maoists regularly threatened thepress inthe group andpresident oftheFederation of 93 2007 Annual Report - Asia ne asi h ot o lig.I rts,all Inprotest, under laws for intheNorth “lying”. threatened thejournaliststhat they would betried for several days Korean by North policewho crew a from for example, InMarch, but many obstaclesare putintheirway. make regular visitstotheirneighbouringcountry, Delegations ofSouthKorean journalistsdoindeed Few foreign mediacanwork Korea. inNorth of America stationssetupby exiles andthe programmes, They allow peopletohearSouthKorean radio radios are smuggled across theborder from China. growing a number of official radiofrequencies), radios (every radioissealedsoitcanonly pickup Despite policecampaignstocheckindividual stopped. South Korean togetthebroadcasts counterparts thestationandcalledonits ties whichsupport the “clumsy charade” perpetratedby USauthori- cials tookadvantageoftheoccasiontocondemn Korean North offi- on shortwave radio from Seoul. N the activitiesofradio thePyonyang mediacondemned InOctober, sula. ced interference comingfrom theKorean penin- Japanese kidnapped Korea by North hadexperien- organisation campaigningfor thereturn of ment confirmedthatastationrecently setupby an theJapanese govern- InMay, Korean are jammed. in All radiostationsbroadcasting tothecountry of thekey role ofKimJong-il. ofcourse, of Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and, boastedoftheglory zealous officialsoftheregime, Commentators, footage ofpopularcelebration. state-runmediabroadcasted on 30October2006, The day Korean afterthefirstNorth nuclear test from informationonthesubject. independent any obtaining rialism. Thetotalitarian regime diditsutmosttoprevent inPyongyang North Koreans foreign against impe- propaganda withinthecountryby campaigns new accompanied International tensioncreated by thefirst North Korean testinOctoberwas nuclear General of Secretary Worker’s KimJong-il. ofKorea: Party Korean. Language: 22,488,000. Population: km. 120,540sq. Area: ORTH and Radio Free Asia FreeNK SBS K . broadcast onlineand television washeld OREA Voice and effort,” an after alargenumber ofmeetingsandalotwork “Thispermissionwasobtainedonly negotiations. butonly afterlengthybroadcast from Korea, North the USchannel including few very international TVs, Elsewhere, a railway lineconnectingthetwo countries. Korea’sNorth decisiontocancelaproject tobuild nomic zoneaftertheSouthKorean press criticised lists from theSouthatGaeseongspecialeco- the lastmomentblocked thearrival of200journa- Korean North officialsat InMay, left thecountry. cover family reunions between andSouth North to the reporters whohadentered thecountry Agency the Workers’ Newspaper), the particularly press, Kim Jong-il directly controls Korean theNorth their contactwithlocalpeopleasmuch aspossible. whohave orders tolimit Koreanor North police, reporters are closely watchedby localjournalists has beenheard ofhimsince. Nothing set upasmallgroup ofcriticaljournalists. for having concentration campattheendof1995, wassenttoa ofstate television, Song Keum-chul, lutionisation camps”for asinglespelling mistake. KoreanNorth journalistshave beensent to “revo- several Atypingerror canprove expensive: tion”. socialism over “bourgeois andimperialistcorrup- Koreandemonstrating thesuperiorityofNorth Thepress alsohastheresponsibility of son. grandeur ofthelatepresident Kim Il-sungandhis tothe withoutany mistakes, able tobearwitness, journalistis indoctrinatedsoastobe Every der”. vaunted the exploits”of “immortal “the dearlea- allthemedia tomarkhisbirthday, In February, and nationaltelevision ABC News ABC News Rodong Shinmun have beenallowed to , xctv ad Foreign executive said. Korean Central News JoongAng BangSong (The 94 . 2007 Annual Report - Asia plained circumstances in Waziristan in August. Hisbrother had beenkilledinunex- November. napped andthreatened for several hoursin journalist for the a Dilawar Khan, detention centre. in amilitary December before they were allowed toseehim Hisfamily hadtowaituntil thern Pakistan. Baluchi language TV oneofthepromoters ofa April ofMunirMengal, Soldiers were alsoimplicatedinthearrest in the secret services”. “Never defythestateand a soldierwarnedhim, Before hisrelease from sleepingfor three nights”. they stoppedme Then, Ifainted. electric shocks. “Ireceived blows and months by themilitary, P daily oftheSindhilanguage Mehruddin Marri, Likewise, wondered ifIwasaPakistaniintheireyes”. I Whenthey were beatingme, be secret agents. “Thosewhodetainedusseemedto Rupeta said, Mukesh used by theUS Army.After theirrelease, to June afterbeingarrested for filminganairbase were from secret March heldby services military Mukesh Rupetaand Sanjay Kumar of tions. harshcondi- butofteninvery few hoursonly, sometimesheldfor a napped by security forces, atleasttenotherjournalistswere kid- In 2006, made theirconclusionspublic. up two investigative commissionsbuthasnever thegovernment set Underpressure, Baluchistan. interest inwhatgoes oninthetribalareas andin ces towards journalists whotake tooclosean The caseunderlinedthebrutalityofsecurityfor- apparently secret services. belongingtomilitary napped several monthspreviously by armedmen, troubledthe very Waziristan area hadbeenkid- correspondent for Pakistaniandforeign mediain dented wave ofprotests across thecountry.The tribal areas inJune 2006provoked anunprece- The murder ofreporterHayatullah Khaninthe in thetribal areas. all journalistswere tortured and kidnapped by themilitary. Thesituationisworst of of repression: ascore Butthesecurity news. forces radicalised theirmethodsof quality of the boostedpluralism and TVchannels independent An explosion inthenumberof General Musharraf. Pervez Head ofstate: English. Urdu, Languages: 156,600,000. Population: km. 796,100sq. Area: AKISTAN Kawish saidthatafterbeingheldfor three , BBC Baloch VoiceBaloch and thedaily nKrci sou- inKarachi, , Dawn was kid- Geo TV journalist CarlottaGallofthe Atthe endofDecember,for theprimeminister. embarrassingwhile hewasworking onanarticle the MushtaqGhumanof For example, cases in2006. Without Borders recorded more than40such Reporters methods ofthesecurityservices. Harassment andthreats remain thepreferred to thebombingofamadrasaby the army. November whilecovering demonstrations linked that five journalistswere arrested andbeatenin It wasalsonearBajaur barded by theUS Army. Bajaur region where avillagehadjustbeenbom- Peshawar two were reporters from arrested whiletravelling inthe InJanuary, Afghanistan. regularly kept away from theborder area with The Pakistaniandinternationalpress have been of the Tribal UnionofJournalists. allow ustowork freely” saidoneoftheleaders spies andtheauthoritiesarmy donot inaccurate article.“The Taliban accuseusofbeing pers for two days afterthepress publishedan Waziristan and stoppeddistributionofnewspa- napped thesonofajournalistinNorth the InNovember, Talibanfederal government. kid- these illegalstationshave beenclosedby the Themajorityof for reprisals againstjournalists. destine FMradiostorelay propaganda andtocall Some imamsand Taliban chiefsusedtheirclan- jihadistmilitantsandtribalchiefs. security forces, in Baluchistanare caughtinthecrossfire between fewThe very journalistsbasedinthetribalareas politician. believed tobeactingontheorders ofalocal were whowere arrested by police, suspects, south-eastPakistaninMay 2006.The in Larkana, owned MunirSangiofthe privately- Another journalist, her Pakistanifixer Akhtar Soomro were assaulted Business Recorder aihTlvso Network Kawish Television received phonedthreats , New YorkTimes ( KTN ) waskilled and 95 2007 Annual Report - Asia P Tolo TV broadcasting inBaluchistanof Afghan channels PEMRAalsobannedinMarch the weeks later. authorised resumption ofprogrammes two Sindh TV operators from puttingoutprivately-owned Authority (PEMRA)bannedcableandsatellite the PakistanElectronic MediaRegulatory InNovember, officers attackingthree journalists. TV tostopputtingoutprogrammes by Pakistan, eastern cable operatorsinPunjabprovince, policeforced InSeptember, also facedobstacles. Butthey have pluralism ofnews andinformation. contributed toanimprovement inqualityand Privately-owned television hasconsiderably B “to turn”inabidtoeasecriticismthepress. drawn upalistof30editorialistsandjournalists Theheadofstate’s have services just Musharraf. nally presented tohimby President Pervez sional prizewhichwasduetohave beenperso- journalist Amir Mirtorefuse toacceptaprofes- These methodsprompted leadinginvestigative western Pakistan. were reporting inQuetta, and threatened by whilethey thesecret services TITSURVEILLANCE STRICT ODATMDAUNDER MEDIA ROADCAST which hadjustbroadcast footage ofpolice AKISTAN and fe eiso eoitos PEMRA Afteraseriesofnegotiations, . Ariana TV Ariana accusedofspr , eading “poi- ARY daily publishedintheDanish prophet Mohammed, websites whichreproduced ofthe thecartoons Communications Authority (PTA) The Pakistan blocked 12 2006. ship inFebruary Pakistan haditsfirstcasesofInternetcensor- Service BBC World the righttorelay Urdu programmes from the inwhichitwasaskingfor case againstPEMRA, thesameradiolosta InNovember, earthquake. assist peopleintheregions affected by the2005 the licenceof PEMRArefused torenew In August, hampered. Radio stationsalsofound theiroperationswere Pakistan”. sonous andaggressive languagetowards blogger.com. ral weeks blocked allpublicationshostedby thePTA for seve- Baluchis orHinduextremists, In order tostopaccess toblogslinked tothe for several years toobtaintheirindependence. havewhose supporters beenfightingthearmy ked totheBaluchistannationalistmovement, mostofthemlin- to take in30new addresses, Pakistan’s Internetblacklistwasagainextended July, In information”. contained “misleading censored five websites onthegrounds thatthey Jyllands-Posten Mast FM103 . Two monthslaterthePTA. setupinBalakot to , 96 2007 Annual Report - Asia P down in January 2006inthecityofPagadian, down inJanuary gunned Rolly Canete, cial orpoliticalprogrammes. timers” whocanthenputout theirown commer- toprivate individualknown as sell airtime “block localstations InthePhilippines, FM radiostations. senters ononeofthecountry’s numerous very themajorityofthemwere pre- their jobin2006, At leastsixjournalistswere murdered whiledoing same day andseizeddocuments. Police searched The press. and thecrackdown extendedtotheopposition Several generalswere locked up 2006. February on24 dent declared astateofemergency, thepresi- Faced witharebellion withinthearmy, each Philippinecitizen. freedom anddemandingonepesoindamagesfor against thepresident’s husbandfor violatingpress attacked by bringinga complaintintheirturn journalists’organisationscounter- In December, lion pesos(almost1.1millioneuros) indamages. José Miguel Arroyo claimedatotalof70mil- lists, Inatotalof43suitsbrought againstjourna- tion”. accusing theheadofstate’s husbandof “corrup- rowly escaped arrest afterpublishing aneditorial management onprivately-owned daily eightmembers ofthe InOctober, lists indanger. ofscores puttheliberty ofjourna- minal offence, where defamationisstillacri- man” inacountry The avalanche ofsuitsbrought by the “first gentle- mark of2006inthiscountry. arrests, abusive law suitsandcensorshipwere thehall- assaults, Murders, days are numbered”. “Yourgovernment received anemailwarningher: journalistEllen day, asterncriticofthe Tordesillas, Onthesame institution ofPhilippinesdemocracy”. an government was “respectful ofpress freedom, thather on18November 2006, Arroyo said, President plaints againstmore than40journalists, While herhusbandwaslodging “defamation” com- suits. defamation of out araft President Gloria Arroyo, whotook enemy:JoséMiguelArroyo,a new of thehusband facing journalists.Atleastsix wereagainst killedin2006.Andthepress alsofounditself violence murderers, tostemthewave theauthorities of failed arrestsDespite new of Macapagal-Arroyo. Gloria Head ofstate: English. Languages:Tagalog, 83,050,000. Population: km. 300,000sq. Area: HILIPPINES Daily Tribune Malaya on the nar- the newspaper editorof aged58, OrlandoMendoza, same way. Thelocalpress canalsobetargetedinthe cians. and theinstigatorswere reportedly localpoliti- policeofficerwasarrested afew daysgue”.A later had leftaletteradvisinghimto “hold your ton- Hisassailants grenades were thrown athishome. he narrowly escaped amurder bidinwhichtwo Afewsouth-west weeks ofManilainMay. earlier shot deadonhisway towork onPalawan Island, commentatoron Fernando Batul, men sometimesshow extreme determination. Hit- theprovince’s governor. deputy andhiswife, ted programmes onlocalradiobehalfofa presen- Zamboanga delsurprovince inthesouth, being the “brains” behindtheJune 2004murder of aformer police officersuspectedof other hand, Onthe forling toescapethe timebeing. court justice systemallowed thosewhoordered thekil- Butcollusioninsidethe ced tolife imprisonment. were senten- whowaskilled inMarch 2005, tion, ajournalistspecialisingincorrup- Marlene Esperat, Four menfound guiltyofthemurder of journalists. cesses intheirstruggleagainstthemurderers of Police have andthecourts chalked upsomesuc- attacks. issuspectedofbeing behindthese The military waskilledafew monthslater. sant unionleader, Radyo Cagayano armedmentorched abuilding housing InJuly, ted. ding therightsofpeasantfarmerswere alsotarge- Community mediadefen- Mindanao IslandinJune. Mazel andGeorge Vigo whowere killedon victims ofthispoliticalviolenceasinthecase Some politically committedjournalistshave been rers ofoppositionandhumanrightsactivists. criticised for itsinabilitytoactagainstthemurde- Gloria Arroyo’s administrationhasbeenwidely group.paramilitary murdered in April afterreceiving threats from a Tarlac Patro n fwoepeetr,apea- oneofwhosepresenters, , in Luzonprovince was dyPR radio was 97 2007 Annual Report - Asia P the closure ofradio ordered mayor southofManila, of Valencia City, InMarch the seeking tosilenceoppositionmedia. oftenbecauseoflocalpoliticians also bitdeeper, Censorship assaults andtenarrests during2006. There were atleast25murder attemptsand dence againsthim. saidthatthere wasinsufficientevi- Philippines, southern regional inGeneralSantos, court The wasacquittedinMarch. journalist Ely Binoya, HILIPPINES DXVR someofwhosepre- , region. He hadspoken outagainstillegallogginginthe whowaskidnapped inMarch. ronmental issues, aspecialistonenvi- radio presenter Joey Estriber, failedtomountany search for east ofManila, north- Finally theauthoritiesin Aurora province, controversial subjectofdruguseinthecountry. was bannedby authorityover theregulatory the aprogramme ofreports on the capital, In senters were closetotheirpoliticalopponents. ABS-CBN 98 2007 Annual Report - Asia S from the government. There wasnoreaction different countries,” hesaid. from two different populationsspeakingabouttwo itseemstomeasthoughthey come shed onblogs, I read commentariesinthepress andthosepubli- called for more debateinthe nationalmedia.“When Baey Yamone leader, Keng speakinginNovember After therulingPAP comfortablywon theelection, street. ral occasionsfor selling generalCheeSoonJuanned SDPsecretary onseve- Police summo- shed rumoursabouthisprivatelife. localpro-government newspapers publi- still further, and promise nottoprintitagain.To intimidate him wasforced in the SDPnewsletter, April toapologise theprinterof father andsonLee, Under threat ofadefamationsuitbrought by both in Singapore. ned politicalpodcastswhichare increasingly popular they ban- Before thecampaign, silence criticalvoices. thegovernment usedanumber ofrusesto tes.And spread falseinformation aboutoppositioncandida- TV channelswhilemany pro-government media (SDP) wasgiven two andahalfminutes airtimeon TheSingapore DemocraticParty campaign inMay. get itsmessageacross duringthelegislative election to The oppositionwasgiven littleopportunity very media waslessaggressive”. who got “the bestfinancialresults were thosewhose comments inJuly whenhesaidthat Asian countries head ofgovernment justifiedcontrol onthepress in The inrelation tofreedomcountry of expression. impose “their normsandtheirstandards” onthe whichhesaidwere to trying the internationalmedia, Prime MinisterLeeHsienLoongspoke outagainst Fund(IMF)meetinginOctober2006, Monetary While hostinga World BankandInternational timehascrackedsame down onSingaporean bloggers cyberdissidents. and inafiercescenes, hasbeen engaged battlewithseveral foreign atthe publications and The government LeeKuan headedby Yew LeeHsienLoong,withhisfather behindthe LeeHsienLoong. Head ofgovernment: Malay,Tamil. Mandarin, English, Languages: 4,326,000. Population: km. 620sq. Area: INGAPORE The New Democrat The New Democrat in the , rw" inthedaily brown", alias"mr the weekly columnofblogger LeeKinMun, InJuly operates self-censorshipondomesticpolitics. Butitclearly as regional andinternationalnews goes. The Singaporean press isrelatively independentasfar Economic Review theF inparticular into submissionin2006, The authoritiestriedtobrowbeat theforeign press the theendofSeptember government inthecourts.At editor announcedthatheplannedtofightthe FEER with thesameruleswhentheirlicenceexpired.The he wasjailedthesameday for aperiodoftendays. itwascommuted toaprisonsentence and the fine, Sincethebloggerrefused topay on hisblog. party dollars for postingavideoofanillegalgatheringhis Ho wassentencedinNovember toafineof2,000 podcasts orvideosonthe activist Web.SDP Yap Keng Several legalcaseswere launchedfor postingnews, thegovernment struckhard attheInternet. In 2006, received several warnings. Thebloggerhad of amemberthegovernment. International Four otherEnglish-languagenewspapers the euros). deposit of200,000Singapore dollars(100,000 legal representative andtopay inthecountry a ten press whichobligesforeign mediatorecruit a to section23ofthelaw onnewspapers andthewrit- magazine’s publisher.They were alsotoldtoconform the endof August againsteditorHugo Restallandthe Loong andhisfatherbrought a “defamation” caseat LeeHsien sures againsttheHongKong-based FEER. mea- prime ministerunleashedaseriesofretaliatory the numerous legalsuitswhichhehashadtoface, which itcalledthe “country’s becauseofthe martyr” aboutoppositionleaderCheeSoonJuan,article and FEER Newsweek eie o ogv nad ntecnrr,its onthecontrary, decided nottogive inand, was bannedfrom circulating inSingapore. Herald Tribune allreceived instructions tocomply , ( FEER Today .Afterthepaper carried an ). was axed afteracriticism , Time the , Financial Times ar Eastern 99 2007 Annual Report - Asia or.They hadbeentheobjectoffar-reaching Court. were behindtheappeal totheConstitutional S dailies press thethreeThe conservative andinparticular announced itwould respect thisdecision. Thegovernment than 70%ofmarket share. country’s three principaldailiesfrom holdingmore judges saidinrelation thatbannedthe toanarticle freely whichnewspaper they want toread,” the see any dangerbecausereaders particular decide “We donot freedom ofthepress andenterprise. to and FunctionsofNewspapers wascontrary that the Act Governing theGuaranteeofFreedom ruledon29JuneThe ConstitutionalCourt 2006 tive press. President RohMoo-hyunwhosoughttoregulate amarket dominatedby theconserva- articles. Thismarked somedraconian which contained adefeatfortheparty of passedin2005, 2006overturned law The ConstitutionalCourt inJune anewspaper RohMoo-hyun. Head ofstate: Korean. Language: 47,817,000. Population: km. 99,260sq. Area: OUTH Chosun Ilbo , Dong-a Ilbo K OREA and JoongAng Ilbo a journaliston inNovember sentenced anappeal court Elsewhere, ged free competition. offering theirsubscribersadvantageswhichdama- 2006 inrelation toaccusationsthatthey were investigations by theFair Trade Commissionin access towebsites favourable Korea. toNorth government tocensorpublicationsorblock thelaw onnationalsecuritystillallows the Finally, journalist inthenameofpress freedom. judgesinSeoulhadfound infavour ofthe In August, sations between managersofthecompany Samsung. broadcasting recordings ofconver- son sentence,for MBC to asix-monthsuspendedpri- 100 2007 Annual Report - Asia S were clearly identifiedby theinvestigators. even thoughsomeof them bled by thepolice, government Tamil militia-have never beentrou- suspects-militantsinpro- by theauthorities.The the of thenews website editor including thatofDharmeratnamSivaram, Investigations intomurders ofjournalists, Lanka. There istotal impunityfor thesekillersinSri per wasshotdeadathishomeinJaffna. politician andeditorofa Tamil nationalistnewspa- Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, The following month, list SampathLakmalwasfound deadinColombo. theindependentSinhalajourna- InJuly, his region. mitted by pro-government groups in paramilitary day aboutexcessescom- afterwritinganarticle wasmurdered the easternNepal, Trincomalee, respondent for the Tamil daily cor- SubramaniyamSugirdharajan, InJanuary, ted. Nosuspectshave sofarbeenarres- killed in2006. Three journalistsandfour mediaassistantswere Tamil parliamentarian. giving extensive coverage totheassassinationofa Shakthi theeditorof inNovember, Then, reprisals. unknown hostage-takes whothreatened himwith waskidnapped andheldfor aday by Guruparan, of privately-owned radio thenews editor In August, influential journalists. Tamil press hasreached themostrespected and Thewaragainstthe self atargetofintimidation. him- saidtheeditorofonemedia, self-censoring”, lism isdeadinthe Tamil mediaandeveryone is journa- reports for fear ofreprisals.“Investigative nolongerhavecountry theirby-line ontheir respondents for Tamil mediaintheeastof Mostcor- Tamil journalistsintosilenceorhiding. of scores forcedthe TigerTamils(LTTE) against The escalationoftheconflictpittingarmy threatened thosewhoopposetheirpoliticalposition. supporting Tamil theTiger Tamils nationalism.Ontheotherside, which theyaccuseof press freedom) have attacked occasionallythearmy and thepress militia (predators of theTamils. inparticular and Seven mediaworkers were killedin2006.Pro-government consequencesforSri haddramatic thecivilwar journalists Lankan The resumption of MahindaRajapakse. Head ofstate: English. Sinhala,Tamil, Languages: 20,743,000. Population: km. 65,610sq. Area: Daily Mirror RI television wasthreatened withdeathafter L ildi 05 have beenblocked killedin2005, , ANKA Tamilnet Sooriyan and editorialiston Sudar Oli Nadarajah , in Auruddha Lokuhapuarachchi of photographer InDecember, have fledthecountry. many have stoppedworking asjournalistsor led, For fear ofbeingnextonthelistjournalistskil- it nOtbr thestudiosof InOctober, rist. Tiger whichthey termedterro-Tamil propaganda, The army attacked mediaaccusedofrelaying fledtoEurope toescape threats. Abeywardena, Sinhala journalistRohithaBashana days earlier, few ofthecountry.A dents intheeastandnorth ned for hiscoverage oftheplight Tamil resi- agency soughtrefuge inIndiaafterbeingthreate- its news printsupply. soldiersblocked Attheendofyear, presses. andthensetfire toits from strikingstudents, fresh reprisals ifthepaper publishedastatement armedmen threatened In August, streets ofJaffna. selling thedaily waskilledby soldiersinthe newspaper a vendor Afew weeks later, coalition. amember oftheruling (EPDP), Democratic Party leaderoftheEelamPeople’s Devananda, day ofDouglas afteritcarried acartoon the killingtwo staffmembers, machine-gun fire, pro-government militia sprayed itsofficeswith Armedmenbelieved tobe Colombo on3May. celebratedby UNESCOin Freedom Day, eve of murderousWorld attackon2May, Press Itsofficescameunder employees killedin2006. The daily the Tamil Tigers. ordered themnottopublishnews comingfrom cers summonednewspaper managersinJaffnaand offi- InNovember, in August. tle around Muttur, vented reporters from reaching thesiteofabat- thearmy andtheLTTE pre- Asaresult, the field. on themovements ofthepress reporting from imposednew restrictions military employees.The hit anddestroyed by airstrikes injuringtwo inanLTTE-controlled area was near Kilinochchi, Uthayan publishedinJaffnahadthree , Voice of Tigers Reuters radio news 101 2007 Annual Report - Asia S needn.Two stateradio programmes were independent. from theirpostsafterpublishingnews seenastoo Thesewere Colonel Karuna. threats from pro-government militiaheadedby stop sellingsomepapers inthefaceofdeath Distributors onseveral occasionswere forced to with distributionintheeastofcountry. Tamil mediaalsosuffered seriousinterference government weekly editorofthe includingRajpal Abenayaka, lists, Atleasttwo journa- control over state-runmedia. Rajapakse andhisgovernment steppeduptheir President Mahinda Under strong press criticism, Thinakaran and RI Sudar Oli was notinterfered withhowever. L Thestate-run Tamil newspaper . ANKA Sunday Observer Virakesari were removed , , Thinakural camps. World Service The TamilTigers. ofthe andSinhalaservices oropponentsofthe ned by supporters Tamil where independentmediawere regularly threate- Angerwasunleashedonline, the Tamil Tigers. governmental organisationsaccusedofsupporting againstjournalistsandnon- nationalist JVPparty, thoselinked particularly tothe Singhala press, hatecampaignswere launchedinextremist Finally, ting shockingprogrammes aboutsexuality. behaviour toblock November alsouseda1966law ongood social Thegovernment in conflict inoutspoken terms. also pulledbecausethey reported ontheethnic were successively attacked by both Raja FM supposedly broadcas- , BBC 102 2007 Annual Report - Asia T in apresenter for satellitechannel tion, Atthesamedemonstra- President ChenShui-bian. duringademonstrationin Taipei2006, of insupport Four journalistswere manhandledinSeptember journalists. impactontheworktensions hadanegative of President established reality Pluralism isan ChenShui-bian. butpolitical ontheisland, of corruption casesimplicatingthefamily The press produced massive coverage of ChenShui-bian. Head ofstate: Mandarin. Language: 22,715,000. Population: km. 35,980sq. Area: Times were refusing toreply toquestionsfrom the saidthey leadersoftherulingparty December, In nel soclosetotheoppositionKuomintang party. believing they shouldnotbeinterviewed by achan- theprotestors ruling DemocraticProgressive Party, cally two assaultedfor interviewing deputiesinthe AIWAN , a pro-opposition a daily. , CTi wasphysi- , China journalist onthe in a acourt TaipeiIn sentencedKaoNien-yi, April, Taiwan tocover thebody’s meetingsinGeneva. repeated itsrefusal toaccredit journalistsfrom TheUNinMay still ostracisedinternationally. Under pressure from China,Taiwan’s journalistsare was suspended. The sentencewasapplied for three days before it refusing toreveal hissources inafinancialscandal. 30,000 Taiwanese dollars(770euros) perday for United DailyNews toafineof , 103 2007 Annual Report - Asia thern provinces. were shutdown in thenor- Thaksin Shinawatra, community radiossuspected ofsupporting around 300 Inthedays following thecoup, chy”. which coulddamagetheconstitutional monar- stopordestroy news control, tive” and “to limit, minister instructedthemediatobe “co-opera- thenew information few hoursafterthecoup, from apart theindependent hours, broadcast oncablewere blacked outfor several T terrestrial channelsalongwith national threatened tobringbackcensorship.The proclaimed itselftheNationalSecurity Council, which deployed around TV stations andthejunta, troops were During the19Septembercoup, to bedecriminalised. Association (TJA)alsocampaignedfor defamation The Thai Journalists’ journalism. service which they stressed theircommitmenttopublic ment andinMay carried acollective editorialin ofthe against theinterventionism Thaksin govern- The leadingnewspapers decidedtomake astand pressure. nalists were sacked asaresult ofgovernment atleastfive jour- In2006, grossly inflateddamages. demanding against mediawhocriticisedhim, minister continued theprime tobring “defamation” suits Despitehispromises, supporters. attacked orthreatened in April by someofhis Atleastsixjournalistswere physically ment. againstmediahostiletothegovern-supporters Shinawatra mobilisedhis demonstrations,Thaksin Undergrowing pressure from street rests. condemned theheadofstate’s conflictofinte- Shehadinparticular whom ithadtriedtogag. press freedom activistSupinya Klangnarong of withthevictory a stingingdefeat inthecourts the oftheyear, At thestart Thaksin clansuffered Minister andmediamagnate Thaksin Shinawatra. The year 2006turnedintoanightmare for Prime online. government setupby thejuntahas notliftedpressure orcensorship, particularly toharass dissidents.The themediaand continued toweaken of theindependence Before hewas overthrown coupinSeptember, inamilitary Thaksin Shinawatra had General Surayud Chulanont. Head ofgovernment: Language:Thai. 64,233,000. Population: km. 514,000sq. Area: HAILAND CNN and the Nation TV BBC .A Technology acknowledges thatit blocksthousands ofInformation andCommunications The Ministry being sentencedtoheavy prisonterms. at risk of his fierce opponent SondhiLimthongkul, including putting several media magnates, offence, nents mutually accusedeachotherofsuchan Shinawatra andhisoppo- demonstrations,Thaksin Duringanti-government government. the military whoquickly gave to theirsupport and hisfamily, limited intalkingaboutKingBhumibol Adulyadej thepress isvery punishable by 15 years inprison, Under thethreat ofthecrime of “lese majesty”, the coup. three weeks after of theorganisers TBJA, saidone ties ofthejunta(…)we are beingstifled”, we Today, cannoteven investigate theactivi- ship. we suffered from self-censor- thepast, regime.“In vision wasnofreer aftertheendof Thaksin saidinOctoberthatthetele- Association (TJBA) the Thai Journalists’ Broadcast Likewise, press didnotdare publishcriticaleditorials. the spendingwashikedin whichmilitary by 34%, December theadministrationpresented abudget in med thatthey were stillunder pressure.When questioned by Reporters Without Borders confir- Journalists government. dom from themilitary didnotgetmuch more free-departure of Thaksin, whichwasmostly favourable tothe The press, freedom. 40and41guaranteedpress which 39, Articles of urge Bangkok torestore the1997constitution, sand peopletookadvantageofthesituationto tial law in40ofthecountry’s thou- 76provinces.A on 11Decemberthatthegovernment liftedmar- Itwasonly tion” andtopacifytheMuslimsouth. to ofcorrup- “cleanse thecountry constitution, to guaranteepress freedom andtodraw upanew promised interim primeministeron1stOctober, whowasnamedas General Surayud Chulanont, 104 2007 Annual Report - Asia T an increase incasesofpoliticalcensorshiponline. there was Inthedays afterthecoup, also filtered. criticising thekingorcondemningcorruption are few sites mostofthempornographic.A of website, HAILAND Some pagesofthe ring oftheInternethadreturned toitsusuallevel. filte- Bytheendof2006, were madeinaccessible. online publicationshostiletothearmy takeover, BBC and CNN alongwith Thai , 105 2007 Annual Report - Asia distorts historical reality, denies revolutionary denies historical reality, distorts targeted news which “violates culturaltraditions, decree also attacking theprestige ofthestate.This July punishingmediaandjournalistsdefaming government reacted by bringing inanew law in openly calledfor theministertoresign.The Hanoi, was assaultedwhileinvestigating thiscasein V ted inacorruption case. ministerwasimplica- scandal inwhichatransport tinguished itselfby itsoutspokenness duringa ledby The liberalpress, “open discussionsare dangerous". Dan this unwelcome driftintheofficialnewspaper immediately Theconservatives condemned state. cores thepredominance over oftheparty the lenged 4oftheConstitutionwhichunders- Article by anewspaper inHoChiMinhCityimplicitly chal- carried article to raisethemostsensitive issues.An the preparations for congress thecommunist party around 100websites) tookadvantageof stations, around 100radioand TV (nearly 600publications, theofficially sanctionedpress On theotherhand, afirstin Journalists Vietnam. Association, gers even went sofarastorally totheFree journalistsanddissidentblog- of thegovernment, Indefiance produced onlinefrom within Vietnam. (Fatherland) and Two otherpublications- Ngoc Duong. Duong Nguyen Thi XuanandBach Toan, Van Dai, Nguyen Khac dissident journalistsHoang Tien, quickly summonedandplacedundersurveillance Butpolice Democracy) waslaunchedin August. second paper a Bloc8406(created on8 April 2006), ment, math ofthefounding ofanew dissidentmove- Intheafter- appearing inthebigcitiesandonline. dissident publication a In April, Vietnamese pressof2006. atthestart seemedtobesmilingonthe Everything year, threatened tobring toheel. themedianationwide the censorship. Thegovernment then,attheendof illiberal law initiallyadoptedan As adissidentpress emerged in2006,theliberal mediapushedattheboundaries of Nguyen Minh Triet.Head ofstate: Language:Vietnamese. 84,238,000. Population: km. 331,690sq. Area: , party ideologueNguyen party DucBinhsaying that, , IETNAM Tu DoDânChu Dan Chu Tu DoNgon Luan Tuoi Tre Tuoi Tre (Democracy) -were whosereporter , Yuh,alsodis- (Youth), (Freedom and To Quoc began Nhan oeg iitysoemn eDn,saiditwas LeDung, spokesman, foreign ministry The government launcheditscounter-attack. the Once theforeign delegationshadleft Vietnam, ten by police. cyber-dissident PhamHong Sonwassavagely bea- whilenewly-released home ofHoang Tien, Police deployed for several days infront ofthe No foreigners”. “Securityzone. homes reading, with noticesinfront oftheir under housearrest, Tu DoNgon Luan Journalists working for independentpublications Economic Cooperation(APEC)summitinHanoi. intherun-upto Asia-Pacific in November, Repression ofdissidentactivities wassteppedup whose rightsare trampledonby theauthorities. hometoethnicminorities mountainous centre, nalists are stilldeniedfree accesstothecountry’s foreign jour- Elsewhere, anti-government messages. withtheaimofputtingout ment intothecountry were accusedofillegally bringingbroadcast equip- whowere linked toaUS-basedradicalgroup,seven, tenced to15monthsinprisonfor “terrorism”.The Vietnamese originandfour vietnamesewere sen- three InNovember, Americans of doing any damage. as toprevent from thosecontestingthesoleparty so stillcontrolConservatives thesecurityservices nevertheless seenasaneconomicreformer. ced by Nguyen communist anorthodox Tan Dung, PrimeMinisterPhan Van Khaiwasrepla- the vote. years with80%of asheadofthecommunist party wasre-elected for five dator ofpress freedom, pre- NongDucManh, During thecongress in April, scandal linked totherelease ofnew banknotes. tion two ona otherswhichhadcarried articles porarily shutdown two publicationsandtosanc- usedthelaw theculture ministry totem- October, In prison sentencesbutfor finesandsuspensions. and nationalheroes.” The law didnot provide for great men andharmsthenation, achievements, and Tu DoDânChu were put 106 2007 Annual Report - Asia V tions were illegal. rities gave afirmreminder thatdissidentpublica- claims aboutthesituationin autho- Vietnam”.The andinvented distorted withfalse, of democracy, unacceptable thatpeopleshouldabusethe “mask IETNAM o,founder of Loi, FatherPhan Van In thefaceofthiscrackdown, truth frees!” Only the andthepeople: a messagetotheparty Reporters Without Borders:“We wanttodeliver Tu DoNgon un wrote to Luan, 107 Iceland

Sweden

Finland Norway Russia Denmark Latvia United Lithuania Ireland Kingdom Germany Belarus The Netherland Poland Belgium Czech Rep Ukraine Lux. Slovakia Austria Kazakhstan Switzerland Hungary Moldovia Slov Romania France Croatia Georgia Bosnia H Kosovo Serbia and Montenegro Bulgaria Portugal Albania Spain Macedonia Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan Azerbaijan Italy Cyprus Armenia Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Greece 2007 Annual Report EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET BLOC

108 THE TEMPTATION TO BAN

2006 was a very worrying year for press freedom in Europe, not just in countries whose governments naturally caused anxiety but also in European Union (EU) member-states. Moves to censor or self-censor appeared, sometimes violently, concerning religious topics.The range of subjects that can be covered freely also shrank, with harming the reputation of the state and denying or mentioning historical events drawing threats or legal action.The banning in three countries, including Turkey, of the January- February 2007 issue of the magazine Historia about religious fundamentalism is the most recent example.

Western Europe, and also Turkey, were frequently tempted to ban some topics from public discussion. The row over a Danish paper’s September 2005 publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed and the reprinting of them in solidarity in several countries spread across Europe and beyond. Supporters of freedom of expression faced those who said religious feelings should be respected. French newspapers France Soir and Charlie Hebdo, which both reprinted all 12 cartoons, were legally challenged by the French Muslim Council.

French philosopher Robert Redeker was threatened in southern France for a very critical article he wrote about Islam. A leading opera house in Germany cancelled performances of Mozart’s opera Idomeneo for fear of Muslim reaction. Other concerns were a new law in France banning denial of the 1915 Armenian genocide and Turkey’s frequent use of article 301 of its criminal code to prosecute journalists and intellectuals mentioning the genocide.

The situation was grim in Russia, where campaigning reporter Anna Politkovskaya became the third journalist to be murdered during the year on 7 October, after Yevgeny Gerasimenko and Ilya Zimin, Moscow correspondent for the nationwide NTV network. Twenty-one journalists have now been killed since President Vladimir Putin came to power in March 2000. New media takeovers by firms close to the Kremlin and lack of broadcast news diversity showed Putin’s determination to increase his control of the media.

Five journalists were murdered in the former Soviet bloc countries in 2006, including leading investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, showing the problems this region has in shaking off its authoritarian past.

Greater press freedom since the 2004 “Orange Revolution” in Ukraine was offset in 2006 by physical attacks on journalists and failure to satisfactorily resolve the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze.The campaign for the November presidential election in Tajikistan saw websites shut down and very unequal media access for candidates.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was reelected with 80% of the vote in March in grim conditions, having virtually eradicated the independent media since coming to power in 1994 and returned the country to the era of clandestine publications.Violence and physical attacks on journalists and hounding of the opposition press also made it a dark year in Azerbaijan.

Things did not improve either in Central Asia. The regime in Uzbekistan maintained pressure on independent local and foreign media. The Kazakh government stepped up legal harassment of opposition media and a young French journalist was murdered.

In Turkmenistan, which has the world’s worst press freedom record along with North Korea, the local correspondent for Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty died in prison while serving a six-year sentence for working with foreign media.Two other journalists were given similar sentences for the same reason on 25 August and have not been heard of since. The death of “President-for-Life” Separmurad Nyazov in December raised hopes for liberalisation of one of the world’s most oppressive regimes.

Elsa Vidal Head of Europe desk 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc Soviet and the former ReportAnnual - Europe 2007 Introduction

109 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc A oraitadwie ai aio,of Journalist andwriterSakitZahidov, ofKhaziev weretrating insupport arrested. intotheattackbutmany peopledemons- enquiry foreign pressure obligedtheauthoritiestoopenan Localand official. tion by atopsecurityministry had reported oncaviar smuggling andoncorrup- He ning andtaken tohospitalincriticalcondition. Hewasfound unconsciousthenextmor- his legs. about 20kmoutsidethecapital afterdrivingover They thenlefthimfor deadnearalake articles. beathimandordered himtostopwriting his head, the nightof18May by five menwhoputasackover waskidnapped from hiscaron Bahaddin Khaziev, The editoroftheoppositiondaily later found andtaken tohospital. Hewas neck andlefthimfor deadattheroadside. stabbedhiminthe They broke hisfingers, out. ofthecapital andthrewhim totheoutskirts him came tohewasinacarwiththree menwhotook Whenhe knocked unconsciousfrom behind. Badamdar districtfor hiswork whenhewas Hewasonhisway tothe on 5March 2006. Azadlig ofthemainoppositiondaily Fikret Huseynli, tos taken oftheattack. take actionandignored medicalreports andpho- localprosecutor refused to November 2005.The bar duringanauthoriseddemonstrationon9 ChingizMamedov for hittinghimwithaniron Col. (of the Turan news agency)againstpoliceofficer Rizvanov 2006filedby journalistSarvan January in A court Yasamal rejected a complainton27 the2006worldwide press freedom index. thebottomof near came The regime frequently thecountry threats themediaand usesviolenceand against Ilham Aliev. Head ofstate: Azeri. Language: 8,410,000. Population: 86,600sq.km. Area: heroin police claimedthey found onhimhadbeen Zahidov said10grammesof called for hisrelease. politiciansandhuman rightsactivists journalists, independent committeeofprominentport people, sup- large quantityofdrugswithintenttosellit.A arrested on23June andchargedwithpossessinga ZERBAIJAN waskidnapped andbadly beateninBaku , Azadlig Bizim Yol was , , America paper ofthenews- The killerofeditorElmarHuseynov, 2007. 1 January transmission in the country of the transmission inthecountry hours later.The councilalsosaiditwould banthe mit of the sameday itwascancelling theoperatingper- Thestatebroadcasting councilannounced move. archives were badly damagedduringtheforced Equipmentand which were already occupied. someof premises ofthecity, ontheoutskirts Turan But theregime went aheadandevicted free press.” they called “the government’s unofficialwaronthe the independentmediainprotest againstwhat were joinedon9November by representatives of coalition beganahunger-strike on30Octoberand Delegates ofthe Azadlig (“Freedom”) opposition Front from party theirofficesincentralBaku. Turan Yol expelling theoppositionpapers October aftertheauthoritiessaidthey were stepped uptheircampaignagainsttheregime in Journalists andopponentsofPresident Ilham Aliev consumedandintendedtoselltheheroin. bought, though theprosecution failedtoprove he had even a three-year prisonsentenceon4October, Hewas given July toprotest againsthisdetention. Hebegana10-daya drug-user. hunger-strike on25 Medicaltestsshowed hewasnot planted by them. the murder.Aliev strongly deniedthis. ofbeinginvolved in had oftenstrongly criticised, whomHuseynov lopment ministerFarkhad Aliev, on 8 August 2006accusedformer economicdeve- publicprosecutor has stillnotbeenidentified.The themainindependent TV station , on 25November from theirofficestonew Monitor ANS TV news agencyandthe Azerbaijan Popular and Radio Liberty /RadioFree EuropeRadio Liberty whowasshot deadinMarch 2005, , and thestationwent offtheair a few Azadlig BBC Azadlig and ANS , Voice of Bizim the , from and 110 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc B in 2007four nationalpapers ( saiditwould stopdistributing subscription copies, whichhasamonopoly onhandling Belpochta, poly statefirmsandthepostoffice and distributionofnewspapers isdoneby mono- Printing forced underground asinSoviet times. The free mediahasalmostdisappeared orbeen 0.4% oftheairtime. got just Kazulin, whileathird, mentioned atall, - Milinkevich andSergeiGaidukevich -were not and4March.TwoFebruary oppositioncandidates toelectioncandidatesbetween 21 airtime said thestate-run TV station The Belarusian Association ofJournalists (BAJ) of presidential candidate Alexander Milinkevich. ral months)becausethey containedthemanifesto paper 17 March seized200,000copiesoftheopposition Police on which broke offitscontractswiththem. was prevented by theirRussianprintingfirm containing manifestos ofoppositioncandidates Distributionofthree independent papers seized. pendent paper all 250,000copiesofaspecialeditiontheinde- dential candidate week later,Alexander Kazulin.A while reporting onthearrest ofoppositionpresi- and beatenon2March by plainclothespolice Atleastninejournalistswere arrested existence. voice totheoppositionorsimply mentioningits Repression focused onmediaoutletsgivinga situation inBelarus. officially toldshehadwritten “lies” aboutthe oftheFrench daily Mandeville, includingLaure visasinspring2006, sed entry Many foreign journalistswere orrefu- deported media. independent opposition and tosilencenearlyall office improve Lukashenko and inhisthree hasmanaged termsof in neighbouring Thedeplorable press Ukraine. freedom situationinBelarus didnot change tense conditionson19March 2006showed hisfirmintenttoresist thewindof thevote invery President Lukashenko’s Alexander reelection withmore 80%of than AlexanderLukashenko. Head ofstate: Russian. Belarusian, Languages: 9,755,000. Population: 207,600sq.km. Area: Nasha Niva more thanadozenregional ones. ELARUS Tovarishch , Tovarishch Narodnaya Volia (which hadbeenclosedfor seve- , Svobodnie Novosti Plus ONT about Kazulinwere Le Figaro Narodnaya Volia gave 89% ofits whowas , ) and , hed atMinskairport. Zavadski’s body hasnotbeenfound sincehevans- lure inasearch for adisappeared person.” the criminalcodeallowing closure incaseof “fai- The prosecutor-general’s of officecitedanarticle after beingreopened in April 2005. 31 March 2006, cameraman DmitriZavadski wasclosedagainon The investigation oftheJuly 2000disappearance of donations andtoprintingfewer copies(only 2,500). andhadmanagedto publishthankstoprivate January had notbeendistributedby thepost officesince It send outsubscriptioncopieswasrefused in April. Theweekly’spress law. application for alicenceto 26ofthe thusviolatingarticle its editorialaddress, saidtheNovemberministry issuefailedtomention Niva pend thecountry’s oldestindependentweekly, Administrative reasons were usedasathreat tosus- from bookshopsandnow from simply appearing.” then - theregime hasbanneditfrom newsstands, Akudovich saidthemagazine “would never recover Journalist Valentin stop distributingthemagazine. itwould issue didnotappear before 18December, ec.The postofficetold tence. The suspensionthreatened themagazine’s exis- make Russianoneofthecountry’s officiallanguages. protesting areferendum imposedby Lukashenko to a 1995crackdown onoppositionMPswhowere opposition protest in March detailed andanarticle The cover photoshowed policebreaking upan licence termsbanningitfrom mentioningpolitics. September issuehadcontravened themagazine’s was confirmedon8November ongrounds thatits Suspensionoftheculturalmagazine them. enables themtobesilencedthrough bankrupting media outletsthatstray from theofficialline Systematic legalhoundingby theauthoritiesof nteeeo t etnr.Theinformation ontheeve ofitscentenary. , Arche that ifitsnext Nasha Arche 111 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc B lcintm.Independentonlinepublicationsare election time. especially at opposition websites ifitfeels theneed, cations anddoesnothesitatetoblockaccess The government hasamonopoly oftelecommuni- ELARUS Internet for several days. Lukashenko mysteriously disappeared from the several websites criticalofPresident Alexandre for example, InMarch 2006, also oftenhacked. 112 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc B ado 0Myta eea orait,including said on20May thatseveral journalists, InteriorministerRumenPetkov tiality expired. ning upnearly 250,000filesastheirlegalconfiden- NATO’s thegovernment saiditwasope- request), Communist-era material(haltedin2002at Afterdeclassificationofafirstspate in 2006. Access topublicinformation generally improved and even President Parvanov. Georgy cles belongingtotheformer prosecutor-general Ivanov hadobtainedproof by “purchasing” vehicle saleswithoutcheckingtherelevant papers. stolenvehi-reported onasolicitorwhocertified hehad had tohave theendof2005, bodyguards.At reporting onenquiriesintoorganisedcrimeand threats duringtheprevious year becauseofhis Hehadreceived regular death with Ivanov’s work. Investigators suspectedtheblastwasconnected the timebutmiraculously survived. Ivanov’s motherwasinat but causingnocasualties. destroying theapartment early on6 April, station, ofthe of theSofiahome Vasil Ivanov, Abombwent offinfront the work ofjournalists. sive thatthey affect thewholesocietyandhamper with corruption andmoney-laundering soperva- Organised crimeisahugeproblem inBulgaria, journalists. thework of blems affect thatundermineBulgarian societyand organised crime 2007.Meanwhile corruption are and Union on1January priority pro- Reforms were introduced inpreparation entry into theEuropean forthecountry’s GeorgiParvanov. Head ofstate: Bulgarian. Language: 7,965,000. Population: 110,910sq.km. Area: ULGARIA Nova TV prosecuted. Butnoneoftheexposedpeoplewillbe released. headsuptilJulydepartment 1990willalsobe Thenamesof these bodieswere disbanded. when counter-espionage untilJuly services 1991, agents orhadworked withtheespionageand diplomatsandjournalistswhohadbeen ges, jud- and even postonlinethenamesofpoliticians, parliament voted toextensively openupthefiles red destroyed thearchives buton6December Theprimeministerfavou- debate onthesubject. These sensationalrevelations revived theheated pected ofbelongingtothesecret police. nalists (Ivo Inzhev andIvanGarelov) wrongly sus- asdidtwo otherjour- fromapology theministry, protested andwon aletterof of collaboration, journalist whowere alsoaccused Angelina Petrova, Tochev (editorofthe daily But Tocho Romaniaand Albania. China, Yugoslavia, especially infact-findingmissionsto police, Koritarov admittedhehadworked withthesecret secret policeinthe1970s. hadbeenrecruited by thecommunist Kevorkian, andformer presenter Kevork Koritarov, Nova TV spltclcmettr Georgy ’s politicalcommentator, Trud ) andfreelance 113 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc D editor of cultural ButFlemmingRose, tion ofthecartoons. to heavy pressure andimplicitly deplored publica- yielded originally defended freedom ofexpression, whohad Prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and theDanishnews agency and evacuation ofthebuilding shared by thepaper but thiswasnotenoughtoavoid abombscare 2006onthepaper’sMuslims on30January behalf, editor CarstenJuste formally apologised to outlets reprinted theminsolidarity. someofwhosemedia to otherEuropean states, Denmark andMuslimcountriesquickly spread September 2005sparked ahugecrisisbetween toons oftheProphet Mohammedon30 Publication by thedaily J inDemark in 2006. Threened debate journalistsonthe theProphet in2005continuedtostirimpassio- Mohammed cartoons of Publication of Fogh Anders Rasmussen. Head ofgovernment: Danish. Language: 5,430,000. Population: 43,090sq.km. Area: Berlingske Tidende was threatened whentwo journalistsofthedaily Denmark’s excellentreputation for press freedom paper. Hewaslatersentonindefiniteleave by the Islam. he opposedthemediagivingspecialtreatment to place asalegitimatejournalisticsubjectandsaid inthefirst his decisiontopublishthecartoons theworld’s bestrecords forpress freedom. nate precedent inacountrywithoneof prosecuted for“underminingstatesecurity,” whichthreatened tocreate unfortu- an ENMARK Jyllands-Posten were prosecuted in April 2006 defended on19February , yllands-Posten Ritzau . Jyllands-Posten of 12car- Europe. journalistic sources iscrucialtopress freedom in Thecaseemphasiseshow secrecy of try’s media. cleared on4Decembertotherelief ofthecoun- They were and faceduptotwo years inprison. trial inNovember for “undermining statesecurity” Allthree went on wasalsocharged. Niels Lunde, increased in April 2006andthepaper’s editor, The chargesagainstthetwo journalistswere son sentencein2005. wasgiven afour-month pri- on thereport tothem, intelligenceofficerwhopassed themilitary Grevil, material illegally obtainedby athird party.” Frank were chargedwith “publishing MichaelBjerre and Jesper Larsen, Thetwo journalists, Iraq. intheUSoccupationof to justifyitsparticipation tence ofthemwasusedby theDanishgovernment Thesupposedexis- of massdestructioninIraq. saying there wasnoseriousevidence of weapons report 2004 from aDanishintelligenceservice andMarchfor publishingextractsinFebruary Berlingske Tidende were also 114 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc F The managingeditorofthedaily thepress freedom during debate 2006. sources were atthecentre of Respect for religious private beliefsand fortheright lifeand nottoreveal journalistic JacquesChirac. Head ofstate: French. Language: 60,496,000. Population: 551,500sq.km. Area: hi ore.Justice ministerPascalClémentpro- their sources. cutions ofjournalistsinabidtomake themreveal 2006sawAs intheprevious numerous year, prose- of freedom ofexpression. whichis against theprinciple shutting down debate, and helping tobuildanofficialversion ofhistory thus five years inprisonandafineof€45,000euros, denial ofthe1915 Armenian massacres onpainof Assembly’s passageofaSocialistproposal banning asshown by theNational for debate, logy So-called “revisionist” laws alsosubstitutedideo- teaching activities. tion aftergettingdeaththreats andhadtostophis Redeker wasgiven policeprotec- and Egypt Tunisia. intimidation?” got theissueofpaper bannedin ded “What shouldthefree world doaboutIslamist Figaro inthedaily article had reprinted thecartoons.An againstFrenchaction on10February papers that CFCMbeganlegal failedon7February.The toons, issue oftheweekly devoted entirely tothecar- toobtainseizure ofthe Muslim Council(CFCM), includingtheFrench by Muslimorganisations, Hebdo outside theofficesofsatiricalweekly afire extinguisher hadbeenplaced The day before, made tothepaper. abombthreat was on6February, Five days later, that were firstpublishedby aDanishnewspaper. oftheProphetcartoons Mohammedon1February for reprinting 12 Raymond Lakah, owner, Egyptian wasdismissedby thepaper’s French- Lefranc, RANCE itn ta mietatc.Alegaleffort hintingatanimminentattack. , by philosophy Redeker teacherRobert hea- France Soir Jacques , Charlie Le press conferences orprevented from filming. Journalists were frequently barred from November. daily andthatofthe in late August andearly September, press oftheweekly paper Buttheprinting months ofintermittentdisputes. returned tonormalinNovember aftereight Thingsatthebroadcaster in localconflicts. where themediawasfrequently accused Caledonia, The situationremained worrying inNew missed becauseofa “professional” dispute. a claimedhehadbeen dis- friend ofNicolasSarkozy, Lagardère, Themagazine’s owners, boyfriend. Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife CéciliainNew York withher photo on25 leader August 2005ofconservative had beenremoved becauseheprintedacover Hesaidhe in June 2006aroused strong protests. dismissal of Alain Genestaraseditorof The protection oftheprivatelife ofpublicfigures. The aimofrestricting journalistsisalsobehindthe that have helpedtoinform thepublic.” was abusedbutnotbecauseofviolationssecrecy fered withexceptwhere freedom ofexpression andcouldnotbeinter- ding inongoing legal cases, inclu- list’s only jobwastohelpinform thepublic, saidajourna- Thecourt was awelcome contrast. against journalistClaude Ardid on14November Pariscourt’sruption scandal).A dismissalofcharges “violating confidentiality”(intheClearstream cor- “violating professional secrecy” ( confidential material”(two journalistsof investigation ofsixjournalistsfor “possessing legally revised 1881press law.This didnotstoptheformal mised however toinclude privacyofsources inthe Les Nouvellescalédoniennes Les Infos Midi Libre was shutdown Paris-Match briefly in L’Equipe ) and RFO 115 ), 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc been spied on.The government wasforced toreact been spiedon.The zines Majormaga- cials were leakingmaterialtothemedia. ween 1990andlate2005todiscover whichofitsoffi- BNDhadspiedonjournalistsbet- intelligence service commission thattheGerman to aparliamentary a former seniorjudgehadsaidinaconfidentialreport The daily “complicity indisclosingstatesecrets.” new law toprotect journalistsfrom prosecution for are pushingfor a FDP andBündnis90/DieGrünen, Two intheGermanparliament,the oppositionparties G cle appeared in known toaFrench journalist monthsbefore thearti- also saidthecontentofconfidentialreport was It sed whentheinformation waspassedtoSchirra. argued thatthestatesecret hadalready beendisclo- It against Schirra and von Dohnanyi inJuly 2006. The Potsdam regional overruled court adecision verdict isexpectedin2007. press freedom.A his appeal againstthepolicesearch asaviolationof whichon22November 2006beganhearing Court, process andgetadecisionfrom theConstitutional guilt andsaidhehadwantedtospeedupthelegal butrefused toadmithis for thedropping ofcharges, Weimer agreed topay afineof€1,000inexchange the magazine’s officesandSchirra’s house. cle 53ofthecodecriminalprocedure) by searching lated therighttosecrecy ofjournalisticsources (arti- policevio- InSeptemberthatyear, passed ontohim. police report on Al-Qaeda thatvon Dohnanyi had in an April 2005 Cicero editorofthepoliticalmagazine Wolfram Weimer, “complicity indisclosingstatesecrets” alongwith SonntagsBlick foreign editoroftheSwissweekly Dohnanyi, Freelance journalistBrunoSchirra andJohannes von implementation was notsatisfactory. but intoeffect came information law disclosing state secrets.” freedom Thenew of severalces was ahot topicin2006and journalistswere prosecuted for“complicityin Spying policetodiscover onthemediaby theintelligenceservicesand journalisticsour- Angela Merkel. Head ofgovernment: German. Language: 82,689,000. Population: 357,030sq.km. Area: .The Potsdam prosecutor saidSchirra included .The Stern ERMANY Süddeutsche Zeitung Süddeutsche and were chargedon15March 2006with , Cicero Der Spiegel Cicero . article part ofa confidential part article then found outthey had revealed on12May that December by Another phone-tapping casewasrevealed in colleagues. the BNDhadpaidsomejournaliststospy ontheir thataswell26 May,said astapping journalists’phones, whichwaseventually publishedon report, nalists.The on 15May by banningtheBNDfrom spying onjour- information must alsopay for it. Thoseseeking be approved by thecompany itself. that disclosure ofinformation aboutacompany must of supposedpublicandnational securityandrequires such databutincludesmany exceptionsfor reasons Thelaw officially guaranteesaccessto 2006. January A new freedom ofinformation law cameintoeffect in ting on4November attacked andbeatenwhilecovering aneo-nazi-mee- Ajournalistandphotographer were members. whiletakingpicturesNPD party ofandfilmingparty attacked oftheextreme by supporters right-wing two journalistswere Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, A day afterthe17Septemberelectionsinstateof Cup. soccer World ment onthedebateaboutuseofarmy duringthe wasanironic com- next toarmedGermansoldiers.It ball players with explosives strapped tothemstanding army must bepresent,” itshowed four Iranianfoot- the paper on17February.With thecaption “Why the death threats appeared afteroneofhiscartoons in Der Tagesspiegel court. led againstthephone-tapping totheconstitutional appea- Manfred Gnijdic, whoselawyer, pers ofMasri, 2006toobtaininformation aboutthekidnap-January public prosecutor hadordered thephone-tapping in in Afghanistan untilMay 2004hadbeenspiedon.The aGermancitizenkidnapped in2003andheld Masri, cly-run TV station cly-run TV sations between journalistsof Süddeutsche Zeitung Süddeutsche cartoonist KlausStuttmannreceivedcartoonist ZDF with thelawyer ofKhaledel- Stern whichsaidconver- , and ofthepubli- 116 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc The officesofthedaily him. lists whosupported Tutti” withoutany opponentandonly withjourna- ting Berlusconitoappear ontheprogramme “Liberi regulator accused right coalition.The for biasinfavour ofitsowner’s centre- occasion, including€250,000onone was finedthree times, I appeared onthe TV station Berlusconiunexpectedly On7 April, electoral law. who wasrebuked atleastthree timesfor violating replacing SilvioBerlusconi, became primeminister, who the centre-left coalitionofRomanoProdi, The 9-10 electionswereApril parliamentary won by papers. daily premises of countries, protecting journalisticsources issuewhenpolicesearched an became the ned atleastthree timesforovershooting European Asinmany hisallotted media-time. duringelection campaign, whichoutgoingprime ministerSilvioBerlusconi was sanctio- Press freedom were independence and amajorissueintheApril 2006parliamentary RomanoProdi. Head ofgovernment: Italian. Language: 58,093,000. Population: 301,340sq.km. Area: tion spread throughout Europe duringtheyear. cute journalistsfor revealing confidentialinforma- Thetendencytoprose- in theirrespective papers. intelligenceofficialaboutthecase quoting amilitary dentiality” and “possessing secret documents”for ched andthey were accusedof “violating legalconfi- - CristinaZagariaandClaudioErnéwere alsosear- mer Imam Abu Omar.The homesoftwo journalists investigation intothe2003CIAkidnapping offor- searched by taxpoliceon11 ofan August aspart andthoseofthe daily Milan, the Berlusconi-family-owned state broadcasting regulator.The stationbelongsto ofthe despitetheintervention wed for 20minutes, TALY Repubblica Rete 4 Piccolo Mediaset and wasintervie- nTise were in Trieste, in Romeand Rete 4 ru,which group, of invi- to theirsites. making editorsinclinedtounduly censorvisitors and couldharmthecountry’s blogosphere by sion thatclashedwithEuropean jurisprudence adeci- libellous commentsaboutlocaljournalists, 26 May for allowing readers ofhisblogtopost Manciniwasfined€13,500on Blogger Roberto criminals. ment usually reserved for themostdangerous treat- request toholdhiminsecret for five days, judge inthecaseagreed totheprosecutor’s Hespent23days inprison2006andthe book. computer filesandallmaterialtodowithhis They alsotookaway 1970s andinthe1980s. he wrotematerial for articles for thepaper inthe searched inNovember 2004 andpoliceseized The Perugia prosecutor ordered hishometobe version. about themurders thatchallengedthepolice case for thedaily been arrested on7 April andhadcovered the whohad Spezi, (the MonsterofFlorence case). investigation ofaseriesunexplainedmurders murder ofa Tuscan doctorandof “insults” for his nalist MarioSpeziofinvolvement inthe1985 The supreme on26Octobercleared court jour- La Nazione waswritingabook , 117 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc K in 1998andseveral timesforced tochangeits founded version oftheoppositionnewspaper Dat, Ayna Plus tion for afractured skulland jaw. being taken tohospitalfor anemergencyopera- unconscious inthestreet for three hoursbefore dozen mennearhishomeon23 April andlay wasattacked andbeatenupby a Nazarbayev), ordered inearly April afterbeingsuedfor libelling weekly asub-editorofthe Kenzhegali Aitbakiev, press. The regime continued totargettheopposition He wasbannedfrom leaving Almaty. three years inprisonandafineofupto$7,600. trial beganon23November andhefacesupto His investigating themurder energetically enough. Sarsenbayev” andaccusingtheauthoritiesofnot “Mafia regime shadows themurder of Altynbek in a3May onwebsite article and reputation”318ofthecriminalcode) (article for supposedly harmingthepresident’s “dignity prosecuted by the committeefor nationalsecurity Two journalistKazis monthslater, Toguzbayev was ders. ment DarighaNazarbayeva) were behindthemur- Nazarbayev andhisdaughter(memberofparlia- son sentenceinMarch for saying President of Gulzhan, Editor Yergalievaling for athrough investigation. opposition mediajoinedaprotest movement cal- two aideswere andthe shotdeadinFebruary and AltynbekSarsenbayev, An oppositionleader, red inAlmaty. papers physicalattacks and onjournalists.AyoungFrench journalistwas alsomurde- opposition prosecutions himcontinued,along withclosureand for“defaming” of Presidentthat gave Nursultan seven-year termbarely anew Nazarbayev letupin2006 The crackdown mediaintherun-up totheDecember2005election onoppositionand Nazarbayev. Nursultan Head ofstate: Kazakh. Language: 14,825,000. Population: 2,724,900sq.km. Area: AZAKHSTAN Ayna-Plus had only started up in January asanew upinJanuary had only started Svoboda Slova (whose liquidationhadbeen wasgiven a10-day pri- , www.kub.kz headed name ( rested statusby theinvestigating party judge. and Reporters Without Borders wasgrantedinte- ged alegalcomplaintinFranceon8September Thefamily lod- inthetrial. mission toparticipate for thefamily’s lawyers tothecasefilesandper- cials andinvestigators andmanagedtowinaccess met government offi- in Septembertoinvestigate, Reporters Without Borders went toKazakhstan third manwasbeingsought. arrested two suspectsinlate August andsaida Police his mobilephoneandlaptop computer. killed himbefore gettingaway withabout€5,000, by three menwhobroke and intohisapartment Police saidhewasthevictimofabotchedrobbery ting anadvertising feature for thegovernment. for threeHe hadbeeninthecountry monthswri- murdered in at hisapartment Almaty on2 August. was 24, French journalistGrégoire deBourgues, onpainofheavy fines. number ofcopiesitprinted, address orthe media-outlet changeditseditor, re-registration whenever madecompulsory a wastightenedand with theinformation ministry Registration a paper shutdown by theauthorities. newspapers reusing changingthenameof orpartly with amedia-outletordered closedandabanon three-year banonworking asajournalistfor those providing for a which allmediahadtobelong), settingupafundtopay libeldamages(to on 5July, Nazarbayev decreed amendmentstothepress law publications. like other in thefaceofseveral judicialliquidations, SolDat , Juma Times , Ayna-Plus ) tokeep going 118 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc C imitated hervoice andcalledheran “old maid.” P there inwhichajournalistdispute with the April issuefor fear of reprisals aboutanarticle page from 90,000already-printed copiesofthe The editorofthemonthly article “vile” and “disgusting” on7July. President Kaczynskicalledthe phone calls. whoreceived anonymous threatening Lesser, to thepaper’s Gabrielle Warsaw correspondent, saidon4Julyministry itwould notlongerspeak ThePolish foreign ment condemnthearticle. press anddemandedthatthe Germangovern- likened The government reacted furiously andofficials thers headed “The new Polish yokels.” amonthearlierabouttheKaczynskibro-article German daily ofthe action inJuly againstPeter Kohler, criticised andthe Warsaw prosecutor took didnotlike being theprimeminister, Jaroslaw, President LechKaczynskiandhistwinbrother and Maryja ners andviewers ofherprogrammes onRadio Magda Buczekandoffending thefeelings ofliste- for “harming the reputation” ofbroadcaster state broadcasting council(KRRiT)on22March The ultra-conservative TV station favouredsupported and by thegovernment. relations themedia,except and forthereligious between officials media,whichwere Polish (LPR)inlate2005aggravated Families (Samoobrona) of theLeague parties and Self-Defence (PiS)and Justice and theLaw thecoalitiongovernment of The advent of Kaczynski. Lech Head ofstate: Polish. Language: 38,600,000. Population: 312,685sq.km. Area: fine imposedonthe TV station Religion wasalsothereason behinda€125,000 journalists. sparkingoutrageamongother were given access, from themediagroup ofFather Tadeusz Rydzyk Only journalists the extreme rightandpopulists. signing ofanagreement between conservatives, given 2006aboutthe ascoopon2February IIIMNTTOLERATED NOT RITICISM OLAND Tageszeitung Trwam Tageszeitung after a to thepro-Nazi German for writingasatirical , Polsat Sukces talk-show guest Polsat Trwam removed a by the was European Convention on Human Rights. though theclausecontravened 10of the article even dignity andreputation wasmore important, dom for democracybut saidanindividual’s recognised ofpresscourt theimportance free- The for uptoayear inprison for defamation. 212ofthecriminalcodeprovidingdate article refusedBut thecourt on30Octobertoinvali- stayed theorder andfreed himtwo days later. 2006butthe constitutionalcourt on 16January Marek wasordered imprisoned town ofPolice. lier denouncingcorruption ofan officialinthe handed down ayear in2002for anarticle ear- three-month suspendedprison sentencefor libel Wiesci Polickie oftheregional weekly Editor Andrzej Marek, control. KRRiT wastoomuch undergovernment the appointments were illegalandthatthe ruledon23MarchThe constitutionalcourt that ElzbietaMalgorzata Kruk. ted anew chairman, appoin- whoon6February President Kaczynski, two ofwhomwere namedby from ninetofive, December 2005law anditsmembersreduced The KRRiTwasradically reformed undera the KRRiT. increased by onthestationwithoutintervention Xenophobicandanti-Semiticremarks Poland. ding money” for property they leftbehindin Jews humiliatedPoland internationally by deman- saidinMarch that “the Stanislaw Michalkiewicz, Radio Maryja Acommentatoron racial andreligious hatred. influential media-outletsincitingthepublicto The deterioratinggeneralsituationincluded wrote continued tostatehercase. inFebruary) presidential press office(over she anarticle won afour-year battleagainsta , (with three millionlisteners), 119 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc R summoned toappear aswitnessesinthecase. Victor RonceaandOvidiuOhanesian-have been DoruDragomir, journalists -BogdanComaroni, Four other face uptoseven years inprisoneach. Bothjournalists andheldfor twoFebruary days. Garleanu wasarrested on16 gence service. sentthephotostonationalintelli- February papers decidednottoprintthepictures andon7 They were prosecuted even thoughthetwo from anarmy source. probably Romanian troops inIraqand Afghanistan, “possessing anddisclosing”aCDofpictures of of on20February sed by thedefence ministry of thedailies SebastianOanceaandMarianGarleanu, material. lists for allegedly revealing legally confidential 2006 beganbadly withprosecution oftwo journa- thecriminal code. reform awide-ranging of of the start theforeign ministrywebsitewas by shutdown. Thiswas offset of fun website making Two journalistswere confidentialmaterial” for“disclosing investigated legally a and Traian Basescu. Head ofstate: Romanian. Language: 21,710,000. Population: 238,391sq.km. Area: OMANIA Ziua and Romania Libera were accu- , on thedaily paper A website created by two foreign deskjournalists of thecode. ter MonicaMacovei hasbegunathorough reform Justice minis- which peoplecannolongerbejailed. for the decriminalisationofdefamationandinsults, criminal codeandparliamentapproved on6June Encouraging progress wasmadeinreforming the personal data. violatingthelaw protecting about thejournalists, Theprovider alsohandedover information sure. hadnorighttoseekitsclo- though theministry even to stophostingthesiteandCHLagreed to, asked providerministry theInternetservice CHL The website wasshutdownministry inJune. Ziua parodying theforeign 120 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc tion of thesta- IliaZimin, after thorough investigation. hoped thatalinkwithhisjobwasonly excluded soitis ruption amonglocalbusinesspeople, Gerasimenko hadbeenlooking intocor- murder. for 18years for the SergeiFinogeyev, less man, jailedahome- 30 OctoberandaSaratov court Investigators ruledoutalinkwithhisjobon ture. in aplasticbagandhisbodybearingmarksoftor- withhishead byapartment hismother on26July, R hundreds ofpeopleon21June and15December Protests by nalists andrespect for press freedom. tions callingfor anendto violenceagainstjour- These killingsprovoked new publicdemonstra- and hisdeath. cutor hasnotyet establishedalinkbetween this TheMoscow prose- ped withahidden camera. equip- hygiene inthecapital’s restaurants, luxury Hehadbeenlookinginto ment on26February. nal weekly The bodyof oftheregio- Yevgeny Gerasimenko, most killingsofjournalistsinRussia. like would cometonothing, that theenquiry leads were beingexamined amidgeneralworry Many charge oftheinvestigation ofherdeath. Prosecutor-general Yuri Chaikapersonally took freedoms throughout theRussianFederation. war inChechnya andcorruption andshrinking and for many years hadcampaignedagainstthe journalist worked for thepaper Thecourageousandworld-renowned NGOs. theEuropean Unionand tests from governments, home on7Octobersparked internationalpro- The killingof Anna Politkovskaya atherMoscow 2000. President Vladimir Putincametopower inMarch ging to21thenumber killeddoingtheirjobsince brin- Three journalistswere murdered in2006, expression. of mediaoutletscontinuetoseriously threaten diversity news freedom and takeovers of journalists.More spreading failure topunishthekillers socialviolenceand of result of Several journalistswere murdered during theyear, notably AnnaPolitkovskaya, asa VladimirPutin. Head ofstate: Russian. Language: 143,200,000. Population: 17,075,400sq.km. Area: NTV USSIA wasfound deadinhisMoscow apart- , Saratovski Rasklad wasfound inhis , Novaya Gazeta , T Union in1991were alsoheld. led inRussiasincethecollapse oftheSoviet Public readings ofthenamesalljournalistskil- son tomorrow!” and “Down withone-party TV!” pri- included sloganssuchas “Censorship today, open thecasetopublic for thefirsttime. whichmay now be retried by aMoscow court, They will try’s firstassisestrialon10January. Kazbek Dukuzov -hadbeen cleared atthecoun- Musa Vakhayev and three -FailSadretdinov, tor oftheRussianedition edi- ting murder ofUSjournalistPaulKlebnikov, the acquittalofthree menfor theJuly 2004shoo- The supreme overturned on9November court Russian constitution.” vince was “completely backundercontrol ofthe even thoughPutinsaidtherebellious pro- news, which remained a “black hole”for Chechnya, and one(ElinaErsenoyeva) vanishedin provincial journalistswere physically attacked atleastfive other as themurder ofGerasimenko, Aswell manoeuvre iseven lessthaninMoscow. meansthatjournalists’room for concentrated, political andeconomicpower ismostnarrowly where Pressure onthemediainprovinces, Pravda country’s biggestdaily paper, The firmsaidon21November itwould buythe whoalsoowns aGazprom subsidiary. Usmanov, August by miningandmetalsmagnate Alisher whichwasboughton31 independent media, paper includingthedaily control ofmany mediaoutlets, hasgained Kremlin (itsmainshareholder), closetothe whichisvery merate Gazprom, ofthenaturalgasconglo- The mediasubsidiary KOESSRN ESDIVERSITY NEWS SHRINK AKEOVERS Kommersant (2.1 millionreaders) inearly 1997. oneofthelastbastions , Forbes Komsomolskaya magazine,The 121 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc S was abletoreturn tohisfamily inGranada. for humanitarianreasons on 3October2006and wastransferred tohouse arrestmentalists.Allouni to themany contactshehadwithIslamicfunda- Al-Jazeera Osama binLadeninOctober2001whenhewas hehadwith tion mentionedaninterview Theprosecu- ment interrorist activitiesinSpain. ofatrial24peopleaccusedinvolve-as part September 2005of “collaboration” with Al-Qaeda Hehadbeenconvicted on26 on 1June. work on Tayssir ofthe pan-Arabsatellite TV net- Allouni, The seven-year prisonsentenceimposedin2005 Two majorpress freedom casesadvancedin2006. European Unionpress freedom laws. provisions contravene themuch more liberal “obstruct government activity.” surveillance These ple oftruthfulandverified news” andmust not Mediamust alsocomply with “the princi- outlet). operating licences(andthusclosure ofthemedia- ween €90,000and€300,000)cancellationof It provides for heavy fines(bet- media content. to thoseinNavarre and Andalucia) toregulate authority (CAC) unduequasi-legalpowers (similar December 2005givingtheregional broadcasting The Catalanassembly passedalaw on29 themtowork underprotection. threats tothemediaby theETA stilloblige several of protection thetemptationtoobstruct journalists.The Union doesnotguarantee against theEuropean press freedom thatmembership awarning and isacallforvigilance of abroadcasting thatincludesthreats law to regionalThe Catalan passingof assembly’s JoséLuisRodríguezZapatero. Head ofgovernment: Spanish. Language: 43,064,000. Population: 505,990sq.km. Area: PAIN Al-Jazeera sbra he nKbl Healsopointed ’s bureau chiefinKabul. wasconfirmedby anappeal court , Al- per legal actionagainsttheBasque-languagenewspa- The stateprosecutor saidon14Decemberthat ponsible for theshelling. could seekextraditionofthree USsoldiersres- ThismeansSpain tions between theUSandSpain. whichcouldaffect rela- petent tohandlethecase, werethe supreme saidSpanishcourts court com- hadbeenformally closedon10Marchenquiry but Hotel afterUSarmy shellingon8 April 2003.The cameraman José CousoinBaghdad’s Palestine intothedeathofSpanish reopening oftheenquiry The supreme on5Decemberordered court the bureau inSpain. Jazeera because ofETA threats. journalists stillhave towork withprotection several dozen declared by theETA on22March, Despitethepermanentceasefire do theirjob. by Reporters Without Borders -finditdifficultto ETA -putinthelistofpredators ofpress freedom Journalists whomentionBasqueterrorism andthe legal actions. pro-independence ETA.The paper facestwo other he hadnotproved thepaper wasanarmofthe Egunkaria announced on14July itwas openinga by ajudgewasunjustifiedbecause 122 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc of Martin Stollfor writing intheweeklyof Martin Sonntags- gness toprosecute journalistswastheconviction Among precedents for thegovernment’s willin- Rights ruledagainstSwitzerlandon25 April. Convention andtheEuropean ofHuman Court 10oftheEuropeanarticle HumanRights cation ofsecret officialdiscussions”contradicts 293ofthecriminalcodepunishing Article “publi- reveal them. face uptofive years inprisonfor refusing to Sandro Brotz andBeatJos, two ofhisreporters, SonntagsBlick were investigations launchedtofindthejournalists’sources Criminalandmilitary and in court. was inthedockandchosetochallengepaper TheSwissgovernment onthesubject. ministry and reprinted afaxfrom foreign theEgyptian thattheCIAhadsecretJanuary prisonsinEurope S The newspaper journalistsonthenewspaper Government prosecution of Calmy-Rey. Micheline Head ofstate: Italian. French, German, Languages: 7,100,000. Population: 41,284sq.km. Area: try where there isgenuinepress freedom. despite precedents, highlightedtheneedto decriminalise and press inacoun- offences WITZERLAND editor ChristophGrenacher and SonntagsBlick reported on8 €3,244. Itawarded himdamagesof toring situations. media doingitsjobofinforming peopleandmoni- whichcouldprevent the him from investigating, and thatthejournalistwaspunishedtodissuade tion couldeasily have beenobtainedelsewhere theEuropean saidtheinforma- Court However, the listofpeoplearrested wassecret. secrets” said andfined€325becausethecourt was prosecuted for “instigating violationofofficial None oftheinformation waspublishedbuthe mation aboutpeoplearrested duringtheenquiry. public prosecutor’s officeagreed tofaxhiminfor- Zurich inSeptember1997andanofficialofthe oftheFraumünsterpostofficein a burglary columnist ofthedaily legal Another wasthecaseof Viktor Damman, ambassador totheUS. Swiss Zeitung in1997aboutCarloJagmetti, SonntagsBlick Blick whowasinvestigating , caused surprise,caused 123 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc T Corporation A disputebetween the tabilise thecountry.” ordered nottoinvestigate mattersthat “could des- Avesta andareporter ofthe broadcast inthecountry, whoisnotallowed to dent NosirMamurzoda, They were ton fields. after investigating forced labourby studentsincot- thern town ofQorghan-Teppa on18September Two journalistswere briefly arrested inthesou- and 15minutes air-time each. other candidateswere only allowed between five five Inreality,the duringthecampaign. opportunities October thatallcandidatesshouldhave equal of news) andthepresident’s statementon20 minutes onnational TV (thecountry’s mainsource September thateachcandidatewould begiven 30 despiteadecree in democratic standards, saidtheelectionhadnotmet OSCE observers tion weighed onpress freedom throughout theyear. Therun-up totheelec- thevote. atelectionson6November 2006with76.4%of office retortEmomali Rakhmonov’s tocritical OSCEobservers hewon athird after termof theOSCE,”was President “No countryintheworld comesuptoallthestandards of ImamaliRahmanov. Head ofstate: Tajik. Language: 6,300,000. Population: 143,100sq.km. Area: AJIKISTAN esaec.They were freed afterbeing news agency. ( BBC ) andthestatebroadcasting com- Radio Free Europe British BroadcastingBritish correspon- government. March 2003andoneofthefew criticisingthe Dodojon Atovulloyev, includingthatofoppositionfigure shut down, several independentnews websites were illegally Less thanamonthafterthepresidential election, was noagreement between Britainand Tajikistan. which refused iton2 August ongrounds thatthere rating licencetothestatebroadcasting commission, thestationapplied for anFMope- InJuly, on 26June. tually allowed the even- justiceministry Khujand) wassuspended.The town inDushanbeandnorthern the population, programmes onFM(theonly way toreach much of therelay of Onthedeadline, six monthstoget. 2006evenJanuary thoughsomeofthemwould take documentsbeforemust filethenecessary 10 BBC media outletstore-register withtheauthorities.The year afteranew law inSeptember2005required mission Tajikteleradiocom draggedonduringthe had beentoldon20December2005thatit BBC office inDushanbetoreopen Tajikistantimes.ru founded in , BBC 124 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc T ting a series of articles about ting aseriesofarticles “Armenian identity.” ded prisonsentenceon7October 2005for wri- weekly editorofthe Armenian Among themwasDink, their casestotheEuropean HumanRightsCourt. lists prosecuted underitsaidthey would take Several journa- 301. for amendingarticle support work forced theprimeministertopublicly declare for literature toawriterbeing prosecuted for his EU membershipandtheaward oftheNobelPrize The strong campaignfor andagainstabout Turkish Convention ofHuman Rights(ECHR).” need tobebrought inlinewiththe European penal codethatrestrict freedom ofexpression 301andotherprovisionsArticle ofthe Turkish yet guaranteedby thepresent legalframework (...) expression inlinewithEuropean standards isnot press freedom must improve andthat “freedom of ment commission’s report on8November said TheEUenlarge- Turks are dividedontheissue. ted. Allwere acquit- Hasan CemalandSmetBerkan). Radikal columnists withthemajordailies Armenian-origin journalistHrantDinkandfive Nobel Prizefor literature) andElifShafak, of novelists OrhanPamuk (whowon the2006 Scenes ofviolenceaccompaniedthetrialsin2006 police structures.” or judicialinstitutionsormilitary government, in prisonfor “anyone whoopenly denigratesthe provides for between sixmonthsandthree years the republic andstateorgansinstitutions,” headed “Denigration of Turkishness, The article, the new criminalcodeintroduced on1June 2005. have beenprosecuted 301of underarticle writers, includingmany journalistsand At least65people, Tayyipminister Recep Erdogan publicly it. dialogue hewants said about theEuropean prime thissituationand Unionhave focusedontheneedtochange ship of massacresthe Armenian theKurdish and question.NegotiationsforTurkish member- journalists, writersused against intellectualsmentioningsensitive topicssuchas and thecriminal whichisfrequently code, Press freedom isstillrestricted by 301of article Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Head ofgovernment: Turkish. Language: 71,190,000. Population: 774,820sq.km. Area: URKEY Eo aicol,MrtBle HalukSahin, MuratBelge, (Erol Katircioglu, Agos whowasgiven asix-monthsuspen- , Milliyet and years. Hefacesanew prisonsentenceofthree 1915. cide” aboutthe Turkish massacres of Armenians in Turkishness” inwhichheusedtheword “geno- about hisprisonsentencefor “insulting withReutersnews agency after aninterview He wasprosecuted againon18July 2006four days attacked herbecauseshewasnot wearing a Demonstrators of theProphet Mohammed. againstpublication inEuropeFebruary ofcartoons during aprotest inthetown ofKonya on10 journalist from thedaily Police were criticisedfor failingtohelpaninjured Hediedon14 April. earlier. 14 Kurdish rebels killedby thearmy afew days on 30March duringademonstrationtohonour wounded inthesoutheasterntown ofDiyarbakir nightly ofthefar-left fort- Ilyas Aktas, tely resumed work. damage butnoinjuriesanditsjournalistsimmedia- Cumhuriyet Three bombattacksonthe far-left daily paper years inprison. Hefacesupto12 operation. ongoing military aboutan 10 blankCDsandtellingtheparty tedly accusedhimofgivingthePKKalaptop and PKK/Kongra-Gel” afteraformer militantrepor- town of Tunceli for “collaborating withthe agency ofthepro-Kurdish news RüstuDemirkaya, subject. secution ofjournalistswhodared tomentionthe organisations” andraisedfears ofunjustifiedpro- imprisonment for printingnews about “terrorist threatened freedom ofexpression by allowing that were approved by parliamenton29June also Amendments tothecountry’s anti-terrorist law DEVELOPMENTS WORRYING Devrimci DemokrasiDevrimci Diha n5 10and11May causedmuch on 5, wasjailedon14June intheeastern , wasshotandseriously , Sabah Aliye Cetinkaya, , 125 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc T release oftwo journalistsofthepro-Kurdish But 2006endedwiththegood news ofthe from thescene. Police stoodby andcolleagueshadtotakeher. her was insultedandstonedshoeswere thrown at She wore jeansandwaschewing gum. headscarf, URKEY 1999. whohasbeeninprisonsince Abdullah Öcalan, ofPKKleader on ademonstrationinsupport grity.” They hadbeenarrested whilereporting ning theunityofstateandterritorial inte- Yazar, afterninemonthsinprisonfor “undermi- news agency Diha EvrimDengizandNesrin , 126 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc T tion Ogulsapar Muradova -whohelpedFrench TV sta- and Khajiev Sapardurdy Annakurban Amanklychev, Three journalistsandhumanrightsactivists- liberalisation inCentral Asia’s mostrepressive country. hopes of President Nyazov Separmurad on21Decemberrevived authorities. Thedeathof with several journalistsarrested, houndedby onekilledinprison the theirfamilies and in2006, The regime’s mediatightenedfurther theindependent onthecountryand grip GurbangulyBerdymukhamedov. Head ofstate: Turkmen. Language: 4,830,000. Population: 488,100sq.km. Area: the president’s called himself)andtheirdetentionannouncedby Turkmenbashi” (Father of All Turkmens, asNyazov There were accusedofplottingagainst ‘The Turkmenistan were arrested on16and18June. No officialinvestigation ofherdeathwasmade.All internal bleedingandalargeopenheadwound. tracesof prison sinceherbodyhadmany bruises, three children andprobably diedundertorture in pondent for Shehadbeenthelocalcorres- on 14September. death ofthe58-year-old Muradova wasreported and thennomore washeard ofthemuntilthe saidthey would appealMuradova to6years.They were sentencedtoseven years inprisonand Amanklychev andKhajiev not allowed tospeak, After ahastytrailduringwhichthedefence was ted round theclock. unrecognisable andwasbeingbrutally interroga- saidshewasalmost at thestatesecurityministry Onewitness whosaw Amanklychev to visitthem. their families were notallowed trial on25 August, arms andammunition” andbefore theirsecret charges againstthemwere “illegal possessionof France 2 URKMENISTAN Radio Free Europe /RadioLiberty make atravel programme about Ashkabat TV tto.Theeventual station. had , was builtby theFrench firmBouygues. like many otherpublicworks inthecountry, and, book andshiningatnightisfor regime journalists $17millionbuildingshaped like anopen 10-storey, Creativity” in Ashgabat on17October2006.The Nyazov ironically inaugurateda “House ofFree held inanunknown place. 25 years each-remained inprisonandare being Ovezmurad whowere sentencedto Yazmuradov, BatyrBerdyev and 50 -Serdar Rakhimov, Three journalistsamongthe nate thepresident. “treason” afteraNovember 2002bidtoassassi- dence includingeightofthe50peoplejailedfor by Nyazov ofindepen- onthe15thanniversary than 10,000prisonersamnestiedon16October Amanklychev andKhajiev were notamongmore losttheirjobsandbeenconstantly watched. cuted, theirfriendsandfamily have beenperse- conviction, Sincetheir broadcast inFranceon28September. “Turkmenistan:Welcome toNyazovland” thatwas ped make aFrench called TV documentary hadhel- the HelsinkiFoundation for HumanRights, whowere alsoactivistsfor The three journalists, prisoners are held. where about4,000political Odovan Depeprison, three prisonershadreportedly beensentto 127 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc U tor ofthepaper edi- attacked duringtheyear.Volodymyr Katsman, Other journalistswere threatened orphysically elections. in the26March Crimeanparliamentary her publicationofalistcrime-linked candidates Sheblamedtheattackon hours of1March 2006. to intheCrimeancapital ofSimferopol intheearly wassetfire Association ofIndependentJournalists, Pervaya Krimskaya editoroftheweekly The homeofLiliaBujurova, journalistGeorgy Gongadze. thekillers of failure tocompletethetriallists and of The greaterpress freedom achieved in2005was reduced by physicalattacks onjourna- theruling coalition. Yanukovich, whoreturned asprime thebreakup ministerafter of Yushchenko Revolution”) the2004“Orange hisrival (electedafter and Viktor Political 2006duetotensionbetween pro-Western plagued instability President Viktor Viktor Yushchenko. Head ofstate: Ukrainian. Language: 46,481,000. Population: 603,700sq.km. Area: on 12July for allegedcorruption afterbeingheld wassentencedto eight years inprison Nedelia, editoroftheweekly Vladimir Lutiev, noactionwas taken. evidence ofthisharassment, protectionfor policeandcourt butdespitesolid Zakora asked includingtheiraddresses. daughter, graphic leafletsaboutherand20-year-old Spektordistributedporno- second criticalarticle, Aftera Aleksander Spektor. cised abusinessman, inJuneat herapartment afterthepaper hadcriti- Shotswere fired identical lawsuits againstZakora. whofiled19almost- tion amongregional officials, become popularwithacampaignagainstcorrup- had 2006, launchedinJanuary Thepaper, months. personally andby legalofficialsover several Dzerzhynets editoroftheweekly Margarita Zakora, asked for policeprotection for thetwo journalists. beating hasmadenoprogress andthepaper has Theofficialprobe intoKatsman’swould nothelp. would have noprotection andthatcallinginpolice warningthatthey journalist Sherhy Kovtunenko, especially investigative threatened hiscolleagues, Someone claimingtobeoneoftheattackers June. lope containedwhitepowder andanoteon8 paper receivedhead andarminjuries.The anenve- thugs withsticksandhospitalisedserious buildingon8 ten upinhisapartment April by two KRAINE nDirdezys,washounded in Dniprodzerzhynsk, Stolichnye Novosti and president oftheCrimean wasbadly bea- , Evpatoriskaya gress. theinvestigation hasmadenopro- the public, whoopenedthetrialto President Yushchenko, despite thechangeofregime andpromises by but was madeatthehighestlevels ofgovernment, cated thatthedecisiontogetridofGongadze “Melnichenko tapes” disclosed by themedia indi- The would never bebrought tojustice. increased fears thatthosereally responsible present andthecountlessobstacles inthecase mother Lessianorhiswidow Myroslava were Neitherhis ofhisdisappearance. anniversary editorof Ukrainskaya Pravda Gongadze, journalist Georgy September inthetrialofaccusedkillers inKiev resumedA court hearingson14 TRIALS IMPORTANT criminal gangcharged. the killershadbeenidentifiedandmembersofa thepublicprosecutor’s officeannounced 2003, Inautumn injuries four days later inhospital. with abaseballbaton3July 2001anddiedofhead journalisthadbeenbeaten a two-month trial.The son on7June by inLuganskafter anappeal court ced tobetween two andahalf15years inpri- in2001were senten- Slaviansk region ofDonetsk, Igor headofthe Alexandrov, Five organisersandtriggermenaccusedofkilling sed themofcorruption. ded by former localofficialsbecausehehadaccu- whosaidthejournalistwasbeinghoun- Oveshkin, Viktor according tohislawyer, or evidence, Lutiev refusedtrying tohear defence witnesses court being prosecuted intwo criminalcases.The electoral fraudandcorruption andKotliarevsky is Lutiev hadoftencriticisedhiminprintfor murder. Nikolai Kotliarevsky accusedhimofattempted since June 2005whenformer Crimean MP two days before thesixth , TOR TV station inthe 128 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc U Medvedko toslow down theinvestiga- oftrying ple accuseprosecutor-general Oleksandr bear outthisoptimismandmore andmore peo- But theconstantproblems withthecasedonot cal changeandfreedom ofexpression” inUkraine. Gongadze’s namehadbecome “a symbolofpoliti- Yushchenko saidtheday thetrialresumed that KRAINE President LeonidKuchma oroneofhisaides. work andwhetherhiswork threatened thethen Gongadze waskilledbecauseofhisjournalistic evidence onthetwo key questionsofwhether Hearings sincethenhave involved contradictory said inmid-Augustshewould suetheprosecutors. Gongadze’s widow tion andinfluenceitsoutcome. 129 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc U has beenpunished. thereporter forwhichnoone Martin O'Hagan, the UKfive years themurder after of Threats remain press tojournalistsand freedom inNorthern Ireland elsewhere and in Tony Blair. Head ofgovernment: English. Language: 59,668,000. Population: 242,910sq.km. Area: 2001 murder of ec rcs,variousgroups are stillthreatening peace process, despite the not helplocalpress freedom and, The apparent impunityfor O'Hagan'skillersdid always deniedthis. Thepolicehave mers insidethemurder gang. with andsoughttoprotect policeagentsorinfor- allegations thatelementsofthepolicecolluded thepoliceombudsmanisexamining separately, review theirstalledinvestigation this year and, Thepoliceare to - hadbeenbehindthemurder. the case-butnotprosecuted for lackofevidence inquest hebelieved thateightmenquestionedin Apolicemantoldthe involved indrugtrafficking. because hewasinvestigating loyalist paramilitaries County Armagh, outside hishomeinLurgan, thathehadbeenshot thepolicetheory supported anditsfindings finally heldon19December2006, coroner's a inquestwas In theO'Hagancase, catch thekillers. despiteofficialpledgesto investigation hadfailed, askingwhy the ofhismurder inSeptember, sary submitted questionstopoliceonthefifthanniver- towhichO'Haganbelonged, Union ofJournalists, TheNational ned by years ofsectarianstrife. for journalistsinvestigating thecrimegangsspaw- makes Ireland Northern ahostileplace colleagues, andcontinuing deathsthreats toseveral O'Hagan, The failure ofthepoliceinvestigation intothe NITED Sunday World K reporter Martin INGDOM threat.The latestwasanother threat.The Ireland are believed tobeworking underviolent nalists andtwo newspaper groups inNorthern aboutadozenjour- Inall, investigative journalists. e,wasnotcriticised. der, also screened with a aninterview Taliban comman- The king abalancebetween freedom andsecurity. andoftakingasimplisticapproach tostri- to target, democracies becauseofthelackdictatorships He accusedthemediaofcriticising record. liberties attackingthegovernment'scarried articles civil- view afterthe dangerous poison"hadentered themedia'sworld saidin April thata"perniciousandeven Clarke, Charles The former Britishhomesecretary, pations normally covered by thescheme". journalist and"notemployed inoneoftheoccu- saying hedidnotqualifybecausewasa him, government ministerslaterrefused toprotect However, scheme toassistthreatened people. official protection underaUKgovernment whowasadvisedby policein August toseek ter, upiigy theprivately owned Surprisingly, the views ofthe Taliban ofitsjob. waspart one ofitsleaders.The programme Newsnight with carried aninterview paganda for the Taliban in Afghanistan afterthe TV whoaccuseditofmakingpro-tion Conservatives BBC was attacked inOctoberby theopposi- Guardian BBC , Observer replied thatreporting Sunday World Sky News and Independent which , repor- 130 2007 Annual Report - Europe and the former Soviet bloc tepeietsnpe) were alsovictims. (the president’s nephew), UlugbekKhaidarov andJamshidKarimov nalists, Tribune and others)contributedthe independent website ble.” OlgaFazylova The journalists(Jamilya Aipova, presidential officecalledthem “politically unrelia- paper Sixreportersonthegovernment crackdown. Uzbek journalistswere front-line targets of the gious hatred” would bedeported. overthrow of thestateorincitedracialandreli- and thedecree saidthosewho “called for the Journalists were likened toterrorists prosecution. with unaccredited Uzbekcolleagues onpainof and Uzbekjournalistswere forbidden towork Foreign extended from 10days totwo months. dure for registering withtheauthoritieswas the proce-“dignity andreputation” ofUzbeks.The tion for interfering in “internal affairs”orinsulting sed officialpoliciesrisked losingtheiraccredita- journalists working for foreign mediathatcritici- The government that announcedon24February ted busonitsway toMoscow. some 30peoplehadfrozen todeathinanunhea- whenhereported that gramme onthestation, putting outinaccuratenews pro- ina1February on15March 2006andaccusedhimof of Bukhara, U broadcaster correspondent oftheGerman Obid Shabanov, The government cancelledtheaccreditation of Radio Free Europe/ RadioLiberty ( ding thoseofthe inclu- and theirstaffforced toleave thecountry, Officesofforeign mediawere closed government). governmental organisations(187according tothe according tonon- about 800peoplewere killed, when 2005 uprisingintheeasterntown of Andijan, Repression hasbecomeharshersincethe13May tine forjournalistsin2006. work withthemare prosecuted. Arrests, blocked internmentand websiteswere rou- Foreign journalistsare seenasagitators “terrorists” and Uzbekfreelances and who The regime’s broad crackdown sinceMay2005hasalsotargeted foreign local and media. IslamKarimov. Head ofstate: Uzbek. Language: 26,900,000. Population: 447,400sq.km. Area: BBC ,theUSmediaaidorganisation ), Pravda Vostoka ZBEKISTAN ( www.tribune-uz.info Deutsche WelleDeutsche British BroadcastingBritish Corporation were dismissedinJuly afterthe ).Two independentjour- in thesouthernregion . Internews and journalist SergeiEzhkov, Thewebsite ofindependent compile blacklists. whichenablestheregime to tor Uzbektelecom, 2005 tousethestate-controlled telecomopera- providers (ISPs)have been forced sinceNovember Alllocalservice Internet userswere alsotargeted. vices (SNB)detentioncentre. 2005 andbeenimprisonedinanintelligenceser- He hadbeenarrested in Tashkent on11 April extremist religious organisation”were dropped. constitutional order” and “involvement witha 2006 afterchargesagainsthimof “undermining independent paper Sabirjon former correspondent for the Yakubov, explanation amonthlater. Jizak on5Octoberbefore beingfreed without sentenced tosixyears in inprisonby acourt Hewas Police arrested himafew secondslater. pocket thathequickly threw ontheground. bus stopandstuffed somebanknotesinhis blackmail” afterawoman approached himata September andfalsely accusedof and “extortion Khaidarov wasarrested on14 months. hospital andwould beheldthere for atleastfive October thathehadbeeninternedinamental Hisfamily found outon5 was apatient. home andthehospitalinJizakwhere hismother Karimov vanishedon12Septemberbetween his l hjyv editorofthewebsite Alo Khojayev, journalists openly criticaloftheregime. few Heisoneofthevery blocked inJune 2006. nalist. sohestoppedworking asajour- intimidate him, even madeto thoughhehadhounded andefforts authorities refused tolethimleave thecountry, uprising thatcontradictedthe officialversion.The when hepostedonlinenews aboutthe Andijan family hadbeenreceiving threats sinceMay 2005, asheandhis decided tocloseitdown inearly July, Hurriyat Uzmetronom.com wasfreed on4 April , Tribune-uz was , 131 , Tunisia Lebanon Syria Israel Gaza and WBank Iraq Iran Morocco Kuwait Jordan Algeria Libya Egypt Bahrain Qatar United Saudi Arab Emirates Arabia Oman Yemen

2007 Annual Report MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

132 THE GRAVEYARD OF FREEDOM

Media workers were once again this year the victims of the growing regional instability that has plagued the Middle East for decades. 65 journalists and media assistants were killed in Iraq during 2006, bringing to 146 the total killed since fighting began there in March 2003.

More than 90% were Iraqis, who have been in the front line facing the warring religious and clan militias since the departure of most foreign journalists.Their safety, as with the rest of the population, depends on general conditions in the country but their job helps to identify them and increases the risks they are exposed to. Many working for international news agencies now do so anonymously.They are targeted because they are employed by foreign media and thus considered “spies.”

Other journalists are attacked because of the political slant of their media outlet. But the state-run media holds the record for the most journalists killed. Most of the staff of the daily paper Al Sabah and the TV station Al-Iraqiya - members of the Iraqi Media Network - received death threats and 24 of them have been killed since fighting began.

Kidnappings of journalists also increased in the region in 2006 and again most of them were in Iraq, with 17 seized, including seven who were executed.

Six journalists were kidnapped in the Palestinian Territories and used as bargaining chips. All were freed without harm but their captors were not prosecuted. Since Hamas took power in January, media workers have been victims of violent clashes between militants of Hamas and those of the Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Dozens have been attacked for working for media attached to one or other of the opposing factions.This is on top of the dangers of reporting on clashes between the Israeli army and the Palestinians. 17 media workers were wounded in shooting by the Israeli army in 2006.

UNDER THE JACKBOOT OF DICTATORS

Despite repeated promises, the region’s governments have not introduced greater democracy. Journalists are subject to the whim of monarchs and “life” presidents who keep tight control of the media.The Saudi regime is especially strict and journalists there who step out of line are dismissed with no reason given. Journalists and political activists in Syria, where the Baath Party set up a dictatorship in 1963, face arbitrary arrest and unfair trials.The coming to power in 2000 of President Bashar el-Assad has not improved the situation.

After 20 years ruling Tunisia, President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali had not loosened his grip on the media. Independent voices are closely watched and prevented from expressing themselves. In Libya, President Muammar Gaddafi continues to terrorise journalists and criticising him is regarded as treason and can lead straight to prison.

Most countries in the region also use restrictive press laws to control the media. Several promises to revise them made at the start of the decade have not been kept and journalists can still be sent to prison for press offences. Journalists have very little room for manoeuvre and self-censorship is the norm. Media workers in Egypt were dismayed at further restrictions placed on them in a revised press law passed in July 2006. Press offences were decriminalised in Kuwait during the year but many exceptions were made, such as undermining Islamic law and offending God, the Prophet and his aides, all of which carry prison sentences.

THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION

Reporting on religious matters is still tricky and journalists who discussed the cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed that appeared in a Danish paper in September 2005 had to face unexpected consequences as the authorities yielded to Islamic protests. Journalists were thrown in prison in Jordan,Yemen and Algeria for reprinting all or some of the cartoons, mostly as part of reporting on the Muslim world’s anger about them. 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa Report East and NorthAnnual - Middle 2007 Introduction

133 Instead of calming the crowds protesting at Danish embassies in the region,Arab governments chose to censor the media as a way to curry favour with the Islamists.The episode created a regional precedent and “undermining Islam” became a major reason to prosecute journalists. In Iran, seven journalists were arrested after a satirical article appeared about the late Ayatollah Khomeini, while two in Morocco were prosecuted for printing jokes making fun of religion.

Hajar Smouni Head of Middle East and North Africa desk 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa Report East and NorthAnnual - Middle 2007 Introduction

134 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa U be interpreted inmany ways. the country’s wording can international image.This state or “harm thereputation ofitsofficials”or the effects ofanationaltragedytoundermine”the five years injailplusfinesfor anyone who “uses nal peaceandreconciliationprovided charter for concerningimplementationofthenatio- February terms,”ting ordefamatory andanew measure in insul- for “referring tothepresident inoffensive, especially The press laws stillallow imprisonment, five journalistswere arrested duringtheyear. A article inJunearticle exposingcorruption. inan December for libellingaseniorcivilservant months inprisontheir absenceon25 Watan managingeditorofthedaily Omar Belhouchet, inJijel(360kmeastof A court Algiers) sentenced pay 500,000dinars(€5,500)indamagestoGaddafi. was alsosuspendedfor two monthsandordered to paper libelling Libyan leaderMuammarGaddafi.The fine of20,000dinars(€220)on31Octoberfor Naila Berrahal eachtosixmonthsinprisonanda tor ofthedaily of Hussein-Dey sentencedthemanagingedi- court summoned totheirown trial.The Algiers suburban Reporters Without Borders they hadnotbeen Several journaliststold of apredictable process. against themandtheinitialverdicts were thestart wellvery how theregime usesthelegal system The trialsofjournaliststhatbeganin2006showed asthedaily down, editors stillfeared theirpapers would beshut prosecutionscontinued withfurther andseveral legal harassmentbutrepression ofthemedia ting stateinstitutions”freed many journalistsfrom journalists convicted of “defamation” and “insul- President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s 5July amnestyfor thepress laws. of was theyear notfollowed by reform along-awaited ned journalistsatthebeginningof several impriso- therelease press and of offences forjournalistsconvictedof amnesty The authorities coldtowards blew hotand mediain2006.Apresidential thecountry’s King Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Head ofstate: Arabic. Language: 32,854,000. Population: 2,381,741sq.km. Area: IGTELWT AASTEMEDIA THE HARASS TO LAW THE SING LGERIA andcolumnistChawki Amari tothree , Ech-Chourouk Le Matin AiFdl andjournalist Fadil, ,Ali a n20.Atleast was in2004. El Canal Algérie headsofthestate-run continuing.The TV stations doctrine andprinciplesof Islam.” Their caseis Prophet oremissariesofGod orbelittlingthe years imprisonmentfor “anyone offending the paragraph 2allowing for between three andfive plaint basedonthecriminalcode’s 144b article filedacom- after thecommunications ministry forned for reprinting amonthinFebruary them, weeklies editorsofthe Bousaâd andBerkaneBouderbala, Kamal Mohamed firstprintedintheDanishpress. world over oftheProphet thecartoons Algeria wasalsoaffected by therow inthe Arab debts. owned printingfirmalsoinsistedoncollectingits and thepaper hadtoshutdown afterastate- ters hadbeenauctionedofftopay extrataxdebts “imposter.” thepaper’s headquar- The sameyear, he hadputoutapamphletcallingthepresident an 2004, inFebruary Bouteflika’s reelection campaign, Attheheightof cher for alargesumindinars. being arrested at withacashvou-Algiers airport violating thelaw onmovement ofassetsafter year prisonsentencehereceived inJune 2004for Matin managingeditorof Mohammed Benchicou, sed inanarticle. ners inLambeseprisonthejournalisthadcritici- whoseindifference tothetortureofpriso- ment, tice ministry’s sentencesimplementationdepart- plaint hadbeenfiledby aformer headofthejus- Acom- month jailsentenceinDecember1997. cation wasrefused thathehadbeengiven asix- France Algeria oftheFrench dailies correspondent in Arezki Ait-Larbi, known about. of legalcomplaintsandconvictions they had not Journalists alsodiscovered in2006theexistence same reason. wasfreed inJune aftercompletingthetwo- , , found out when his passport renewal found outwhenhispassport appli- , Errissala and A3 and were alsodismissedfor the Essafir were eachimpriso- , Le Figaro and Ouest- 135 Le 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa B Sudanese-born BritishcitizenSalahal-Bandarfor of thatledtothedeportation and somepoliticians, involving theroyal family dal known asBandargate, October 2006from mentioninginany way ascan- The supreme bannedthemediaon4 court one’s job. so self-censorshipisstillthebestway tokeep prevent normalworking conditions, and five years, allow prisonsentencesfrom between sixmonths which butthepress laws, critical oftheregime, Journalists are increasingly majority for avoice. faded before thedemandsofcountry’s Shiite quickly sincehecametopower in1999, Muslim, aSunni The democraticreforms ofSheikhHamad, theregime and continues tocontroloffences themedia. The monarchy’s progress towards democracy hasnotincludeddecriminalising press KingSheikhHamadbinIssaal-Khalifa. Head ofstate: Arabic. Language: 727,000. Population: 710sq.km. Area: AHRAIN usi asu,ofthedaily paper Hussein Mansour, distributing adetailedreport onelectoral fraud. oae lOha,ofthedaily Mohamed al-Othman, online publicationsthatmentionedBandargate. Theregime alsocensored elections. liamentary amonthbefore par- was barred inOctober2006, accesstomany sitesandpoliticalblogs However, hasnotbeenimplemented. Without Borders, whichwascriticisedby Reporters new rule, butthe to register withtheinformation ministry, Internet websites dealingwithBahrainwould have The government hadsaidin April 2005thatall ting aboutthescandal. ved anonymous phonethreats inOctober for wri- Al Wasat Al Mithak recei- , and , 136 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa E from covering asit-inby thousandsofstudents policeprevented an later, Afew days in Cairo andtheirfilmwasseized. protest againstagarbagecollectiontaxincrease was bannedon3Decemberfrom covering a of theprivately-owned satellitestation Acrew two reformist judgeswere beingtried. trators andmediafrom where enteringacourt on 10May by anti-riotpoliceblockingdemons- dozen localandforeign journalistswere attacked More thana beaten by policeduringtheyear. threatened or Several TV crews were harassed, such asparliamentandthearmedforces. of stateor “undermining nationalinstitutions” news,” defamingthepresident orforeign heads jailed for uptofive years for “publishing false journalistscannow be Egyptian were doubled. thoughfinesfor this vants wasdecriminalised, Only defamationofcivilser- prison sentences. July whichcontained35mediaoffences carrying ved theamendmentstocriminalcodeon10 The lower house(thePeople’s Assembly) appro- outlets protested andstagedstrikes andsit-ins. Many privately-owned media- had beenignored. notably todecriminalisemediaoffences, union, proposals by thenationaljournalists’ on 28June, Mubarak presented thechangestoparliament butwhenPresident Hosni press law reform, Hopes hadbeenraisedby theprospect ofa dozensand threatened orphysicallyattacked. toit.Atleastseven journalistswerened intheamendments arrested during theyear The mediawere restrictions quicklydisillusionedby themany ontheiractivitiescontai- President 2006press long-awaited Mubarak’s reform law turnedouttobejustashow. HosniMubarak. Head ofstate: Language:Arabic. 74,033,000. Population: 1,001,450sq.km. Area: GYPT Al-Jazeera TV crew Dream TV cism ofIslamonhisblog. Amer wasjailedon6November for postingcriti- a threat to “national security.” BloggerKareem suspendorshutdown websites considered block, decisionallowing theauthoritiesto tions ministry endorsed inJune aninformation andcommunica- AStateCounciladministrative court led in2006. dom andatleastseven cyber-dissidents were jai- The regime alsocracked down onInternetfree- September andthreatened membersofherfamily. of theBritishnews agency rity policealsowent tothehomeofSummerSaid, Statesecu- journalists working for foreign media. away for theauthoritiestopressure local try, of theyear wasstillbannedfrom leaving thecoun- He wasfreed afterpaying heavy bailbutattheend out by many localandforeign media-outlets. even thoughthesamenews hadalready beenput only journalisthauledbefore astatesecuritycourt harmful tothecountry’s reputation.” Hewasthe Sinai andaccusedofputtingout “inaccurate news April whilereportingonexplosionsinsouthern wasarrested on27 Hussein Abdel Ghani, chief, Jazeera The authoritieswere especially severe with deputies. missal ofthe at Al-Azhar University inprotest againstthedis- journalists andthestation’s Cairo bureau student unionleaderandtwo ofhis Reuters on9 , 137 Al- 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa I o.Thosejailedare oftenconditionally released son. explainsthefewerpartly journalists senttopri- Self-censorship demands are out-of-boundstopics. women’s rightsandregional ethnic taboos, social Theregime’s leaders, many media-outlets. Self-censorship isstillthebestway for tosurvive guide,”Khamenei. Ayatollah Ali making funofthecountry’sarticle “supreme the weekly Busheir on13Octoberinfront ofthe officesof also stagedby mullahs inthesoutherntown of ting Ayatollah Khomeini.” Demonstrationswere seven ofitsjournalistswere chargedwith “insul- thern town ofBandar after Abbas inFebruary ces oftheweekly koranic schoolsransacked andsetfire totheoffi- Government organisationsand during theyear. Several media-outletswere physically attacked still inMahabadprison. theendofyear hewas lion tumen(€5,500).At strike inprotest andrefused topay bailof5mil- Hebeganahunger- in Kurdistan toforeign media. abouthumanrights ned himfor givinginterviews by thetown prosecutor who immediately detai- wassummonedon27November western Iran), Turkish news agency whoworks for the Shirko Jahani, even basicrights. without Many journalistswere alsoheldinsecret, anger ofthecountry’s Azeri minority. picked upsoonafterwards for reporting onthe Four otherswere of acockroach speaking Azeri. May Iranafterpublicationofacartoon innorthern Two were arrested in media-outlets censored. 38journalistswere arrested andadozen 2006, In ces have cracked down hard on journalists. Revolutionary Guards andtheintelligenceservi- and histeamofmainly former leadersofthe Presidentconservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ultra- Since comingtopower in August 2005, theirwork. course of procedures endlesslegal threats daily and inthe are butseveral injail are thetargets of imprisoned insecret conditionswithoutaccesstoa lawyer. indifficult Fewer journalists journalistswere arrested in2006forcriticising theauthorities somewere and Dozens of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Head ofstate: Persian. Language: 69,515,000. Population: 1,648,200sq.km. Area: RAN Safir Dashtestan Tamadone Hormozgan Euphrates whichhadcarried an , in Mahabad(north- in thesou- O ofculture andIslamicguidance. ministry would force mediaworkers toregister withthe The government proposed alaw in2006that res forced sometogo abroad. Suchlegalpressu- thing thatdispleasestheregime. imprisoned againatany momentfor writingsome- but cannotwork freely becausethey couldbe CIRCUMSTANCES tuals andoppositionfigures andhisaccusations revelations aboutthe1998murders ofintellec- Republic.” Hehadalsobeenprosecuted for his values” and “making propaganda againsttheIslamic the founder oftheIslamic republic anditssacred prison for “undermining statesecurity,” “insulting was freed on18March afterspending sixyears in No editoroftheweekly Journalist Akbar Ganji, A identified. Teheran’s herkillershave stillnotbeen Evinprison, photographing familiesofprisonersoutside Zahra Kazemiwasarrested andmurdered after Three years afterIranian-Canadianjournalist return herbodytofamily. authorities refused toexplainhow shediedor TheIranian spate ofsuicidesby Kurdish women. gone totheregion inearly July toinvestigate a Shehad the border afterfinishingherassignment. Borders showed shehadbeenkilledonherway to but evidence received by Reporters Without died duringanoperationagainstKurdish rebels Shefirstappeared tohave province of Azerbaijan. inthenorthwestern the Iranianarmy inKeleres, the Kurdish-origin a TurkishAyfer Serçe, journalistof KBAR EJUNLS UDRDI DISTURBING IN MURDERED JOURNALIST NE Euphrates and contributortoseveral reformist dailies, G NIFEDATRSXYEARS SIX AFTER FREED ANJI esaec,was killedinlateJuly by news agency, Rah-é- 138 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa I 04 oei nji ttemmn.ButInternetfil- noneisinjailatthemoment. 2004, Whereas around 20were imprisonedin 2006. Repression ofbloggersseemstohave declinedin could obscure thisissue. He warnedthattheeconomicinterests involved discussions therest oftheworld hadwithIran. stressed thatthehumanrightsshouldfigure inall inPariswhenhe Without Borders headquarters he heldapress conference attheReporters hewasfreed, 2005 inabidtowinhisrelease.After ged ahunger-strike for more thantwo monthsin He hadbeenkept confinement andsta- insolitary Hashemi Rafsandjani. against toppoliticianssuchas Ali Fallahianand RAN songs. of Western culturalproducts suchasfilmsand motivated by adesire toprevent thedownloading butitcouldalsobe poor-quality Iraniannetwork, explained by aconcernnottooverload thevery couldbe ded tobanbroadband connections.This authoritiesalsorecently deci- women's rights.The concentrated ononlinepublicationsdealingwith thecensorshave But sincethesummerof2006, with religion are usually theonesmosttargeted. politicalsitesandthosedealing Pornographic sites, tering 10million"immoral"websites. tering hassteppedupandIrantoday boastsoffil- 139 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa H 20 minutes insidewithoutbeingchallenged. They leftafter burst insideinsearch ofjournalists. gunmen killedsecurityguards atitsstudiosand Chaâbiya Eleven staffofanew TV station, media outlet. them ofbelongingeithertoaShiiteorSunni whoaccused gets ofgunmenfrom bothsides, andwererivalries dividingthecountry majortar- Media workers were alsovictimsofthereligious 400 kmfrom Baghdad)by armedmeninacar. November infront ofhishomeinMosul(about of theIraqi TV station cameraman ker andinjuringabout20journalists.A I media workers were kidnapped (upfrom 14in when20 “Trading” inhostagesincreased in2006, the Iraqinewspaper garage ofaBaghdadbuildinghousingtheoffices car-bomb explodedon7Mayworkplaces.A inthe killed infront oftheirhomesandeven attheir the year were murdered asthey drove vehicles or They were notsafe anywhere andduring attacks. Most ofthejournalistswere killedindeliberate T see themasspies. media exposesthemtoIraqiarmedgroups that work withthe foreign (especially English-speaking) Their countries andapplying for politicalasylum. Western embassiesinBaghdadorneighbouring More andmore ofthemare takingrefuge in no specialprotection andare frontline targets. Local journalistslivingamongthepopulationhave Iraqis. and hissoundmanJamesBrolan -andtherest oftheUSnetwork foreigners -PaulDouglas, Two were their assistantswere killedin2006. Local andforeign mediaand65journalists Iraqi authorities imposedrestrictions diversity. news onthemediathatcouldendanger inthecountryMarch sincefightingbegan itthedeadliestyear 2003.The making others in2006, kidnapped More 60mediaworkers than were ascore killedand of ra 438,320sq.km. Area: edo tt:Jalal Talabani. Head ofstate: Kurdish. Arabic, Languages: 28,807,000. Population: REE TAK INCREASE ATTACKS ARGETED SAE SBARGAINING AS OSTAGES RAQ were killedon12Octoberwhenmasked , Al-Sabah Al Charkiya killingaprintingwor- , - CHIPS was killedon13 CBS Al , I end of2006. fatewasstillunknown atthe neighbourhood.Their ofIraqinBaghdad’sthe IslamicParty Yarmuk of conference attheheadquarters on1February were seizedby four armedmenasthey leftapress of colleague MarwanKhazaal, Meanwhile two Iraqireporters -RimZeidandher held three months. Shewas released on30March afterbeing zed. waslaterfound atthespotshewassei- been shot, whohad AllanEnwiyah, body ofherinterpreter, The on herway aSunnipolitician. tointerview by gunmeninthe Adel neighbourhoodofBaghdad journalist JillCarroll waskidnapped on7January Freelance US 2005) andseven ofthemexecuted. Al-Zawra shutdown Sunni The interiorministry TV stations officials said “amplified thehorror oftheviolence.” ned from showing filmof “blood andkillings”that “stirring upreligious andethnicpassions”ban- for “inciting violence.” TV stationswere accusedof threatened toshutdown mediaoutletsitblamed ment ofprimeministerNurial-Malikiregularly govern-sed duringtheyear by theauthorities.The Iraqi journalistsfacedrestrictions andbansimpo- KING The interior ministry setupamonitoringunitto The interiorministry stormy debatethere aboutsectarian violence. transmission ofparliamentwas suspendedaftera Live the Green ZoneofBaghdadinNovember. parliament andtheinternational press centre in The authoritiesbriefly bannedthemediafrom year. not beenallowed backontheairby theendof They hadstill testing againsthisdeathsentence. res offormer President Saddam Husseinandpro- broadcasting filmofdemonstratorswaving pictu- AIJUNLSSPEETDFO WOR FROM PREVENTED JOURNALISTS RAQI and Salah-Eddin on 5November for Al-Sumariya TV 140 - - 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa I Saudi TV station Saudi TV Baghdadbureau ofthe Iraq isclosely watched.The pan-Arab satellite TV networks whosereportingof measure alsocovers the them ifthey refused.The cast corrections of “false news” andprosecute ask journalistsandmedia-outletstoprintorbroad- rity forces during2006andfour ofthemwere still At least30journalistswere arrested by Iraqisecu- allowed toopenaBaghdad office. and theQatar-based month for alleged “incitement toreligious rivalry” RAQ Al-Arabiya Al-Jazeera was shutdown for a has stillnotbeen Dar Al Salam Dar Al oftheradiostation Ahmad Ali Hamasal-Obaidi, being heldwithoutchargeattheendofyear. accused ofanything. having linkswithinsurgentsbutwasnotformally ted by UStroops on12 April on suspicionof Associated Press Local were stillbeingheldwithout astatedreason. the sameperiodandatyear-end four ofthem The USarmy arrested eightmediaworkers during was arrested athisBaghdadhomeon5 August. whichislinked toanIslamistparty, , reporter BilalHusseinwasarres- 141 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa I the Turkish news agency the Turkishnews of Photographer Hamidal-Khur, ting inLebanon. events inthePalestinian Territories andthefigh- Several journalistswere wounded whilecovering charges.” that evidence gathered was “insufficient tobring son saidmostofthemhadbeeninvestigated but spokesper- Aseniormilitary into theseincidents. the lackofopennessinIsraeliarmy’s enquiries went toIsraelinDecemberhowever topublicise Reporters Without Borders 2006 andnonekilled. bombardment ofthePalestinian Territories in Only 17mediaworkers were duringIsraeli hurt problemsin 2000,many remain. thesecondIntifada years thesafest forthemsincethestart of though 2006was oneof journalistsenjoy afreedomThe country’s notfoundelsewhere intheregion, but EhudOlmert. Head ofgovernment: Hebrew,Arabic. Languages: 6,725,000. Population: 21,060sq.km. Area: though hewaswearing ajacket marked “Media.” even shell fragmentsandsuffered chestwounds, washitby ofthePalestinianpublic TV station, Atla, CameramanIbrahim incursion intheGazaStrip. caught ingunfire whenreportingonanIsraeli about20media workers were A few days later, on7July. Gaza, innorthern troops inBeitLahiya, shes between PalestinianmilitantsandIsraeli times by Israelisoldiersashetookpictures ofcla- SRAEL Ihlas wasshotthree , foot by rubberbullets. washitonthe Wael Tantous, and atechnician, live coverage ofanIsraeliincursionintoNablus during ledby journalistJevara al-Budeiri, crew, vehicle openedfiretary onanother AnIsraelimili- ofthecountry. ting inthenorth wasarrested on17and18July whilerepor- chief, thestation’s Jerusalem bureau Walid al-Omari, reporting onthewarinLebanonmid-2006. Jazeera Journalists ofthepan-Arabsatellite TV station for weapons and “illegal material.” of journalistsinthePalestinian Territories looking diers freely entered mediaofficesandthehomes Israeli sol- Bank for supposedsecurityreasons. ned from travelling between Gazaandthe West andthey were ban- marily asPalestiniancitizens, whoconsidered thempri- the Israeliauthorities, Palestinian journalistsfacedmany restrictions by vehicle wasdamaged. aaeejunls,anda Japanese journalist, His assistantwasalsowounded alongwitha were prevented several timesfrom Reuters news agency Al-Jazeera 142 Al- 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa J Many mediaoutletsaround theworld reprinted excused inthenameoffreedom ofexpression. the Prophet wasanoffence thatcouldnotbe saidthatany insultto cendance from Mohamed, restswhose legitimacypartly onhisfamily’s des- a “cowardly andreprehensible crime.” The king, 2006for theirauthorstobepunishedforJanuary where parliamentunanimously calledin Jordan, September 2005sparked reaction in anangry Mohamed by theDanishdaily oftheProphetThe printingof12cartoons ship. preferring self-censor- nalists dare tobreach them, the royal limitsare family.The clearandfew jour- diplomatic relations” ortodowiththekingand write thingsconsidered “harmful tothecountry’s but journalistsstillfaceprisonifthey offences, often says hefavours decriminalisationofpress Theking of thestate-runJordan Press Association. try’s andhave intelligenceservices tobemembers Local journalistsare closely watchedby thecoun- Two journalistsappeared incourt in2006therow over cartoons. theMohamed thepress law. excuseas an fortheauthorities todelaythereforms, includingthatof onterrorism”but the“war 2001attacks sincethe11September intheUSstillserves tothethrone haspushedpoliticalliberalisation sincehecame King Abdallah in1999, King Abdallah II. Head ofstate: Language:Arabic. 5,703,000. Population: 89,210sq.km. Area: ORDAN Jyllands-Posten in was notallowed tocompletetheinterview. while interviewing Al-Zarkawi’s brother inlaw and wasbriefly arrested on8June Yasser Abu Hilala, of thepan-Arabsatellite TV station tests inhisnative Jordan.The Amman bureau chief ledtopro- head oftheIraqibranch Al-Qaeda, The USarmy killingof Abu Mussabal-Zarkawi, tences on31May. religious feelings andgiven two-month prisonsen- They were chargedwithoffending publication. aboutcriticismoftheir them alongsideanarticle and be “reasonable” andcalledonMuslimsworldwidethe cartoons to questioned by ajudge. Mehwar editorsoftheweeklies Momani, Hishamal-KhalidiandJihad Two localjournalists, banned inJordan inFebruary. France-Soir anddistributionoftheFrenchthe cartoons dailies were arrested tobe twiceinFebruary , and Libération Al-Mehwar Shihan and Spain’s reprinted three of printed all12of Shihan El Pais Al-Jazeera and were 143 Al- , 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa K under theold1963press law thatlimitedthe somethingstrongly forbidden to belaunched, thenew lawHowever, allows politicaldaily papers actions considered tobe “against nationalinterests.” tions andjournalistsare stillliabletogo toprisonfor added invaguelanguageopentomany interpreta- restrictionsFurther onjournalisticactivitywere sonment for them. whichstillallows impri- with undercriminallaw, Theseoffences are dealt Prophet andhisaides. the undermining Islamiclaw andoffending God, suchas was watered down by many exceptions, announcedasthekey innovation, press offences, Butdecriminalisationof journalist’s imprisonment. media andsaidthatonly ajudgecouldorder a monopoly ofissuingoperatinglicencesfor the law on6March 2006thatendedthegovernment The country’s parliamentapproved anew press reprisals. they stillavoid criticising theauthorities of forfear Parliament press adoptedanew designedtoprotect law journalists’basicrights but SheikhSabahal-Ahmadal-Jaberal-Sabah. Head ofstate: Arabic. Language: 2,687,000. Population: 17,820sq.km. Area: UWAIT communications ministerwithdrew hiscomplaint. charged with “inciting unrest” butfreed afterthe wereHussein asthelawful president ofIraq.They describingSaddamafter thepaper rananarticle on 21November andheldaday for questioning daily Journalist Khaledal-Obeisanandtheeditorof wasfined150dinars(€400). Sabah, SheikhKhalifaal- Thepaper’s editor, conviction. Sheisappealing the denouncing acorrupt judge. November by aKuwait for anarticle Citycourt tence andfined1,000dinars(€2,675)on18 was given athree-month suspendedprisonsen- ofthedaily Journalist Aziza al-Mufarig, licence. authorities refuse tograntthemanoperating complaint withanadministrativeifthe court Mediaoutletscanalsofilea press tofive dailies. Al Seyassah Amda-arla,were arrested al-Jarrallah, ,Ahmed Al Watan 144 , 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa charged withtheftunderthecriminalcode(rather were along withtheirdriver MohammedBarbar, The pair-FirasHatoumand Abdel-Azim Khayat - of awitnessinthecase. ted on19Decemberfor enteringtheapartment nalists for thesatellitestation ter RafikHaririisgettingnowhere andtwo jour- tion intotheassassinationofformer primeminis- Theinvestiga- political andjudicialmachinations. any other butstillhaveArab country tocopewith The mediahave more freedom inLebanonthan agencies. southern Lebanonfor several internationalnews Cana whileshewascovering theIsraeliattacksin was killedwhenamissileexplodednearhercarin 23, press photographer Layal Nagib, The nextday, L stations to someregions by town of Terbol cuttingoffbroadcasts the sameday, planes bombedan Israeli attack andtwo otheremployees injured. waskilledduringthe SleimanChidiac, technician, Corporation the privately-owned temporarily putting on22July, eastofBeirut, Fatka, Israeli warplanesdestroyed atransmissionmastat someone whomademissiles. interroristtook part activitiesinthesameway as rights asothermediaoutletsbecausetheirstaff to terrorist organisations”didnothave thesame Jerusalem inDecember2006that “media affiliated Israeli officialtoldReporters Without Borders in An during thefightingwithHezbollahmilitia. Israeli forces bombedLebanesemediainstallations two journalists. murder in2005of other mediaworkers injured. noreal Meanwhile progress was the madeininvestigating were aTVstationtechnician victims.Ajournalistand civilian 10 in many killedand 2006resulted on12July forcesThe Israeli attack onHezbollah thatbegan inLebanon FuadSiniora. Head ofgovernment: French. Languages:Arabic, 3,577,000. Population: 10,400sq.km. Area: EBANON Future TV ( LBC ) Astation TV stationofftheair. and LBC LBC Al-Manar installation inthenorthern and privately-owned TV Lebanese Broadcasting New TV . were arres- were been triedandpunished. to have anarmandalegamputatedhave stillnot butthebomberswhocausedher on 25July 2006, returned totheair attack on25September2005, who wasseriously wounded inanothercarbomb daily paper managingeditorofthe murder ofGebran Tueni, finally namedon17June tohandlethecaseof kers intheprevious examiningjudgewas year.An Lebanese investigations ofattacksonmediawor- No significantprogress wasmadein2006 mes. own mandatetobeexpandedincludethesecri- Reporters Without Borders for theUNenquiry’s thusrejecting anappeal by October 2004, ting otherterrorist crimescommittedsince1 nical helptotheLebaneseauthoritiesininvestiga- murder on15June tosimply continue givingtech- commissionontheHariri international enquiry The UNSecurityCouncilauthorisedthe Beirut inJuly. were struck by anisraelimissilein Hezbollah, awaitingOffices of trial. ofBeirut, northeast Roumieh, thethree menwere stillinprisonat the year, theendof oftheirown freerance incourt will.At includingappea- rights journalistsusually have, than thepress law) andwere notallowed the 05 Meanwhile, 2005. whowaskilledby acarbombon2June Kassir, into thedeathofFranco-LebanesejournalistSamir went toBeirutfor thefirsttimeon4July tolook French anti-terrorist judgeJean-Louis Bruguière lier. Al-Manar An-Nahar LBC the TV stationoperatedby the , more thansixmonthsear- , TV presenter May Chidiac, 145 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa L Al-Shams Three ofthefour maindaily papers ( let exists. Noindependentmedia-out- leader,” Gaddafi. Col. tive” news abouttheactivitiesof “brotherly led propaganda mouthpiecesthatputout “posi- Themediaare stillgovernment-control- changed. attitude butthepress freedom situationhashardly fact ofthevisitshowed the regime’s more relaxed The invitation ofthecountry’s journalists’union. Libya for thefirsttimeinSeptember2006at A Reporters Without Borders delegationvisited self-censorshipand istherule. keeps avery tightrein Localjournalistshave very onnews. littleroom formanoeuvre recent al-Gaddafi’s Despite Col.Muammar pro-democracy pretensions, hisregime still Muammaral-Gaddafi. Head ofstate: Language:Arabic. 5,853,000. Population: 1,759,540sq.km. Area: prison sentencesofuptotwo years. press law harshandallows isvery mentioned.The Guide oftheRevolution”) andhisfamily are never minority andanything todowithGaddafi (“The The plightoftheBerber implicating topofficials. does isreport minorcorruption withoutever Themostthelocalmedia vailing personalitycult. that canleaddirectly toprisonbecauseofthepre- CriticisingGaddafi isataboo set by theregime. Few journalistsdare toventure beyond thelimits lightenthegrimpicture. run stations, whichhave lured peopleaway fromstations, state- Only satellite TV which istheregim’s backbone. to theMovement ofRevolutionary Committees, andthefourth, ministry) General Press Office(anarmoftheinformation IBYA and Al-Fajr al-Jadid Al-Zahf al-Akhdar ) are fundedby the Al-Jamahiriya belongs , , opposition websites. since beenimprisonedfor posting materialon has Idrees MohammedBoufayed, cyber-dissident, anew “enemies oftheInternet.” However, offitslistof organisation tookthecountry the InNovember, dissidents remained inprison. nocyber- and withtherelease of Al-Mansouri, that theInternetwasnolongercensored inLibya The Reporters Without Borders missionnoted wasstillalive. without chargeortrialin1973, whodisappeared afterhewasjailed Darrat, still hadnoproof that Abdullah Ali al-Sanussi al- Reporters Without Borders By theendof2006, Committees. the regime andtheMovement ofRevolutionary Hehadstrongly criticised still notbeennamed. have on 1June 2005withmany marksoftorture, whosebodywasfound The killersof Al-Ghazal, was amnestiedinMarch 2006afterayear injail. He wrote onthewebsite www.akhbar-libya.com. becauseofwhathe fact itwasalmostcertainly for “unauthorised possessionofafirearm” butin month prisonsentenceinOctober2005officially Al-Mansouriwasgiven an18- regime online. Mansouri were punishedfor criticisingthe al-Ghazal andcyber-dissident Abdel Razakal- Journalist Daif activity onitisclosely monitored. Libyans have free accesstotheInternet buttheir 146 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa M tor oftheweeklyAnas Tadili, fromApart therelease 2006ofedi- on29January GodorIslam. grity, territorial inte- thenation, themonarchy, the king, to pay heavy very finesanddamagesfor offending prisonsentencesandjournalistsoftenhaverying press lawsecuted.The hasascore ofoffences car- butthisisthemainreason journalistsaretry pro- the kingandroyal family inrunningthecoun- boldestjournalistsinvestigate therole of nes.The lations by theauthoritiesfrequently make headli- commission setupin2004)pasthumanrightsvio- public hearingsoftheequityandreconciliation andtheriseofIslamism(thanksto cussed, The future of Western Saharaismore openly dis- subjectsaretaboo now fewer. prosecution journalistsface the country’s thatseverely theirwork, even though affects kingin1999have slowly VIbecame whenMohamed The hopesraised disappeared and KingMohammed VI. Head ofstate: Arabic. Language: 31,478,000. Population: (excluding Western Sahara). 446,550sq.km. Area: managing editorof few daysmunity association.A later Abubakr Jamai, 500,000 dirhams(€50,000)totheheadofacom- TelQuel orderedCasablanca appeal court theweekly The targeted by politically-inspired legalaction. Two French-language publicationswere especially going toMoroccan-controlled Western Sahara. human rightswere barred on24Octoberfrom Foreign journalistsreporting on ghout theyear. against theindependentmediacontinued throu- harassmentandlegalaction Islam” andcensorship, was shutdown on21Decemberfor “undermining The Arab-language weekly badyear. very press freedom hada after 22monthsinprison, lion dirhams(€284,000)indamagesfor libelling journalist FahdIraqiwere ordered topay 3.1 mil- OROCCO on 7 February topayon 7February libeldamagesof Le JournalHebdomadaire Akhbar al-Ousbouaâ Nishan and , , challenges themonarchy’s legitimacy. which Islamist organisationJustice and Charity, Polisario Front and totheonlinepublicationof Morocco blocksaccesstowebsites closetothe injuries. He wastaken tohospitalwithneckandshoulder families ofpoliticalprisonersinRabaton15June. attacked by policewhile covering asit-inby the work The correspondent ofthepan-Arabsatellitenet- security officialsandhiscameraseized. ned by thepublic prosecutor andvariousstate Hewasquestio- buildinginthecity. out ofacourt prisoners whowere suspectedterrorists coming Rabat) on7November for photographing three arrested by detectives in Tetuan of (300kmnorth ab,oftheweekly Wahbi, Jamal from covering demonstrationsortrials. Security forces several timesbannedjournalists September 2005. that firstappeared intheDanishpress in reprinted oftheProphet thecartoons Mohamed malicious rumoursspread thatthepaper had were stagedinfront ofthepaper’s officesafter demonstrations (probably government-organised) Two days before theverdict intheESISCcase, Polisario Front independencemovement. tiality ofanESISCstudythe Western Sahara criticisingtheimpar- Center (ESISC)inanarticle the European StrategicIntelligenceandSecurity Al-Jazeera asnFth wasphysically HassanFatih, , Assahifa al-Maghribiya was , 147 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa news agency Theofficesofthe public covering Hamasevents. fromReporters publicmedia were attacked while were physically attacked. pro-Hamas orpro-Fatah, labelled either Dozens ofPalestinianjournalists, the centre ofthisfighting. whichwas 17 December2006inshootingGaza, P Corporation centre ofthepublic Qassem Brigadestormedthe TV transmission About 100armedmembersofHamas’Ezzedinal accused itofputtingoutElFatahpropaganda. leaders andHamasprimeministerIsmaelHaniyeh attacked several timesduringtheyear afterfaction Theagencywas and equipmentdestroyed. daily wave correspondent oftheFrench ofviolence.The split between HamasandElFatahsetoffanew for journalistsinthePalestinian Territories, butthe Gaza raisedhopesofbetterworking conditions The withdrawalAugust 2005Israelimilitary from whichsupports President ElFatah, and Abbas. Hamas Mahmoud theIslamist ters of fierce clashesbetween suppor- from more Israelis and, recently, have beenvictimsof theusualshooting 2006,journalistshave faced topower came inJanuary Since Hamas Mahmoud Abbas. Head ofstate: Language:Arabic. 3,889,000. Population: 6,207sq.km. Area: ALESTINIAN Libération ( PBC WAFA iirFaçi,waswounded on DidierFrançois, , nKa ui,inthesouthern ) inKhan Yunis, were ransacked inSeptember Palestine Broadcasting A UTHORITY publicity orsometimesjobs. work ofindividualsorisolatedgroups seeking that inmostcasesthey were notpoliticalbutthe pings butReporters Without Borders considered The government failedtoinvestigate thesekidnap- States. within three days ofallMuslimsheldby theUnited unknown group whichdemandedtherelease Gaza on14 August andheldfor two weeks by an News Twohours andseveral days. USjournalistsof were freed afterbeingheldfor between afew narrowly escaped beingseizedinKhan All Yunis. andtwokidnapped on1January Belgianreporters Sixwere Foreign journalistswere alsotargeted. November anditsonly transmittersmashed. al Chaâb Liberation ofPalestine(PFLP)’s radiostation suchasthePopular Front for the attacked, smallerfactionswere Media supporting also staff. fired atequipmentandattacked inJune, Gaza Strip, Steve were CentanniandOlaf seizedin , Wiig, whosestudioswere destroyed on1 , Sawt 148 Fox 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa S write inthegovernment daily nation on30November thathecouldnolonger list Kinanben Abdallah al-Ghamidiwithoutexpla- The culturetoldjourna- andinformation ministry The regime directly censored somejournalists. print. Presidentcriticising Egyptian HosniMubarakin Hehadpreviously beenwarned for East Timor. duringits1975-99occupation of Muslim country, a about theatrocities perpetratedby Indonesia, Arab News ofthegovernment daily Journalist Fawaz Turki, for year thefourth runningin2006. allowed tocover theannual pilgrimagetoMecca Jazeera ButtheQatar-based satellitestation Internet. information from foreign TV stationsandthe content meansmostSaudisgettheirnews and Thetamelocalmedia ther Arab” countries. criticism oftheauthoritiesorpolicies “bro- Enterprising journalistspay dearly for theslightest all news andself-censorshipispervasive. The Saudiregime tightcontrol maintainsvery of vative religious authorities. were ultra-conser- dismissedin2006forgoingbeyondthelimitssetby thedominant press freedom. Two journalists world’s biggestenemiesof The countryremains oneof King Abdallah ibn Abdelaziz ibnal-Saud. Head ofstate: Arabic. Language: 24,573,000. Population: 2,149,690sq.km. Area: AUDI hc sbne nSuiAai,wasnot which isbannedinSaudi Arabia, , wasdismissedin April for writing , A RABIA Al Watan Hehad . Al- blacklist inJune 2006. whichwasadded tothe government censorship, woman whodiscussesherlove life andcriticises suchas “Saudi Eve,” ofayoung thediary to, few days andnow justcensure blogsthey object They gave blogger.com. upaftera main blog-tool, 2005 tocompletely baraccesstothecountry’s whotriedin Blogs are aproblem for thecensors, and homosexuality. Israeli publications but alsopoliticalopposition, Targets are mostly pornography, the authorities. pagesonasitehavethat certain beencensored by Saudifilterssay openly off asatechnicalproblem, where ablocked website ispassed Unlike inChina, paper inSeptember2005. the Prophet Mohamedfirstcarried by aDanish dismissed for reprinting of someofthecartoons Battal anditseditor, Alkus, month on16February The privately-owned daily the country’s bases. military in 2002afterreporting thatUStroops were using already beenforced toresign asthepaper’s editor Shams was closedfor a 149 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa Nahar S the Emiratesdaily for wrote who journalist AliAbdallah, Freelance considered tohave underminedstatesecurity. triesanyone undera1963law, that, court military lengthy legalproceedings before theDamascus were subjectedto sing government policies.They inconferencestaking part abroad andfor critici- exiledregime2006 for interviewing opponents, Several journalistswere arrested in be mentioned. adds tothelistofthingsbannedorforbidden to and vengeful stateapparatus whichcontinually time for any reason andare up against awhimsical Journalists andpoliticalactivistsriskarrest atany behaviourArbitrary remains thenorminSyria. imprisoned in2006. excusean toarrest mediaworkers. many cyber-dissidents Eightjournalistsand were emergency continuestobeusedas theongoingstateof themediaand State control of Basharel-Assad. Head ofstate: Arabic. Language: 19,043,000. Population: 185,180sq.km. Area: gation togetthemconfess. were alsotortured duringinterro-see them.They month andfamily andlawyers were notallowed to Thetwo menwere heldinsecret for a arrest. network lite TV same sentencefor contactingthepan-Arabsatel- wasalsogiven the Mohammed Abdallah, His son, adjourned thecaseseveral times. which andthentoaDamascuscourt, court case wasthenpassedtothestatesecurityhigh The March butnottrieduntilfive monthslater. Hewasarrested on23 the country’s economy. sentence for criticisinginprinttheweakness of YRIA and Assafir Al-Jazeera wasgiven asix-monthprison , Al-Khalij and Lebanesedailies to report hisfather’s An- country’s Kurdish minority. opposition websites andthosedealingwiththe The government blocksaccessto Arab-language tinely mistreated andheldintoughconditions. three havedents intheMiddle East.The beenrou- making Syriathebiggestprisonfor cyber-dissi- Three peopleare injail for criticisingtheregime, awaiting trial. Damascus, near the year hewasstillin Adra prison, charged himwithnew offences andattheendof release himonbailwascountered by anotherwho Anorder by onejudgeto repressive apparatus. oftherulingBaathParty’swhich iswholly part ple ofthemanoeuvringsjusticesystem, Hiscaseisagood exam- faces life imprisonment. sions” and “insulting institutionsandofficials” was chargedwithinciting “religious andracialdivi- whowritesfor several Lebanesepublications, Kilo, Bunni. includinglawyerwere alsoarrested inMay, Anwar Several humanrightsactivists the two countries. intellectuals callingfor betterrelations between declaration by agroup ofSyrianandLebanese signing the “Beirut-Damascus Damascus-Beirut” wasarrested on14May after more than30years, aleadingpro-democracy figure for Michel Kilo, 150 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa T ihhr were alsoassaulted. with her, whowereBoukhdir andlawyer SamirBen Amar, journalistSlim opponent MoncefMarzouki, Regime Tunis) where herhusbandisbeingheld. was ontheway totheprisoninKef (170kmfrom by groups ofyouths aspolicestoodby whenshe Shewasphysically attacked twice house offriends. house on26Octoberandfledinfrighttothe her children whenshetried to return tothe She wasthreatened by armedpoliceinfront of arrived heron16 atthehousetointerview August. and were roughedTaoufik upwhenthey al-Ayachi, SlimBoukhdir Twotors from entering. journalists, front ofthefamily homewhosometimesbarvisi- been watchedby ahorde ofpolicestationedin hermovements have 2006 todemandhisrelease, wife Samiastagedahunger-strike on13 August Sincehis criticising Ben Ali that waspostedonline. in prisonsinceMarch 2005for writinganarticle human rightsactivistMohammed Abbou hasbeen Lawyer and forgotten are undergreat pressure. Families fightingtoensure jailedjournalistsare not “intending tochangetheform ofgovernment.” 1992 for “belonging toanillegalorganisation”and He hadbeensentencedto16years imprisonmentin by President Zineel-AbidineBen Ali on25February. Jebali wasamong1,600politicalprisonerspardoned his daughterinNovember 2006. his privatelife andeven disruptedthemarriage of spy on of hisneighbourswatchallmovements, security agentspostedontheroofs andverandas State prison butisstillundertightsurveillance. wasfreed 2006after15years inFebruary in Jebali, The former editoroftheweekly movement shrinks daily. theirfreedomgovernment harassment and and surveillance of pro-opposition and Independent journalistsare prevented from working through Zineel-AbidineBen Ali. Head ofstate: Arabic Language: 10,102,000. Population: 163,610sq.km. Area: UNISIA Al Fajr Hamadi , September issueoftheFrench daily 19 the Prophet MohamedinSeptember2005.The of Islam” afteraDanishpaper printedcartoons Tunisia alsocensored publications “offensive to explanation. on 16Septemberwithout tothecountry entry ofthewebsite Labaye, French journalistLéa ting thepeoplehemet. but theirvisiblepresence wasaimedatintimida- secret policedidnotstophisinterviews hotel.The clothes policeandotherswere postedoutsidehis was constantly followed inNovember by sixplain- AlgerianreporterMeddi Adlène to work freely. Foreign journalistsgoing to Tunisia are notallowed president in anonlinenewsletter. imprisoned sinceMarch 2005for criticisingthe hasbeen Mohammed Abbou, One cyber-dissident, site editorstoensure thatself-censorship prevails. harass independentbloggersandoppositionweb- inside Tunisia.The alsoconstantly securityservices the Reporters Without Borders website from impossibletoaccess for example, Itis, veillance. ter web contentandare underclosepolicesur- All theInternetcafes are fil- state-controlled.They cies are amongthemostrepressive intheworld. President Zineel Abidine Ben Ali’s Internetpoli- Yeta bigUNevent abouttheInternet’s future. World SummitontheInformation Society(WSIS), Tunisia had thehonourofhosting In 2005, daily to confiscate anissueoftheFrenchin February whichhadalsobeenused law protecting religion, about Islamistintimidation?”wasbannedundera Redeker headed “What shouldthefree world do by French anarticle philosopherRobert rying France Soir that reprinted thecartoons. Bakchich.info wasrefused , Le Figaro car- , 151 2007 Annual Report - Middle East and North Africa 6 December. Hewasfined500,000rials(€1,980)on on bail. and heldfor two weeks before beingreleased Observer editorofthe Mohammed Al Asaadi, humanitarian belief.” faith ordenigratingamonotheisticreligion or publication ofanything “harming theIslamic 103of the press lawted underarticle banning editorswere prosecu- the Muslimworld.Their reporting onthedifferent reactions tothemin for reprinting of someorallofthemaspart Rai AlAam Y weeklies theindependent Mohamed inSeptember2005, oftheProphetper printed12cartoons More thansixmonthsafteraDanishnewspa- habits. which targeted local papers thatreproduced them,thusdisplayingitsoldauthoritarian cartoons printedThe Mohamed intheinternationalmediaangered thegovernment, Ali Abdallah Saleh. Head ofstate: Arabic. Language: 20,975,000. Population: 527,970sq.km. Area: EMEN wasarrested 2006 on10February , Al-Huriya were shutdown for three months , The Yemen Observer Observer The Yemen The Yemen and Al h onr,even visa. thoughhehadavalidentry the country, of clandestineSomaliimmigrantsthatlandedin afteraccompanying aboatload ring thecountry” being arrested on12Octoberfor “illegally ente- Daniel washeldfor five days after Grandclément-Chaffy, A French freelance journalist, but remained free pendinghisappeal. sentenced toayear inprisonon25November editorof Kamal Alufi, shut down. was alsogiven aone-monthsuspendedorder to on13December.Thelists by paper aSanaacourt son andamonth-longbanonworking asjourna- given suspendedsentencesoffour monthsinpri- before beingfreed onbailandthenwere each whospentthree weeks inprison Yahya al-Aabed, ka ar,editorof Akram Sabra, Also arrested were on10February Abdel Halim Al-Huriya andhisreporter , Al Rai AlAam Al was , 152