C A N A D I A N J O U R N A L I S T S F O R F R E E E X P R E S S I O N

2004 – Issue 1 r eporter CJFE defends Canadian writer facing 97 criminal charges By Joel Ruimy they write. But the case of Stephen terial from the notorious Bernar- tive and exemplary damages.” Williams is a first for us in Canada. do-Homolka case in his books and In response, CJFE issued a po- CJFE has often dealt with cases Williams is an author on his website. He was also jailed sition paper on December 9, 2003, where journalists and authors who faces a staggering 97 crimi- for a day and faces a civil lawsuit, entitled “The Case of Stephen abroad have been prosecuted re- nal charges of disobeying court brought against him by the pro- Williams: Secret Publication Bans, peatedly, and even jailed, for what orders for publishing banned ma- vince, seeking unspecified “puni- Selective Prosecution and Prose- cutorial Conflict of Interest.” The paper calls for an end to the pros- ecution of Williams and for changes to laws on publication bans. In an open letter that announ- ces a cash contribution to Wil- liams’s defence fund, Guelph book- seller Doug Minnett notes that his work “is not everyone’s cup of tea … many people are offended by his work – whether they have read it or not.” Like Minnett, CJFE believes it is necessary to help defend Wil- liams and to ensure that the legal context that allowed this case to arise in the first place is reviewed and fixed. CJFE has also contrib- uted $5,000 from our Journalists in Distress fund towards Williams’s defence costs in the civil lawsuit. Following are excerpts from CJFE's paper.

DALE RATCLIFFE / CJFE illiams wrote two books Staff of Harbel Community Radio Station in Liberia, which CJFE representa- about the case of serial tive Dale Ratcliffe visited during an international mission to Liberia. W killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. In them, he criti- cized the plea-bargain deal with Homolka. The books were based CJFE joins mission in part on materials contained in a ‘Crown brief,’ a dossier prepared to help Liberia rebuild by police investigators and pro- By Dale Ratcliffe LBS was one of many media December, along with Interna- secutors for the organizations, civil society groups tional Media Support, Panos, the trial. n the middle of Reconcilia- and United Nations agencies that International Federation of Jour- It is important tion Today, a radio program the Partnership for Media and Con- nalists, the Media Foundation of to note that he I on the Liberia Broadcasting flict Prevention in West Africa met West Africa, Nigerian-based Me- was legally in System (LBS), the studio plunges in mid-December, 2003. The part- dia Rights Agenda, Article 19 and possession of this into darkness. The LBS generator nership, consisting of organiza- UNESCO. I represented CJFE and Crown brief; there is down. Again. tions involved in freedom of ex- IFEX because of my experience is no law against

No one panics. This is a regu- pression and media development, managing CJFE’s media project his possessing it. JOHN REEVES lar occurrence in the capital of was developed a few months ear- next door in Sierra Leone. Some of the ma- Stephen Williams Monrovia, where everything runs lier to collaborate and avoid un- LBS was the ‘state’ broadcaster terial in the brief on generators. Fifteen minutes necessary duplication in countries under the deposed president, was covered by a series of pub- later, the generator sputters back such as Liberia. Charles Taylor. There are many lication bans – but some of the to life. The host apologizes. The CJFE was one of the organiza- signs that its transformation into bans themselves were sealed, program continues. tions that travelled to Liberia in — continues on page 6 — continues on page 7

Romeo Dallaire Journalist from Trainer’s notebook: moves audience Pakistan receives Reporting workshop at awards banquet death threats in Thailand teaches with Rwanda story in Ontario flexibility p 4-5 p 3 p 6 Three new directors join CJFE at annual meeting ew faces and old friends Directors re-elected to two-year • Carol Off, host of CBC-TV’s graced CJFE’s annual gen- terms are: Counterspin Neral meeting at Massey • Frank Addario, lawyer with Amber was also re-elected College in Toronto last October. Sack Goldblatt Mitchell President of the Board. After hearing summary reports • Arnold Amber, executive The new directors, also elected about the past year from Presi- producer with CBC-TV Net- for two years, are: dent Arnold Amber and Executive work News • Khosro Shemiranie, a jour- Director Joel Ruimy, members • Marlene Benmergui, freelance nalist with the Farsi-language voted on the nine directorships • Bob Carty, producer with Toronto weekly Shahrvand up for grabs this year – six whose CBC-Radio’s The Current and • Roger Holmes, publisher of JAGG CARR-LOCKE / CJFE two-year terms had expired and The Sunday Edition in the Wainwright Star Chronicle Ugandan journalist Henry Ford recovers in a Toronto hospital. three who had left the Board. All • Bob Hepburn, editorial page and president of the Alberta posts were filled by acclamation. editor of The Weekly Newspaper Association region of his native Uganda in • Alison Armstrong, journalist 1999. Three years after the shoot- and co-author of The Child and ing, Ford came to Toronto for hip- the Machine: Why Computers replacement surgery, and last fall Ruimy resigns as May Put Our Children’s Educa- he returned to Canada for follow- tion at Risk up treatments. Both trips were Executive Director CJFE thanks departing direc- partly financed by CJFE’s Jour- Joel Ruimy has resigned as Executive Di- tors Phinjo Gombu (Toronto Star), nalists in Distress fund. rector of CJFE. He is leaving after two Kokila Jacob (freelance) and John At the meeting, Ford spoke years to pursue other interests. Paton (Knight Paton Media Corp.). compellingly about what it’s like Ruimy took over at a crucial time in Another new face at CJFE is to survive a gunshot wound and CJFE’s history, and leaves it a much Julie Payne, the new Program stay in a hospital bed for 115 stronger organization. He became the Manager. Payne, who comes to us days and many surgeries. The au- aggressive public voice and face of CJFE from PEN Canada, joined staff on dience was mesmerized when he on a multitude of issues involving free November 10. She replaces Tariq told of the shooting’s impact on Joel Ruimy expression and press freedom across Hassan-Gordon, who left to pur- his young daughter – the anger, at 2003 banquet Canada. He moved the organization to the sue a career at the federal De- the rebellion, and the fears she front ranks of analysis and advocacy in the field. partment of Foreign Affairs and exhibited while struggling with CJFE thanks Joel for his contribution, and wishes him well International Trade. her father’s close call. in his future endeavours. CJFE has begun to search for a new The AGM ended with a talk by It was a welcome reminder of executive director. Henry Ford, a journalist shot while why CJFE exists and whom it seeks covering fighting in the western to serve. Sierra Leone project manager visits CJFE in Canada ince launching a ground- Recently, the project’s local co- wright, Alberta, to see the project The six newspapers that the breaking project to rebuild ordinator, Foday Fofanah, paid a consultant, Wainwright Star project supports have doubled S Sierra Leone’s media two reciprocal visit to Canada. Chronicle publisher Roger Holmes. from four to eight pages, with years ago, CJFE has visited the Last November, Fofanah vis- In Sierra Leone, the tempera- more pictures added. They have country many times to help jour- ited Toronto for three days with ture can reach 40 degrees Cel- also begun to use classified ad- nalists set up a printing press. CJFE staff, then flew to Wain- sius; in Wainwright, he encoun- vertisements to generate revenue. tered -20. It was the first time Up-to-date news reports and Fofanah had seen snow, or his pictures have replaced old, re- breath. He also remarked on the used stories, and the quality of length of a 650 km drive through reporting has improved greatly the Rocky Mountains: Sierra Leone since Holmes visited the printing is about the size of New Bruns- press last year. wick, 200 km. wide. The CJFE printing plant is the Fofanah praised Holmes’s as- only one of its kind in the Mano sistance as a Canadian trainer for River Union region, which com- CJFE’s media development pro- prises Sierra Leone, Liberia and gram in Sierra Leone. Guinea. 2 “I admired his ability to ob- After touring the Wainwright serve and take mental notes. He Star Chronicle’s printing presses, helped us to use a digital camera Fofanah said, “I wish one day we for the first time, and he was could have this kind of press [in able to lay the foundation for a Sierra Leone].”

ROGER HOLMES / CJFE Foday Fofanah takes his chances with late fall in Alberta. whole new system of printing.”

Founding Director Board of Directors Editorial Board Canadian Journalists for Free Expression is a CJFE reporter Nick Fillmore Arnold Amber (President), Nancy Geoffrey Chan, Kokila Jacob, Canadian non-governmental organization supported by 2004, Issue #1 (27) Program Manager Bennett (Treasurer), Brian MacLeod Eric Mills, Julie Payne Canadian journalists and advocates of free expression. Julie Payne Rogers (Secretary), Morteza Abdolalian, Contributors The purpose of the organization is to defend the rights Newsletter of Alison Armstrong, Frank Addario, of journalists and contribute to the development of IFEX Alerts Coordinators Aaron Berhane, Luis Barillas, Canadian Journalists Marlene Benmergui, Bob Carty, Geoffrey Chan, Madelaine media freedom throughout the world. CJFE recognizes for Free Expression Michaël Elbaz, Marianna Bob Hepburn, Roger Holmes, Drohan, Roger Holmes, Bonnie these rights are not confined to journalists and strongly Tzabiras, Vera Top Paul Knox, Carol Off, Eric Morgan, supports and defends the broader objective of freedom 489 College St. #403 Malott, Julie Payne, Joel Ruimy Khosro Shemiranie, John Stackhouse of expression in Canada and around the world. Toronto, Ontario M6G 1A5 IFEX Development/ Outreach Coordinators Design/Production Advisory Board Eric Mills CJFE membership costs $25 per calendar year. For any Rachael Morton-Gittens Peter Desbarats, Parker Barss Donham, donation beyond that amount, a charitable tax receipt tel: +1 416 515 9622 Maureen James John Honderich, John Macfarlane, fax: +1 416 515 7879 will be issued. IFEX Communiqué Editor Joe Matyas, Ann Medina, Rick Moffat, Geoffrey Chan Linda Powless, , CJFE administers a Clearing House for the International e-mail: [email protected] Robert Scully, Julian Sher, Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), which operates http://www.cjfe.org Financial Manager Keith Spicer, Norman Webster an Action Alert Network and globally disseminates Christina Kruning information to organizations and individuals. Exiled critic of gets death threats in Ontario By Bonnie Malott country where 97 percent of the and advertisers pulled out in re- people we need to calm down.” population is Muslim. First he was sponse to protests in the Muslim For those who don’t know him, ahir Gora stands out at a verbally threatened. After he pub- community. Fearing for his fam- Gora sounds like a man who takes bar in downtown Hamilton lished an article about the gov- ily, Gora closed his paper and pleasure in stirring up controver- Twhere he works. While ernment’s nuclear device testing, moved to Hamilton in March 2003. sy. He has offended and been os- around him people chain-smoke a fatwa was declared against him. True to form, Gora picked up tracized by almost an entire com- and clutch bottles of beer, he In July 1998, while driving in where he left off and opened Ham- munity. In his lifelong fight for sips herbal tea from a plastic mug. Lahore, Gora was stopped, accused ilton’s first journal, Hamil- change and acceptance, he con- Sitting in a dark corner away of being a traitor to his country ton Times. It published his most stantly battles deeply-rooted in- from the noise, the soft-spoken and to Islam, and put in a dark controversial work to date, “The stitutional beliefs. The fight still journalist and writer opens a file cell for 15 days. He later fled to New Islam,” which proposed the fills him with passion and anger. and sifts through a mountain of Canada. eradication of , holy war For now, Gora is keeping a low articles he’s written. He pulls out Living in Toronto, he began or , called the use of halal profile. But whenever he finds a a photocopy of a typed note and to write again. He launched a meat “ridiculous” and advocated spare moment he works on three slowly reads from the death threat newspaper, Watan, hoping his equality for women and homosex- books he’s writing: about Islam, he received last summer. ideas would be better received in uals. He concluded by giving his about coming to Canada and “Mr. Tahir Gora remember we Canada. He was wrong. email address, and urging readers about Pakistan. will not spare you. Your articles After reprinting stories from to write and discuss the issues. Asked if he’s ready for more are against Islam. Your idea of the mainstream media, including People responded, including problems, he shrugs and sighs, “I new Islam is enough to kill you. critical stories about Afghani- Tarek Fatah, host of Muslim Chroni- wish that I lived on a mountain Your true will kill you and stan’s Taliban regime and a local cle, a weekly current affairs show somewhere, where I could write your family. You have no room on Muslim principal molesting young on CTS Television. Fatah’s email and nobody would bother me.” the earth. True Muslims” boys, Gora encountered a famil- said, “This is a dangerous and It seems unlikely. Gora contacted Hamilton po- iar kind of hostility. There was a unnecessarily provocative path to Bonnie Malott is a fourth-year lice. Detective Steve Hahn of the bomb threat at his home office, take. It serves no purpose, ex- journalism student at Ryerson Uni- hate crime unit investigated and his distribution van was tailed cept to incite and anger the very versity in Toronto. told CJFE he was taking the case seriously, but said he didn’t have any promising leads. Donner/CJFE Fellowship This is not the first death threat that Gora, a vocal critic of ‘found my compass’ Islam, has received. The Pakistani- By Aaron Berhane speaking, Canadian reporters, but Canadian has been kidnapped, I had hoped to be hired to pro- jailed and repeatedly threatened. hen I arrived in Canada vide another perspective. Yet despite being forced to aban- in August 2002, at first It never happened. After real- don home after home, Gora re- W I focused on how to find izing I wouldn’t be able to find mains on a mission. work in my profession, not to work as a journalist, I convinced Gora was born in Lahore, Pa- mention the disturbing thoughts myself to look in other fields. kistan’s cultural capital and sec- I had about my colleagues who When I arrived in Canada ond-largest city. He saw the strict were in jail back home. armed with a journalism and mass guidelines of Muslim tradition as I was forced to flee my coun- communication degree, I thought a tool for elites to stay in power. try, Eritrea, after the government it would be easy to transfer my Witnessing extreme poverty, he shut down my newspaper in Sep- skills to other fields, but that has questioned hardliners who shel- tember 2001 and security offic- not been the case. I have had to tered citizens, not from the ele- ers arrested me. Seventeen jour- research and consult others while ments, but from the outside world. nalists have been arrested simply earning a living. It has proved In 1987, the budding writer because of their profession and difficult to do the research and opened Gora Publishing. His com- nobody knows their whereabouts. think rationally about my options pany published more than 1,000 Sometimes I blame myself for not when faced with the demands and essays, articles and books that doing much to help my colleagues pressures of earning a living.

JULIE PAYNE / CJFE accused conservative Muslims get out of prison, but the reality I was totally lost, like a fish- Eritrean journalist Aaron Berhane groups of denying equal rights to is that first, I had to survive. erman without his compass in the women, practising polygamy, I was diligent in my employ- middle of the ocean not knowing The fellowship covers my liv- spreading hatred of Jews and ment search. I applied to several which way to head, just waiting ing expenses and I get a chance Christians, and blaming the west community newspapers, but with- for a miraculous saviour. Like the to concentrate fully on my stud- for all of Pakistan’s ills. out success. I understood the fisherman, I didn’t know which ies at the . Gora was soon pegged as anti- competitive climate in which I direction to take. I didn’t know on The courses that I am auditing 3 Islam, a dangerous label in a had to compete with English which door to knock. I didn’t even now will become the anchor for know if I should curse the day I my future. The seminars that I became a journalist, haunted by attend two or three times a week just such a remark from an Eri- are also very helpful in under- trean official in June 2001 after standing Canadian society. Moreo- I criticized his department. ver, the senior and junior fellows Everything was messed up un- and staff whom I have met at til I found the Donner/CJFE Fel- Massey College are my inspira- lowship. This program has found tion and they will become my my compass and handed it to me. everlasting community. A newcomer needs to learn a Now, I am proud of being a great deal about this society and journalist and I feel compensated. government in order to adjust to My memories of the worst times the system. This doesn’t happen have started to fade, though I overnight, but if one receives suf- still think of my colleagues who ficient time to adjust, as I have, are incommunicado. My terrible one doesn’t need years to step up memories have begun to be re- to the line. Through the opportu- placed by good ones, and above

CJFE nity that I received from the all I am hopeful as I witness the Melissa Kluger and volunteers at CJFE’s booth Donner/CJFE Fellowship, I am able strong support of journalists’ and at Toronto’s 2003 Word on the Street festival. to explore my future path. writers’ organizations. CJFE Press Freedom Awards honour courageous journalists

‘Are some humans more human than others?’ asked keynote speaker Romeo Dallaire, highlighting the role of journalists in protecting human rights.

CJFE President Arnold Amber welcomes keynote speaker Romeo Dallaire to the banquet (left). At right, awards were accepted by (from left) Guatemalan Luis Barillas, Stephan Hachemi (for CJFE PHOTOS BY ANDREW STRAUSS his deceased mother, Zahra Kazemi) and Sharon Hom (on behalf of Xu Wei, jailed in China).

By Joel Ruimy The dinner is the last big me- This new appetite, he said, so we’re not coming.” dia event in Toronto before the spells an end to “the era of the “Such an incredible lack of a hree courageous journalists holiday season. Co-chairs of the general being able to invite media sense of humanity!” Dallaire com- and an eloquent lieutenant- evening were former Ontario Pre- in when things go well and when mented. “The 800,000 who died Tgeneral captured centre mier and Globe and Mail things don’t go well, to put up in Rwanda are just as important stage – and the hearts of more publisher Philip Crawley; CBC the barbed wire gate, put a as even the 2,800 who died in than 500 people – at CJFE’s sixth newscaster Peter Mansbridge was lieutenant out there [to] say, North America on September 11. annual awards dinner on Novem- master of ceremonies. “We mobilized the world ber 6, 2003. [after] 9/11. But a few years The audience came to honour ‘Warriors earlier, nobody came.” Canadian photojournalist Zahra Dallaire said the world’s Kazemi, murdered in Iran last of truth’ indifference to Rwanda July. Kazemi was posthumously Romeo Dallaire, who in changed after “platoons of awarded a Tara Singh Hayer Memo- the same week launched a journalists” arrived in the rial Award, the first since 2000. new book of memoirs, opened country. He offered journal- Luis Alberto Perez Barillas of by saying he was pleased to ists military assistance to get Guatemala and China’s Xu Wei appear “in front of such war- their stories out, “and they were honoured as this year’s win- riors of truth.” responded with gusto, cour- ners of the CJFE International Now retired from the Ca- age and energy. Press Freedom Award. nadian Armed Forces, Dallaire “The media became the Lieutenant-General Romeo said he planned to speak of voice of the conscience of Dallaire’s keynote address was a “revolution.” He quickly the world. [But] to my sor- sometimes witty, often moving added: “A general speaking row it did absolutely noth- of a revolution is nothing to and always powerful as he re- CTV News president Robert Hurst ing. No one wanted to come be worried about. If colonels called his experiences as head of (left) with authors Stephen anyway.” a UN mission in Rwanda during talk about revolution, that’s Williams and Marsha Boulton. For all that, Dallaire said, the 1994 genocide. to be worried about.” the media have “the ability Money raised at the dinner Dallaire’s revolution had to do ‘The General has no comment.’ to move mountains of public opin- goes mainly to CJFE’s Journalists with an increase in the popular That era is gone.” ion and even to sway government in Distress Fund, which each year appetite for “more information At the same time as Canada’s structures and institutions … to distributes about $25,000 to col- and transparency from all of the Department of National Defence assist in anticipating leagues in Canada and abroad to pillars of our society, pillars like “entered an era of transparency what their role is in the interna- help with everything from legal the one I was in, conservative … this revolution went beyond tional community as a middle fees to medical and resettlement bastions of the continuance of our borders,” all the way to the power, a leading middle power, 4 bills. our nation.” United Nations. to advance human rights in places Dallaire’s voice rose as he said: where the people are being sub- “The question is: Are all humans jected to atrocities and dictator- human or are some humans more ships.” human than others? Do some count more?” More people were killed in the first 100 days of fighting in the Rwandan conflict than in the six or seven years of the Yugoslav campaign, he pointed out. But the world paid no heed. And the UN rejected his calls for more troops to prevent the carnage. Dallaire recalled a “superpower visitor tripping over bodies” in Rwanda but saying his country would not send troops because CJFE staff at the banquet: (back row, left to right) “Rwanda is of no strategic value Nick Fillmore, Christina Kruning, Geoff Chan and … just tea and coffee.” The visi- Anders Hayden; (front) Rachael Morton-Gittens, tor added: “the only thing here Bob Rae, co-chair of the ban- Maureen James, Vera Top and Marianna Tzabiras. is overpopulation and humans, quet, thanks Romeo Dallaire. Cited for courage The first winner of an Inter- national Press Freedom Award, Luis Alberto Perez Barillas of Guatemala, knows all about atro- cities and dictatorships. He was cited for his courage in writing about a presidential candidate who is implicated in the massacre of civilians two dec- ades earlier in Barillas’s home- town of Rabinal. Barillas has had to live in hiding after several attempts on his life. Banquet co-chair Philip Crawley, Globe and Mail publisher (left), and MC Peter Mansbridge of CBC. Speaking through an inter- preter, Barillas said he accepted Referring to Zahra Kazemi, he China or interested in doing busi- on behalf of his mother, Zahra the award “for those people who ended his acceptance speech by ness in China” – to keep pushing Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian can’t speak for themselves.” He saying that “one day I would like Beijing for reforms during what photojournalist murdered last said the CJFE award, coming at to put some flowers on her grave.” she called a window of opportu- summer while in the custody of an unexpected time and from an nity that has seen China join the Iranian security. unexpected place, gave him cour- Hostage in China World Trade Organization and host Iran refused to allow a foren- age to carry on. The second winner, Xu Wei, the 2008 Olympics. sic examination of Kazemi’s re- has just begun serving a 10-year Hom said she had spoken with mains by Canadian experts, and prison term in China for writing Xu Wei’s father in China. insisted on burying her in Iran two Internet articles on political “When we told Xu Wei’s father instead of allowing the return of reforms. Accepting in his name about the award, he was quiet her remains to Canada. was Sharon Hom, executive direc- and then he said he was very Hachemi, wearing a black t- tor of New York-based Human touched. He said, ‘Thank you for shirt, began by asking “once Rights in China. this recognition and you should again” to have “the body of my Hom said protests can make know it will give my son spirit mother brought back to Canada, a difference in China, where a and great support while he’s in where she belongs.” “pattern of hostage release” has prison’.” He thanked CJFE for helping coincided with international to keep his mother’s memory alive campaigns to help journalists and Killed in custody and added he shares the award others imprisoned by the state. Stephan Hachemi spoke briefly with “all the journalists who cou- Retired CBC-TV newscaster She urged the audience – but movingly while accepting the rageously do what to them is the at the banquet “those of you doing business in Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award right thing despite the danger.” Forced into hiding: A journalist tells his story

By Luis Barillas through the press and radio, the names mands that the government compensate of government officials and members of victims of violence, abuse and corruption. eing a journalist isn’t easy in Guate- the party now in power who are implicated These reports have made me the target of mala, or in many other parts of the in the death or disappearance of some attacks. B world. (My solidarity goes out to 200,000 during the civil war. My hometown, From 2001 to 2002 I was physically each of you, my colleagues). the Maya-Achi city of Rabinal, was one of attacked and persecuted by individuals Statistics for 2003 show that numerous the areas hardest hit during the war. dressed in military garb. In 2003, I was journalists are threatened and persecuted I reported on the exhumation of clan- followed by gang members and received in this country where powerful forces want destine cemeteries where many of the war’s death threats over the telephone. A bomb to silence all those who fight for justice, was set off in my house and my sister re- peace and the truth. ceived a written note threatening her and Dark forces, acting in the shadow of im- her children if I did not stop my reporting. punity, weave their black plans against this These are some of the incidents that sector to weaken and silence the people’s mark my work as a journalist and broad- only channels of expression. For them, caster. In the face of these attacks, and wearing a reporter’s vest, or carrying a press for my own safety, I was forced to live in card or camera, is reason enough to make hiding in Guatemala. an attempt on a journalist’s life. I hoped that the authorities would find These aggressions are proof that in Gua- and process those responsible. To date, 5 temala freedom of expression is still not no information has been given about the respected. They are acts that recall the status of the investigation. practices of the past, when journalists were Following my nomination by the Cana- kidnapped, disappeared or even murdered dian-based organization Rights Action, for criticizing the government or other Canadian Journalists for Free Expression powerful sectors. awarded me the International Press Freedom In the face of these abuses and given Award, an honour that humbles me and lets the justice system’s limitations, a group of me know that somewhere on this planet journalists launched a proposal last Novem- there are people and organizations, like ber aimed at protecting reporters in the CJFE, who recognize the risks taken when countryside, since they tend to be the most we work to inform and be informed. Luis Barillas of Guatemala, winner of vulnerable. That is why this prize is not mine alone. the International Press Freedom Award. That is why it is important that govern- I share it with Xu Wei and with Zahra ment leaders, both the incumbents and Kazemi. “Wherever you are, Zahra, you have those who will take up office on January 14, victims lie buried, and on local demands to my respect. Many of us will follow your ex- 2004, avoid more confrontations with the close local army base. My reports also cov- ample.” press and recognize the role the independ- ered the government’s decision to compen- I share this prize with all those journal- ent media play in the construction of true sate the paramilitary Civil Defense patrollers ists who, under the same dangerous circum- democracy in Guatemala. who took part in the massacres in the re- stances, work tirelessly so that, one day, I’ve played my part by bringing to light, gion during the 1980s, and on public de- true freedom of expression will be achieved. CJFE training in Thailand adapts to journalists’ needs by Madelaine Drohan

hat should journalism trainers do when they W discover that the course they planned does not match the skills of the participants? Pro- ceeding without change will lead to boredom or bewilderment, de- pending on whether the original course was aimed too high or too low. The only real option is to quickly readjust the sessions to make a more suitable match. This was the path that Bernard Simon and I chose when we ar- rived in Thailand last September to conduct workshops jointly sponsored by CJFE and the Thai Journalists’ Association (TJA) funded by the Canadian Partner- ship Branch of the Canadian In-

ternational Development Agency. CJFE Although the Thai group had CJFE trainers Madelaine Drohan and Bernard Simon (third and fourth from left) asked member newspapers to send helped Thai journalists develop their investigative reporting skills. junior journalists, editors sent some of their most senior writers For example, instead of discuss- journalists found worthwhile. and social issues. Guest speakers, instead to hone their investiga- ing the nuts and bolts of how to The Thai journalists see them- arranged by TJA, made an invalu- tive journalism techniques. organize material during an inves- selves as watchdogs on the gov- able contribution by giving a lo- Bernard and I drew on several tigation, we covered that with a ernment, currently headed by a cal perspective on gender issues, decades’ experience in writing and handout. This freed time for a former businessman who is adept the use of access to information, editing to replace basic sessions vigorous discussion about obsta- at public relations and sometimes and local examples of successful with more challenging material. cles individual reporters have en- contemptuous of the media. On investigations. countered during occasion, the government has One surprise for us was how investigations punished news organizations criti- eager the participants were to Thai training to continue and how to cir- cal of its policies by withdrawing learn how investigative journal- cumvent them. advertising by state-controlled ism is done elsewhere. They also Once again CJFE is working with the Thai Media free- businesses. This has whetted the wanted to discuss what they saw Journalists’ Association on a training pro- dom was a cen- appetite of Thai journalists to dig as one-sided coverage of the Iraq gram, funded in part by the Canadian In- tral concern in even deeper for the news; they war by the U.S. media. ternational Development Agency (CIDA). these sessions. want better techniques to help Translation can make or break The Train-the-Trainers program, a fol- The result, ac- uncover the real story. a workshop. We were fortunate to low-up to the Radio Skills Course taught in cording to the We quickly discovered that in- have two translators who were April 2003, will train six journalists to be evaluation forms vestigative journalism in Thailand also practising journalists. Their radio journalism trainers themselves. CJFE filled in by all was somewhat narrowly focused comfort with journalistic jargon members Jane McElhone and Havoc participants, was on uncovering government cor- and the issues made the language Franklin flew to Thailand in early January a workshop that ruption. We tried to broaden the barrier disappear. to conduct the training. even experienced scope to include business, health In feedback following the ses- sions, participants particularly noted that the workshops were interactive. Few sessions con- Critical time for Liberian media sisted of static lectures; partici- pants could not just sit back and — continued from page 1 money, if only to buy more fuel sion monitors in different parts listen, but had to get involved. a public service broadcaster has for the generator to stay on air of Liberia. In addition, several For example, over the course started. longer. He knows all of the media journalists who fled the country of the week, they had to propose 6 The new director general is a outlets in Liberia need training. to Ghana following threats re- and then flesh out a story idea. former journalist who talks about “We truly are coming from the ceived financial support from While a week is too short for a free expression, social responsi- bottom,” he says as a matter of CJFE’s Journalists in Distress Fund. full investigation, it was enough bility and objective coverage. He fact. This is a critical time for Libe- for the journalists to go to the says LBS wants to ‘catch up’ with Liberia’s newspapers are also ria. Disarmament has just started. local town to look for sources the rest of the world. in a sorry state. Most operate out Elections are anticipated in 2005. and other angles on their stories. That will take some doing. LBS of a single room. Journalists are Everyone knows they have an The field work and subsequent is one FM station that reaches lucky if they make $20 US a important role to play if there is feedback from us and the group only Monrovia and the outskirts. month. Many were forced into ex- to be peace and democracy in rated highly in the evaluations. Television and short wave radio ile under Taylor’s regime. It’s a Liberia. The idea from the beginning were destroyed during the years climate where ethics and profes- The partnership is now com- was to leave the TJA with a cur- of conflict. sionalism often take a back seat. piling an extensive report on its riculum that its members could The newsroom has two type- Amazingly, the spirit of all mission. The report will be widely deliver on their own. Accordingly, writers. Still, it’s on air 16 hours those we met hasn’t been bro- distributed to international do- we fine-tuned the course follow- a day. Three times a week it trans- ken. They want to work with in- nor agencies with the intention ing the workshops and left the lates English programs into some ternational partners to ensure of raising money to allow the revamped version with the Thais. of the country’s many languages. freedom of expression and pro- partner groups to help Liberian A session to train the local train- Gyude Bryant, who is the chair fessional, responsible journalism. journalists rebuild their media ers is scheduled for this spring. of Liberia’s transitional govern- Before Taylor’s brutal govern- institutions. Madelaine Drohan is a Cana- ment, refers to LBS as a ‘public’ ment was toppled, CJFE and IFEX Dale Ratcliffe is a journalist, dian business journalist who has broadcaster. The former business- provided financial support and lecturer and trainer in international facilitated training for journalists man knows LBS needs more training for part-time free expres- training and development projects. in Nigeria, Zambia and Thailand. Pressing questions in Williams case — continued from page 1 also laid on Oct. 22. In addition CJFE believes Williams may have • Why did prosecutors apply in meaning their contents are se- to these 97 charges, Ontario has been targeted by these same pros- 2003 to seize materials known cret and it is thus not possible to launched a civil action seeking ecutors. For this reason, the pros- to have been in Williams’ pos- know what is, and is not, covered “punitive and exemplary damages” ecution and civil lawsuit are fa- session since the mid-1990s? under these secret orders. of unspecified amounts. No trial tally tainted by the appearance • Why are courts allowed to is- Last April, Williams told a dates have been set. of a conflict of interest and self- sue sealed publication bans, newspaper interviewer he planned It is significant to note that justification by the same office, effectively making it impossi- to post material from the Crown this is not the first prosecution the Attorney General’s, that ble for someone to know if brief on his website. When police of Williams in this case: he was Williams criticized in his books. they are in violation of such said some of the posted material charged in 1998 for having viewed CJFE is also concerned that orders? violated the publication bans, restricted evidence – the notori- Williams was essentially jailed for Williams responded by taking ous video tapes made by Bernardo writing a book. CJFE calls on the Attorney down the entire website. But days General of Ontario to: later, police arrived at the home CJFE believes there • cease immediately its criminal he shares with author Marsha are several troubling and civil prosecutions of Boulton, took him into custody issues and questions Stephen Williams; and jailed him overnight. He could arising out of this • take steps, if the prosecution not get a bail hearing until the case, including: continues, to eliminate any per- following day. • The overwhelming ap- ception of conflict of interest Williams was forced in May to pearance of a conflict of by turning the Williams case surrender the Crown brief to a interest on the part of over to outside prosecutors. court despite the fact he was le- prosecutors whose work • end the practice of jailing peo- gally in possession of it. He now was criticized in the book ple accused of publishing faces a highly unusual dual crimi- and who now are involved banned information where no nal-civil prosecution at the hands in these prosecutions; threat to the community is of the Ontario government – and posed. what a prosecution it is. In May, • What was the emergency he was charged with two counts that required the arrest of CJFE calls on the federal of disobeying a court order. Williams on a Sunday? government to: Five months later, on Oct. 22, • Why was it was neces- • enact legislation to eliminate prosecutors laid another 94 crimi- sary to jail Williams when secret publication bans that nal charges of disobeying a pub- he posed neither a danger give no notice to people likely lication ban and violating a court to the community nor a to be affected by them; order – 58 in connection with the Stephen Williams’ controversial book flight risk? • enact legislation requiring any website that was up for less than about the Homolka case. • Why was Williams the person applying for a publica- a day, 28 in connection with his only journalist required to tion ban to deliver public no- first book, Invisible Darkness, and surrender his copy of the tice of the application to all eight in connection with his sec- and Homolka – but was acquitted Crown brief when at least two interested parties, including ond, Karla: A Pact with the Devil. two years later. other media organizations are media organizations; A 95th charge, alleging he In his books, Williams criti- also understood to be in pos- • enact legislation to set out the breached a civil order to turn over cized the actions and decisions session of the document and criteria under which publica- material to the authorities, was of Ontario provincial prosecutors. have never been so ordered? tion bans may be issued. IFEX launches new projects in Central and Southeast Asia The IFEX Clearing House is as the Gaps in Free-Expression Moni- gathered and linked to the wider Baku to host busy as ever, with planning un- toring, Training and Advocacy,” international community. 2004 IFEX meeting der way for the 2004 general will run for 12 months. Funded by For more information, email Free-expression groups from meeting in Azerbaijan, and the the Peace and Stability Fund of [email protected]. around the world will converge in launch of new outreach projects Denmark’s foreign ministry, it will 3-year project Baku, Azerbaijan, from June 13- in Southeast and Central Asia. involve regional and national training with local organizations in Southeast Asia 18 for IFEX’s general meeting. to support free-expression moni- IFEX’s 57 member organizations Project strengthens The Outreach Program is start- and other international partners toring. Salla Kayhko is co-ordi- ing a three-year project to streng- freedom monitoring nating the project, based in the will gather for a series of panel then media rights and protect sessions, workshops and IFEX 7 in Central Asia Kazakh capital of Almaty. freedom of expression in South- The project emerged out of a business meetings. The Clearing In November 2003, IFEX’s east Asia. House has hired Christina Sufrim pilot scheme IFEX initiated last Outreach Program launched a new Funded by the Swedish Inter- to help organize the meeting. project to improve the monitor- year to assess the potential to national Development Co-opera- ing of free-expression violations develop an internationally linked, tion Agency, the project will be in Central Asia and to build links regional free expression network co-ordinated with the Southeast between local groups and IFEX’s in Central Asia. The scheme, also Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). Four international community. supported by Denmark’s foreign of SEAPA’s five members belong A decade after the collapse of ministry, gave IFEX an opportu- to the IFEX network. the , hope for demo- nity to meet and interact with a IFEX’s Director of Develop- cratic development in Central Asia broad range of key actors in the ment, Nick Fillmore, says the is dwindling. One key indicator is free-expression field, to identify project activities will focus the drastic deterioration of free key skills gaps and to develop a on building up SEAPA’s expression in the region. Govern- longer-term strategy for support- organizational capacity as ments in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, ing a free-expression network. a regional network, im- Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in- Kayhko says organizations that plementing a mechanism creasingly rely on violent force work on freedom of expression in for monitoring free-ex- and repression to quell dissent Central Asia do not get the atten- pression violations, and and hold onto power. tion they deserve. Through the initiating campaigns in IFEX’s project, “Building De- IFEX project, their knowledge, ex- countries where media mocracy in Central Asia: Filling pertise and information can be are heavily restricted. Coordinator Salla Kayhko in Central Asia CJFE pushes free-expression agenda at UN information summit By Geoff Chan gulf between countries with quick CJFE was active at Geneva, address the growing problem of access to the Internet and coun- networking with members of the media concentration and virtu- t wasn’t what CJFE had hoped tries still struggling to lay down IFEX community to promote free- ally ignored the role of commu- for, but it could have been a reliable telephone lines, let alone dom of expression, gaining first- nity media in expanding free ex- Ilot worse. Internet cables. hand knowledge of the issues in pression in developing countries,” The World Summit on the In- At preparatory meetings for the process, and supporting Carty says. Neither was attention formation Society (WSIS), which the Geneva summit, it became UNESCO’s presence at the WSIS. paid to the role of public service took place in Geneva in Decem- clear that freedom of expression Carty also met with key mem- broadcasting. ber, 2003, promised to be an un- wasn’t high on the WSIS agenda. bers of the Canadian government Perhaps most glaring was precedented opportunity for gov- Until the December meet- delegation and reminded WSIS’s failure to insist that gov- ernments, civil society and the ing, “free expression was them of CJFE’s position ernments implement Article 19. private sector to hammer out an almost absent as a on the WSIS. In “Half of the world’s nations at- agreement on how to bridge the founding prin- the lead-up to tending WSIS violate free expres- so-called “digital divide” sepa- ciple for a new the summit, sion, yet there was no call for rating rich and poor countries. Information CJFE played governments to stop censoring The UN-sponsored summit was Society,” said a key role in the Internet,” points out Carty. to issue a declaration and action CJFE Board Member Bob n ational The second phase of the WSIS, plan that would provide a Carty, who attended the Ge- consulta- scheduled for Tunisia in 2005, “roadmap” for managing the neva proceedings. tions on the will seek agreement on issues left spread of Internet technologies “The media was barely WSIS. Many unresolved by the Geneva meet- worldwide. Many civil society or- mentioned [in draft WSIS of our recom- ing, including the thorny ques- ganizations, including CJFE, saw documents] as a key force.” mendations were included tion of who should regulate the the summit as an opportunity to Only after forceful lobby- in a Canadian UNESCO report Internet and whether nations promote and reaffirm the impor- ing by free-expression groups, in- that was widely circulated among should contribute to a special tance of free expression in the cluding CJFE, did governments at government officials. fund for Africa. Internet age. the WSIS affirm the importance Carty’s visit coincided with the However, there is concern that With Internet censorship ris- of freedom of expression. The fi- launch of a special WSIS section hosting a conference in a country ing in many countries, coupled nal document clearly referred to on IFEX’s website (www.ifex.org), known for violently repressing free with a post-September 11 “war Article 19 of the Universal Dec- featuring specially commissioned speech may turn the WSIS into a on terrorism” agenda, there was laration of Human Rights, and to articles on free expression issues. farce. The lead official appointed concern that governments would the important role of the media. Although the Geneva meeting to coordinate the Tunisia phase use the summit to scale back The WSIS also recognized that didn’t turn into the disaster CJFE has been accused by human rights international standards on free journalists, rather than govern- and many free-expression groups groups of authorizing the use of expression in favour of national ments, should monitor their own feared, many issues were ignored. torture. security. Add to that a widening ethical practices. “The final declaration failed to CJFE will be watching. CJFE helps Iranian cartoonist cope with distress of exile

by Julie Payne Moezzi, received He says it is help- a legal summons ing: the headaches have “In your country you are pressed. from the Iranian gone, and he’s starting When you get out, you’re de- Press Court, de- to sleep at night. He pressed.” manding that he has fewer panic attacks. So goes one of Nikahang return to Iran But for the near fu- Kowsar’s favourite cartoons. One within three days. ture, Nikahang remains of many displayed at the Univer- Nikahang believes in legal limbo, staying sity of Toronto’s Robarts Library that if he had re- in Canada as a visitor. in December, 2003, it’s a sober- turned to Iran, he His wife and daughter, ing reflection of the realities of would have been Negar, remain in Iran. Nikahang’s life – five months after immediately ar- When he telephones

his arrival in Canada. rested. JULIE PAYNE / CJFE his family, Negar, wise Nikahang, a well-known and Three years Nikahang Kowsar at his Toronto exhibit of cartoons. at four years of age, asks prolific cartoonist from Iran, trav- ago, Iranian au- him “When will your 8 elled to Canada last July on an thorities arrested Nikahang after of foreign countries such as exhibition end?” invitation to speak to Canadian one of his cartoons was criticized Canada and the United States. It is a question to which he editorial cartoonists at their as- for resembling a famous cleric. Over the past four years, his home, does not know the answer. sociation’s convention in Quebec He has also been accused of hav- office and cellular phone have To see more of Nikahang’s car- City, and to exhibit his cartoons. ing a relationship with cartoon- been tapped, and his house toons visit: http://sicknick.org On July 10, his wife, Niloufar ists and journalists associations searched in his absence. All his letters arrive opened. And as Nikahang wryly notes in another cartoon, he now shares the honour of being included on a recent list of 10 Iranians tar- geted for assassination by mili- tant Islamic groups. An honour indeed to have his name appear just below that of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi. Last September, CJFE helped Nikahang with a grant from the Journalists in Distress Fund. The $1,000 has enabled Nikahang to receive counselling on dealing with post-traumatic stress.