IPI condemns deportation of Professor Kenneth Good from Botswana, says decision undermines country’s position as one of Africa’s freest June 3, 2005 | Leave a Comment Based on information provided to IPI, on 1 June, Professor Kenneth Good, a political science lecturer at the University of Botswana for the past 15 years, was deported from the country by legal order and a decree from President Festus Mogae. Good’s deportation came only hours after the Lobatse High Court upheld the government’s right […] Read more »
IPI condemns detention and expulsion of foreign journalists from Cuba May 24, 2005 | Leave a Comment According to information provided to IPI, three Polish journalists, Seweryn Blumsztajn, editor-in-chief of the Krakow edition of Gazeta Wyborcza, Jerzy Jurecki, publisher and journalist for Tygodnik Podhalanski, Wojciech Rogasin, a journalist for the Polish edition of Newsweek, and their interpreters Maciej Sarna and Marta Cichocka, as well as human rights activist Wojciech Modelski, were detained […] Read more »
Letter: Ban imposed on Chinese freelance journalist May 9, 2005 | Leave a Comment His Excellency Hu Jintao President of the People’s Republic of China State Council, Beijing 100032 People’s Republic of China His Excellency Zhang Fusen Minister of Justice 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie Chaoyang-qu Beijing-shi 100020 People’s Republic of China Vienna, 9 May 2005 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and […] Read more »
Letter: IPI condems journalists’ arrest April 28, 2005 | Leave a Comment H.E. Alexander Lukashenko President Office of the President Minsk Republic of Belarus Fax: +375 17 222 35 03 Vienna, 28 April 2005 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, strongly condemns the prison sentences given to two Russian journalists in Minsk […] Read more »
IPI condemns journalist’s beating, worried by claims of government “Black List” April 26, 2005 | Leave a Comment Ulugbek Haidarov, a journalist and human rights activist, was severely beaten on 23 April in the Jizzakh region, central Uzbekistan. According to IPI’s information, an unidentified assailant was waiting for Haidarov outside his home on the evening of 23 April. During the attack one of Haidarov’s collar-bones was broken and he was later hospitalised. Haidarov […] Read more »
IPI concerned about independent journalist’s arrest April 20, 2005 | Leave a Comment According to information provided to IPI, Hurriyat weekly journalist Sobirdjon Yakubov was detained on suspicion of religious extremism on 11 April in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Three days later, Yakubov was charged under Article 159 of the Criminal Code and accused of anti-constitutional activity, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The arrest was later […] Read more »
IPI concerned about new Turkish Penal Code March 23, 2005 | Leave a Comment H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan Prime Minister Office of the Prime Minister Istanbul Turkey Fax: +90 312 417 04 76 / 417 05 73 Vienna, 23 March 2005 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, is deeply concerned about the introduction of a new Turkish Penal […] Read more »
Letter: Continued detention of Austrian journalist cause for concern March 11, 2005 | Leave a Comment Mr. José Manuel Barroso President of the European Commission European Commission 200 rue de la Loi 1049 Brussels Belgium Fax: (+ 322) 295 01 38 Vienna, 11 March 2005 Dear Mr. President, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, is writing to express its grave […] Read more »
Letter: IPI concerned over possible fine and/or jail sentence for newspaper editor in Nepal March 7, 2005 | Leave a Comment His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev Narayanhity Royal Palace Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: info@nepalmonarchy.gov.np Vienna, 7 March 2005 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, is extremely concerned at the continuing problems for journalists in Nepal. Over the last […] Read more »
IPI condemns Azerbaijani editor’s murder March 4, 2005 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, condemns the murder of Elmar Huseynov, the founder and editor of the Russian-language independent weekly news magazine Monitor. The journalist was killed on the evening of 2 March in the stairwell of his apartment building. The unidentified assassin escaped. According to […] Read more »
IPI condemns arrest of Austrian journalist in Turkey March 3, 2005 | Leave a Comment Based on information provided to the International Press Institute (IPI), the Austrian journalist, Sandra Bakutz, is currently being held by Turkish authorities in Istanbul after being arrested at Atatürk airport. Bakutz, who produces the programme “Anatolien Radio” for Radio Orange 94.0 based in Vienna, Austria, and who has written articles for newspapers and magazines such […] Read more »
Letter: Ministry of Information and Communications bans media from reporting on Maoist insurgents March 2, 2005 | Leave a Comment H.E. Tanka Prasad Dhakal Ministry of Information & Communications Singh Durbar Kathmandu Nepal Fax: 977-1-422 17 29 Email: moichmg@ntc.net.np Vienna, 2 March 2005 Your Excellency, The IPI Weekly Digest Subscribe for press freedom news and updates, opportunities for journalists, and the latest in media innovation. Join us! The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network […] Read more »
Letter: Two journalists assaulted by security forces in Azerbaijan March 2, 2005 | Leave a Comment H. E. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Office of the President 19 Istiqlaiyyat St. 370066 Baku Azerbaijan Fax: +994 12 92 06 25/ 92 28 68 Vienna, 2 March 2005 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, condemns the assault on two […] Read more »
Letter: Foreign correspondent forced to flee Zimbabwe to South Africa February 18, 2005 | Leave a Comment His Excellency President Robert Mugabe Office of the President Causeway, Harare Zimbabwe Fax: (+ 263 4) 728 799 / 708 820 / 734 644 Vienna, 18 February 2005 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, journalists and media executives, condemns the intimidation and harassment by the Zimbabwean authorities that has […] Read more »
IPI left fearful after criticism of Reuters’ Haitian correspondent January 26, 2005 | Leave a Comment The International Press Institute is extremely concerned about the safety of a Haitian journalist who has been unjustly criticised by the Haitian Prime Minister. On 23 January, the press office of Prime Minister Gerald Latortue issued a statement quoting the prime minister as saying that a recent report from Reuters’ correspondent, Guyler Delva, was a […] Read more »
AJK and IPI call on international community to defend media in Azerbaijan January 25, 2005 | Leave a Comment The press freedom situation in Azerbaijan has deteriorated rapidly since the presidential elections of 15 October 2003, which were widely held to be fraudulent. Since that time there have been numerous press freedom violations. These violations include: · Rauf Arifoglu, editor in chief of the Yeni Musavat, the biggest opposition daily in the South Caucasus, […] Read more »
AJK and IPI launch international campaign to defend Azerbaijani media January 17, 2005 | Leave a Comment The Azerbaijan Journalists Confederation (AJK), a coalition of 15 different journalist organisations dedicated to the defence and promotion of freedom of the media and expression in Azerbaijan, and the International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in 120 countries, are launching an international campaign to defend media freedom […] Read more »
Letter: Kenyan journalist charged with criminal libel January 17, 2005 | Leave a Comment His Excellency Mwai Kibaki President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Nairobi Republic of Kenya Fax: +254 20 21 01 50 Vienna, 17 January 2005 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, is deeply concerned about the criminal libel charges brought against Kamau Ngotho, an […] Read more »
Letter: IPI condemns promulgation of controversial media content law December 7, 2004 | Leave a Comment His Excellency Hugo Chávez Fríaz President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Palacio de Miraflores Caracas Venezuela Fax: (+58212) 806 3221 Vienna, 7 December 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives in over 120 countries, strongly condemns the decision to promulgate a controversial media […] Read more »
IPI applauds ECHR, says CoE countries must follow rulings November 18, 2004 | Leave a Comment In two recent decisions involving the Finnish government, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) reaffirmed the fundamental principle of press freedom and the right of the media to report on matters of public interest. Seija Selistö of the Vaasa newspaper Pohjalainen brought the case after she authored an article concerning a patient who died […] Read more »
IPI calls for new procedural guidelines to ensure no repetition of July Hong Kong media raids November 4, 2004 | Leave a Comment On 24 July the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) raided seven Hong Kong newspapers, Apple Daily, the Hong Kong Economic Journal, the Oriental Daily News, Sing Tao Daily, the South China Morning Post, the Sun and the Ta Kung Pao. During the raids, which were conducted with search warrants, the ICAC officers searched the offices […] Read more »
Letter: Editor sentenced to seven days in jail November 3, 2004 | Leave a Comment H.E. Aleksandr Lukashenko President Office of the President Minsk Republic of Belarus Fax: +375 17 222 35 03 Vienna, 3 November 2004 Your Excellency, The IPI Weekly Digest Subscribe for press freedom news and updates, opportunities for journalists, and the latest in media innovation. Join us! The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of […] Read more »
Letter: Editor imprisoned October 8, 2004 | Leave a Comment H. E. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Office of the President State House Freetown Sierra Leone Fax: +232 22 225 615 Vienna, 8 October 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives in over 120 countries, strongly condemns the imprisonment of Paul Kamara, founder and editor of […] Read more »
Letter: Several newspapers closed before October parliamentary elections October 4, 2004 | Leave a Comment H.E. Aleksandr Lukashenko President Office of the President Minsk Republic of Belarus Fax: +375 17 222 35 03 Vienna, 4 October 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, is deeply concerned about the closure of several newspapers before the October […] Read more »
Letter: Criminal charges brought against editor and publisher September 28, 2004 | Leave a Comment H.E. Aleksander Kwasniewski President of the Republic of Poland Kancelaria Prezydenta RP ul. Wiejska 10 00-902 Warsaw Poland Fax: (+ 48 22) 695 12 53 Vienna, 28 September 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, condemns the ongoing criminal court […] Read more »
Prison sentence for Tempo editor unacceptable September 17, 2004 | Leave a Comment The undersigned freedom of expression and press freedom organisations strongly condemn the decision of the Central Jakarta Court to sentence Bambang Harymurti, the editor of Tempo magazine, to a year’s imprisonment for defamation. We are united in our view that such a disproportionate sanction is a serious setback for freedom of expression, reversing gains made […] Read more »
IPI says continued Al-Jazeera ban is setback for Iraqi democracy September 7, 2004 | Leave a Comment On 4 September, Iraq’s interim government decided to extend its ban on Al-Jazeera’s Baghdad bureau for an indefinite period. In support of the ban the Iraqi authorities apparently forced their way into the offices of the Qatar-based satellite broadcaster, photographed equipment and then sealed the offices. Fourteen security guards were later stationed outside the Al-Jazeera […] Read more »
Letter: Foreign journalists detained September 3, 2004 | Leave a Comment H.E. Li Zhaoxing Foreign Minister Ministry of Foreign Affairs Beijing 100701 People’s Republic of China Vienna, 3 September 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, is deeply concerned about the repeated detention of journalists in China. In the most recent incident, journalists Jonathan Watts, […] Read more »
Letter: Interim Iraqi government closes Al-Jazeera’s Bagdad bureau August 11, 2004 | Leave a Comment H. E. Ayad Allawi Prime Minister Iraqi Interim Government Baghdad Iraq Vienna, 11 August 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, strongly condemns the closure of Al-Jazeera’s Baghdad bureau by Iraqi police on 7 August. The IPI Weekly Digest Subscribe […] Read more »
Letter: Independent weekly The Georgian Times raided by police August 2, 2004 | Leave a Comment H. E. Mikheil Saakashvili President of Georgia Ingorovas 7 Tbilisi Georgia Fax: + 995 32 99 08 79 / + 995 32 98 72 62 Vienna, 2 August 2004 Your Excellency, The IPI Weekly Digest Subscribe for press freedom news and updates, opportunities for journalists, and the latest in media innovation. Join us! The International […] Read more »
Letter: Ukrainian journalist deported from Belarus July 28, 2004 | Leave a Comment H.E. Aleksandr Lukashenko President Office of the President Minsk Republic of Belarus Fax: +375 17 222 35 03 Vienna, 28 June 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, strongly condemns the expulsion by the Belarusian authorities of the Ukrainian freelance […] Read more »
Six global organizations join forces against bribery for media coverage July 26, 2004 | Leave a Comment Six global organizations today announced their support for a set of principles designed to foster greater transparency in the dealings between public relations professionals and the media, and to end bribery for media coverage throughout the world. The organizations are the International Press Institute, the International Federation of Journalists, Transparency International, the Global Alliance for […] Read more »
Spain: Spanish Supreme Court dismisses journalists’ appeal July 21, 2004 | Leave a Comment H.E. Juan Fernando López Aguilar Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice Madrid Spain Fax: +34-91-390 21 45 Vienna, 21 July 2004 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute, the global organisation of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, is writing to you to criticise the Spanish Supreme Court’s decision of 18 June […] Read more »