Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Security agents still hound journalist after detaining, torturing him

Security agents still hound journalist after detaining, torturing him

SECURITY AGENTS STILL HOUND JOURNALIST AFTER DETAINING, TORTURING HIM

PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2014.
Reporters Without Borders is appalled by the way the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) is persecuting Mohamed Bare, the director of Mogadishu-based Radio Danan.
Released on 13 February after being held arbitrarily for three days and tortured, Bare received a summons yesterday for interrogation at NISA headquarters.
“Repeated arrests and interrogations are being used to hound the media and, in this case, Radio Danan in particular,” said Cléa Kahn-Sriber, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Africa Desk.
“The intelligence agencies seem to have embarked on a witch-hunt against the media although there are clearly other security priorities in Somalia to which they should be devoting their energies. ”
“Arresting journalists arbitrarily, holding them without charge and mistreating them in detention will just tarnish the image of a government that is trying to establish itself. The new communication minister should use his appointment to defuse tension with the media. We urge the authorities to end the previous government’s policy of hounding and persecuting media personnel and instead to guarantee journalists’ safety.”
In response to yesterday’s summons, Bare went to NISA headquarters today accompanied by Ismail Yussuf, the president of the Somali Independent Media House Association (SIMHA), and other SIMHA representatives. However, instead of being received, he was told to return tomorrow for interrogation.
The summons is linked to the interview he gave to local media after his release in which he named certain NISA officers as the persons who should be held responsible if he was murdered.
NISA officers arrested Bare on 11 February for posting photos on the Radio Danan website showing the Lower Shabelle region’s vice-president after he was injured by a bomb. Bare was arrested on the Sayidka road on the outskirts of Mogadishu along with Radio Haatuf directorIbrahim Mohamed Ali and Radio Antenna technician Abdikarim Fiidow.
The three media workers were taken to NISA headquarters for interrogation and were then held for three days in the NISA’s notorious Mogadishu detention centre, where NISA officers tortured the two radio directors and threatened to kill them if they continued their critical coverage of the government.
NISA officers also raided Radio Danan and threatened its employees for reporting Bare’s arrest. Bare continued to receive threatening phone calls after he and the other two media workers were released on 13 February.
Somalia is ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.
Photo : Mohamed Bare

Pakistan most dangerous place for journalists: PFUJ

Pakistan most dangerous place for journalists: PFUJ


 
QUETTA: The president of PFUJ (Pakistan federal Union of Journalists), Hafiz Afzal has declared Pakistan as the most dangerous place for journalists, with 103 of them being the victims.

Addressing the 2nd 3-day meeting of central executive committee (CEC) of PFUJ here in Balochistan’s Provincial capital, he expressed his strong concerns that unfortunately none of the killers of the journalists, facing multi- faceted wraths of terrorism, official censure and high discriminations of media bosses , had been brought to justice.
Speaking on the occasion, President Afzal Butt cited 35 journalistic killings in Balochistan, and while paying rich tributes to the resolving that nothing would deter the journalists from conveying truth to masses.
Terming the year 2014 as worst for journalists, he also lambasted callous and indifferent rulers for being totally indifferent to problems faced by journalists. “When in opposition everybody terms journalists as Apple of their eyes, while once in power, these very journalists rather become a sore thorn in eyes” he scoffed, resolving that “we would have to fight our Jihad against such discrimination and suppression of truth”.
Joint declarations for immediate resolve of 7th wage board award, compensation fund for kin of slain journalists, arrest of murderers of journalists, and unwonted downsizings and replacements in media houses were also approved, and publicly announced.
A regular movement from PFUJ platform, for creating awareness among journalist fraternity about their rights was also agreed upon, and 20th March was selected for being celebrated as “day of demand(ing rights)”, during which thousands of journalists from across Pakistan would stage a sit-in outside Punjab Assembly.
The presidents and secretaries of all respective journalistic unions also presented their performance reports, while also deliberating over administrative issues. The CEC also asked all union journalists to open their memberships, and complete the scrutiny process for expediting elections.
The event was participated by PFUJ presidents, secretaries of Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Abbottabad, Multan, Rahimyar Khan, Sukkur, Hyderabad and Karachi.

Irish journalist faces 50 sex charges

Irish journalist faces 50 sex charges

GardaThe accused must sign on three times a week at Ballymun Garda Station in Dublin
A 50-year-old journalist has appeared in court in the Republic of Ireland charged with 50 sex offences involving teenage girls.
The man, who cannot be identified at this stage of the proceedings, was arrested just after 09:00 GMT and taken to Ballymun Garda Station in Dublin.
After caution, he made no reply to the charges.
He faces seven charges of engaging in a sexual act with an underage child on dates in 2011.
The man also faces three charges of sexual assault against the same person on dates in 2007 at a number of locations, including a hotel car park in Dublin, and in Donegal.
He faces 40 charges relating to child exploitation, including inducing or coercing a child to engage in the production of child pornography and inducing or coercing her to engage in a sexual, indecent or obscene act.
These offences are alleged to have occurred between 2008 and 2011.
The man was remanded on bail on his own bond of 500 euros (£412) and an independent surety of 2,000 euros (£1,648).
As part of his bail conditions, he must sign on three times a week at Ballymun Garda Station. He has also surrendered his passport.
He is due in court again on 29 April.
The court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed he be tried on indictment, which means he will be sent forward to a higher court for trial.
He has not yet indicated how he will plead to the charges.
A defence solicitor told the judge that the DPP agreed the case should have reporting restrictions because of the nature of the charges.
This means the man cannot be identified at this stage.
Mr Hennessy told the judge the man would be applying for legal aid at the next court sitting.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

PH top 3 in media killings

PH top 3 in media killings

By Ronald Reyes 
ANOTHER media watchdog echoed the finding of other global press groups and said the Philippines ranked third among the most dangerous places for journalists, next only to Syria and Iraq.
In its annual report “Killing The Messenger,” the International News Safety Institute said 14 journalists were killed in the Philippines, next to Syria with 20 journalists killed and Iraq with 16.
Of the 14 journalists who were killed in the Philippines, four were officially listed as having died while they were working at a radio station in Tacloban City when super typhoon “Yolanda” hit the area on November 8.
The journalists killed by Yolanda were Ronald Vi?as and and Allan Medino of radio station dyVL and Archi Globio and Malou Realino of radio station dyBR. The four were killed while they were working as Yolanda hit the country.
But according to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, 10 other media workers, who were on duty when the typhoon struck remained missing as of Wednesday but no death certificates have been issued for them.
The 10 are Violy Custodio, Boy Mendigo, Jenevive Catubao, Joyce Catubao of dyVL; Baby Jaca, June Estoya, Lulu Palencia of dyBR, Gerry Lumantas of dyXY, Christina Gabrillo of dyAC and Ariel Aguillon of Bombo Radyo.
The CMFR also reported 44 other media workers who were injured during typhoon or whose homes were destroyed.
In the INSI’s “Killing The Messenger” report, the group noted that 69 of the 134 deaths of journalists and media staff occurred in peace time while the rest occurred during armed conflicts in different parts of the world.
The INSI said their report, carried out by the Cardiff School for Journalism in the United Kingdom, was an analysis of the situations of the 134 deceased journalists and staff in 29 countries.
Aside from the finding that more journalists were killed in peacetime than during armed conflict, the study also showed that 92 percent of those killed were local journalists and more print journalists were slain than any other medium.
The toll is down by almost 12 per cent compared to the 152 who died in 2012, although INSI is worried by what appears to be a rise in the numbers of assaults, threats and kidnappings of journalists - which go unreported for the most part.
Last week, the international media group Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders) said the Philippine media remain in a “difficult situation” and the environment of freedom has even worsened.
According to the RSF’s “2014 World Press Freedom Index,” the Philippines went down two notches to the 149th spot among the 180 countries included in the index, even worse than newcomer Belize which was on 29th spot.
In 2010, the year following the Maguindanao massacre that left 58 people dead, including 32 journalists, the country was at the 156th place.
When President Benigno Aquino III took office, the country managed only to climb to 140th spot in 2011 before sliding down again to the 147th place last year.
Even the troubled countries of Mali (now ranked 122nd) and the Central African Republic (now 109th) , which dropped more than 120 spots, were better off than the Philippines, the index showed.
Throughout 2013, RSF had repeatedly raised concerns about the killings and attempted killings of journalists and objected to the Aquino administration’s anti-cybercrime law because its online defamation provision “poses too much of a threat to freedom of information.”
A study conducted by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism showed that 23 journalists have been killed during the first 40 months of Aquino’s term.
If the Ampatuan 32 were to be excluded in the equation, the PCIJ said Aquino has the worst case load of media killings since 1986.
Based on the impunity index rating of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Philippines is the third most dangerous place for journalists, next to Iraq and Somalia.

UNESCO Chief Alarmed By Murders Of Three Media Workers In Brazil

UNESCO Chief Alarmed By Murders Of Three Media Workers In Brazil


Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on Wednesday expressed alarm at the killing of three media workers in Brazil in separate incidents, and urged a thorough investigation of all three cases.
"I am shocked at the killing of Pedro Palma, Jose Lacerda da Silva and Edilson Dias Lopes. The toll levied on media workers is tragic and unacceptable," the UNESCO Director-General said.
"I call on the authorities to ensure that each of these cases is investigated thoroughly and brought to justice. Freedom of expression cannot thrive under the threat of guns," she cautioned.
UNESCO said in a statement that Pedro Palma, editor of the Panorama Regional weekly newspaper, was shot dead outside his home in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro on February 13.
Jose Lacerda da Silva, a cameraman for regional TV Cabo Mossoro, was shot dead by two individuals in a car in the city of Mossoro on the evening of February 16, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Edilson Dias Lopes, a journalist for community radio Explosao Jovem FM, was gunned down in the town of Pinheiros, in the north of the state of Espírito Santo, on February 11, according to the Brazilian broadcasters' association, Abert.
The UN agency tasked with defending press freedom noted that at least ten media workers have been killed in Brazil since the beginning of last year.
by RTT Staff Writer

Why journalists should be 'interesting'

Why journalists should be 'interesting'


MANILA -- Former politician and journalist Teddy Locsin on Monday said the responsibility of a journalist is to make himself "interesting."
"You may have the truth, but if you’re a bore, if you don’t know how to write, if you don’t know how to communicate on TV or on radio, forget it," Locsin told ANC's "Talkback" during its Edsa28 Special.
"So the responsibility is on us to make the public want to hear the stories we know. That’s what the journalist is for; otherwise any Tom, Dick and Harry can do it," he added.
He also shared to the audience, composed of students from different universities in Manila, that journalists "never praise and always criticize."
"Praise... when you’re in power, you don’t need it. You’re there already. The role of media is to always be critical and in being critical, make yourself interesting," he said.
Meanwhile, former columnist Melinda de Jesus said that as a journalist, it is always hard not to speak about what she knows.
"It’s more problematic not to tell the stories that we heard, it really is more difficult not to go with the story you knew had to be heard. For me it was not about courage, or bravery, or whatever. I think every journalist who goes into the business understands that right away," she said.
"The press is the nexus, the connective tissue that holds society together," she added.
Confusion, not information
Vergel Santos, trustee of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, however, said the advent of technology has put a different perspective on journalism.
Media, he said, has substantially contributed in shaping society, but there's a catch.
"Where have the media taken society? Where are we now? You must understand that in 1986, after 14 years of oppression, there was an explosion of media. The media returned with a vengeance, understandably, but even before the media could sober up and settle in some respectable place, Internet came and to an extent confused the whole thing," he said.
According to Santos, the Internet has "just about made everyone who is not yet a journalist, a potential one."
"I mean, this is confusing. Because where before, the media were an organized industry, in fact, operating upon layers and layers of checks, the Internet is not," he lamented.
But Rowena Paraan, chairman of the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines, said citizen journalism is "actually getting bigger and bigger, much more than what we have expected."
"This just goes to show that citizen journalism, whether you like it or not, whether you agree that ordinary people can do reports or whatever, it’s definitely something that is going to stay," she said.
Jarius Bondoc, columnist of the Philippine Star, agrees, saying the Internet has a bigger audience.
"Write it on the Internet, create a blog, spread the word, and you get a bigger audience," he said. "Internet makes research for investigative journalism easier. You get reliable information in an instant and then you are able to get tips in an instant, and also confirmation."
Santos, however, said there should be more training in that field.
"If you want to harness plain citizens in this endeavor, there should be a bit more training and organization because journalism is a craft, and therefore as a craft there are certain skills that make for this craft," he said.
Locsin, meanwhile, said the beauty of the Internet is knowing that "someone out there knows better."
"Even if the mainstream media may have a bias, someone out there will correct you, and even if you say, ‘oh, who’s gonna read that?’, of course it hurts, and it starts disciplining you," he said.

How women journalists pushed limits during Martial Law

How women journalists pushed limits during Martial Law



MANILA -- Three women journalists who shared their experiences before and after the People Power Revolution in 1986 recalled how they pushed the limits -- and eventually struck a chord in the heart of the public.
Melinda Quintos de Jesus, executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), said women journalists during Martial Law realized that they had certain advantages and "were willing to push the limits of what can be tolerated."
"While every now and then, columns would either not be published or be published only in parts, we were able to create a venue that struck a chord in the heart of the public," she said on ANC's "EDSA28: A Talkback Special" that aired Monday.
Former President Ferdinand Marcos, according to Journalism for Nation Building Foundation head Marites Vitug, knew he had to show a semblance of democracy in the country because he was courting international support.
"So he allowed these 'little mosquitoes' -- what he called the 'mosquito press' -- to come out with articles that were independent. But we were careful not to be too overly critical of the First Family because that was the rule," she said.
Vitug said journalists during Martial Law knew they had limits, but could not afford to be closed down because there were more stories to report.
But the assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino changed everything.
"It was in 1983 which really emboldened a lot of journalists, and even the public," she said.
Malou Mangahas, executive director of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, agreed saying it was Ninoy's death which triggered unity among journalists during that time.
"I think the media unions played a very important role… (there were) efforts to actually organize the media so that more and more people could take bolder steps to take a stand together. So when Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, there was mourning in the press club, in the newsrooms, in the media unions, and so they had taken part in some of the activities and forums never before heard of until the time," she said.
De Jesus, meanwhile, shared how the "protest press" came into being, saying journalists wrote what they felt they had to write, up until the assassination of Ninoy.
"It took us into different areas and different issues. Up to 1983 however, when Ninoy Aquino was assassinated, by that time... we were jobless journalists. Then (came) the protest press, there were others that preceded it, but at that point we drew the line. We were the ones who were going to put out as much news as there is to find about Marcos," she recalled.
Mangahas said there were people within media who tried to insert a story about a political prisoner, a story about a massacre in some province, but "it was like a cat-and-mouse game every bit of the way."
She remembered women journalists who were summoned by the National Intelligence Board for Inquiry, which she said was actually a euphemism for interrogation, for the articles they wrote.
"They would be reviewed as an intelligence officer would for intent, content, effect… it was not simply cyber libel or malice but the intent of the writer, the content of the article and the effect of the article on audience," Mangahas said.
Asked if over the years, the media has been able to tell the real story of EDSA, Vitug said, "I think there are various voices that make up the story of EDSA. Many have been written, there are many books, but the stories continue to be written."

‘House of Cards’ journalists portrayed as odd but at least they’re not sociopaths

‘House of Cards’ journalists portrayed as odd but at least they’re not sociopaths

Anyone who is up-to-date on the Netflix TV drama “House of Cards” knows that journalists play a significant role. I have something to say about that with the goal of viewing this portrayal within a historical context of fictional representations of reporters and editors. (If you have not yet binge-watched the 26 episodes, not to worry. There are no spoilers in this essay.)
Based on a trilogy of novels by former conservative British politician Michael Dobbs and a BBC miniseries, “House of Cards” shows American politics at its worst. Congressman Francis Underwood (played by Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (played by Robin Wright) have been aptly compared to Lord and Lady Macbeth. Nothing can quench their appetite for power. No one can stand in their way.
Like other contemporary dramas such as “The Sopranos” and “Dexter,” the anti-heroes in “House of Cards” are sociopaths, almost daring the audience to find someone to root for. To borrow a phrase from Flannery O’Connor, “a good man – or woman – is hard to find.”
We live in an era, of course, when almost all great American institutions are in decline and disrepute. The one exception may be the military – if you are willing to discount the sexual predation of women, a subplot in “House of Cards.” All boats sink on a low tide, and the tides in this drama almost run the Ship of State aground.
Perhaps because the shallow water is so polluted, journalists in “House of Cards” don’t look so bad. Individually, each is a mess. Zoe Barnes (played by Kate Mara) looks like a teenager, but is pathologically ambitious, willing to exchange sexual favors for information with a much older Frank Underwood.  Her ruthless scoops let her climb the ladder of news celebrity, placing her at odds with the old school editor of the Washington Herald, Tom Hammerschmidt (played by Boris McGiver). He wants to put Zoe in her place and looks like he may even have some ethics, until he drops the c-word on her in an encounter that costs him his job.
Over two seasons we meet some other journalists as well, including reporters and editors who face violence, imprisonment, and intimidation as they inch closer to unthinkable truths about how things work in Washington.
This may not sound very encouraging, but the collective press corps manages to establish itself in “House of Cards” as the lesser of evils. When you get past their idiosyncrasies, jealousies, and careerism, they do seem to be following a compass. They have a collective sense of mission and purpose, which is to keep watch over a corrupt government, to pierce the veil of secrecy and to reveal horrible truths in the public interest.
If this seems like faint praise, consider the history of such portrayals of journalists over the last century. We started out pretty well in motion pictures with actors like Clark Gable in such films as “It Happened One Night,” playing the hard-drinking, hard-driving news hound as a representative of the common man, a champion of the little guy.
That portrayal began to change in the 1970s, especially after Watergate. TV’s Lou Grant was the exception to an endless stream of journalists portrayed as vultures, preying upon the weak and vulnerable, shouting over each other in predatory packs. It was a time when the tabloid press was depicted as the norm.
We were once the good guys. Then we became the bad guys. Now, at least in “House of Cards,” we are – what can I say? — morally complex.  Maybe that’s the best we can hope for: to serve as the tiniest pinpoint of light in one of the darkest depictions of America you will ever see. Just don’t sleep with a source.

Two Egyptian journalists referred to military court for leaking Sisi statements

Two Egyptian journalists referred to military court for leaking Sisi statements


The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned the referral of journalists Amr Salama Al-Qazzaz, co-founder of the Rassd Network, and Islam Al-Homsi, director of the social media department at the network, to the Military Misdemeanour Court on charges of publishing leaked videos of Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Sisi. 

The journalists were referred to the North Cairo military court on 23 February 2014 on charges of defaming the army. The first trial hearing is scheduled for 24 February. 

Al-Qazzaz was apprehended on 12 November 2013 whereby all equipment found in his house and his car, including his laptop, cellphone, and all documents, were confiscated. Al-Homsi was arrested six days later when leaving an auditorium at the Faculty of Commerce where he studies. 

The investigation process lasted for nearly three months at the military prosecution till a decision for referral to the military court was made. 

This is not the first time Al-Qazzaz faces arbitrary treatment by the authorities. In 2008, his name was deleted from the the faculty of media's student union at Sinai University; although his papers were accepted at the beginning. When he was at the Committee Overseeing Elections, Salama was asked about the reason behind that procedure, he said that he was excluded due to security interventions. Salama also mentioned that he has a blog entitled “Lesa Ayesh" (Still Alive). 

“Referring journalists to criminal or military courts is a clear encroachment on freedom of expression and opinion," stated ANHRI, "Additionally, it is a perpetuation of arbitrary procedures that have been taken, recently, by Egyptian authorities against journalists, media professionals and opinion makers." 

According to ANHRI, leaked parts of Sisi's interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper is likely malpractice on the part of the journalist responsible for the interview. Therefore, the journalist should bear administrative sanctions from within his own network. It should not be considered a violation by Rassd News and its journalists shouldn't be paying the price for publishing the leaked information. 

ANHRI urges the military judiciary to promptly drop all charges against the journalists and to release them. It also calls on the Egyptian government to suspend any form of targeting of journalists and media professionals in light of their opinions and criticisms, in a bid to respect the newly-drafted constitution that defends freedom of expression and press freedom.

Journalists pretending to be employees of Anti-Corruption Department under Prosecutor General arrested in Azerbaijan

Journalists pretending to be employees of Anti-Corruption Department under Prosecutor General arrested in Azerbaijan
[ 24 February 2014 15:00 ]
Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. Journalists pretending to be the employees of Anti-Corruption Department under Prosecutor General were caught red-handed in Azerbaijan.

The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office told APA that reporters of the Kolgeli Igtisadiyyat ve Korrupsiya and Igtisadiyyat ve Korrupsiya newspapers Niyazi Mammadov, Rustam Rustamov and Senan Aghayev entered into criminal conspiracy, introduced themselves as employees of Anti-Corruption Department under Prosecutor General and undermined the prestige of the department. A criminal case has been launched on the fact under articles 178.2.1 (fraud) and 310 (misappropriation of official authority) of the Criminal Code as they were caught red-handed while receiving AZN 200 ofAZN 500 that they demanded from Emil Huseynov, supervisor of Health Center in Khatai district in order not to suspend the activity of the center.

Niyazi Mammadov, Rustam Rustamov and Senan Aghayev were sentenced to pre-trial detention.

Necessary investigative measures are being continued to reveal other crimes supposedly committed by them. Citizens affected by the illegal actions of these persons are asked to call 012-361-11-36 phone number and 161 "hot line" of Anti-Corruption Department under Prosecutor General.

Journalists in Sochi Need to Gain Perspective

Journalists in Sochi Need to Gain Perspective

Sports_hernandez_sochi_issue4
Illustration by Lya Hernandez.
By this point, everyone following the Olympics has heard of or read the torrent of coverage from the Western media in Sochi complaining about the conditions of hotels and how unprepared Russia was for the Olympics to begin. In fact, the Twitter account that highlights these issues, “Sochi Problems,” already has more followers (342,000) than the official Twitter account of the games themselves (235,000).
This is a problem. The fact that Western journalists think the biggest story around the Olympics is that their bathrooms don’t have shower curtains or that they don’t have any place to hang their suits represents Western countries poorly and says a lot about those journalists in general.
Now, thanks to their complaints, the main focus of the Olympics is not the elite athletes who have devoted thousands of hours over many years to perfecting their skills. Instead the spotlight has turned to those who should be remaining anonymous: the journalists sent to cover those athletes.
Not only has the focus of the games somewhat shifted away from the games themselves, but some of the issues these journalists continue to complain about are problems that Russians feel every day. Reporters have tweeted photos of dirty water coming from the taps. This sounds bad, but according to President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Jean Lemierre, only about half of Russians had access to drinking water that met reasonable standards of cleanliness in 2002.
Russian President Vladimir Putin even admitted that he sometimes has dirty water come out of his taps. Apparently, many parts of rooms are missing and beds are smaller than expected. Welcome to a standard of living for many in Russia that isn’t as high as that of journalists in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. What these journalists have apparently forgotten is that they only have to deal with these problems for two weeks, while many Russians have to accept dirty tap water their entire lives.
Possibly the worst example of pompous western journalism came when Cathal Kelly, a columnist for the Toronto Star, sent out a series of tweets criticizing the gift bag given to journalists in Sochi. The bag included a passport holder, a pen, a teddy bear, an eyeshade and an Ethernet cord, which Kelly tweeted was the only reason he picked the bag up.
“As in life,” tweeted Kelly, “you know how much people care by the crap they give you.”
It must be rough to travel for free to Russia for two weeks, watch some of the best athletes in the world and receive a disappointing commemorative gift basket.
What these journalists need to remember is that if they want so badly to be anywhere but Sochi, there are thousands that will take their places. I’ll go, even if I have to sleep in a tent.

Brazil: Death of journalist covering protests prompts uproar

Brazil: Death of journalist covering protests prompts uproar

From the standpoint of the investigations, this is a confusing story, with different versions of events coming from the media and the police
By Simone Marques
Rio´s Batman honors the recently deceased network cameraman Santiago Andrade, who died after being hit in the head with fireworks released by black bloc activists on the protest of February 6. (Photo: Leonardo Coelho / Demotix)
Rio’s Batman honours the recently deceased network cameraman Santiago Andrade, who died after being hit in the head with fireworks released by black bloc activists during a protest on February 6. (Photo: Leonardo Coelho / Demotix)
The death of Santiago Andrade on 10 February, a cameraman for Brazil’s Bandeirantes Network, from injuries he suffered while filming a Rio de Janeiro transport price protest has shocked the country.
In the uproar that followed, two protesters — Caio Silva de Souza and Fabio Barbosa Raposo – were arrested for targeting Andrade with fireworks. The media quickly filled with editorials and coverage that declared democracy was at risk. Journalists described the attack as a grave threat to freedom of expression and criticism of police handling of the protests. One op-ed even accused a leftist party deputy of links with the attack without presenting evidence.
However, there is a lack of preparation from the Brazilian press itself, when covering the demonstrations. This deficiency was highlighted by a BBC reporter who provided first aid to Andrade. Brazilian journalists usually cover protests without identification vests, protection or training.
Violence against the press is not a new problem in Brazil. There have been 126 attacks on journalists by police or demonstrators since the mass protest movement began in June 2013. It is common for journalists’ cars to be targeted by protesters. At the same time, it has been reported that journalists have been murdered for political reasons.
Brazil is the 11th most dangerous country for the journalistic profession, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). “The number of journalists killed has grown in recent years and the official government response has been insufficient. Brazil has become a dangerous country for the practice of journalism,” CPJ coordinator Carlos Lauría told UN Radio.
The attack on Andrade was the fourth episode of violence against journalists during protests in 2014. On 25 January, two reporters were injured in São Paulo – EFE reporter Sebastião Moreira and freelancer Paul Alexander were attacked by the police. UOL News reporter Gustavo Maia was assaulted by police on 6 February — the same day Andrade was injured.
The death of the cameraman happened at the same time the Brazilian Congress — with the backing of the federal government — was attempting to quickly pass two controversial bills against terrorism. The public reaction was overwhelmingly negative. The justice department is likely to present a new bill to congress. While the bill has not yet been published, it is said to provide stricter punishment for violent infiltrators in demonstrations, in addition to standardizing police responses throughout Brazil. The Minister of Justice, José Eduardo Cardozo, also met with representatives of the media and promised action to protect reporters.
Several national and international organizations expressed concern over the Andrade attack. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders called on the Brazilian authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists covering demonstrations. The UN expressed concern about violent protests and the “excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests of demonstrators and journalists by police forces”. UNESCO pleaded with Brazilian media groups to train their employees working in hazardous environments. The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji)released a statement condemning the  the attack and urged the Brazilian government to protect journalists and freedom of expression. The International Press Institute (IPI) recalled various crimes against Brazilian journalists and insisted that investigation of crimes against journalists be a priority for the government.
Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff expressed her grief on Twitter. She said the death of Andrade “revolts and saddens” and stressed that “freedom of expression cannot be used to threaten life”. In an official statement, the Secretary of Human Rights of the Presidency said that “this case unfortunately tragically symbolizes the systematic violence against communication professionals engaged in covering demonstrations”.
From the standpoint of the investigations, this is a confusing story, full of questions, with different versions of events coming from the media and the police.
The lawyer for the men arrested for detonating the rocket said the two were recruited by, and received money from ,“activists”. The Civil Police claims there are infiltrators in protests that are paid by political parties of the extreme left.
The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, also said that “there are political parties and organisations embedded in these violent actions”.
Is there cooptation of popular movements? There is no evidence of it. Is Brazilian democracy facing a crisis? It seems that nobody wants to be responsible for the answers.
While the press is mourning the loss of yet another one of its own, there needs to be time to ascertain the facts rather than lob accusations when tensions are high. The press needs to investigate and confirm or deny the official line directed against the left or nothing will come from the death of a colleague symbolised by the cameras placed in front of the congress.

Sports newspaper journalist killed in Maidan


Sports newspaper journalist killed in Maidan – editors

Ihor Kostenko, a journalist from the newspaper Sportanalytic (http://sportanalytic.com/), was killed on Independence Square in Kyiv on Thursday, the newspaper said on its website.
"The Sportanalytic journalist died a hero's death for freedom and justice. One of the bodies outside Zhovtnevy Palace in Kyiv has been identified. It was a 22-year-old geography student, Ihor Kostenko, from Ternopil region," the statement said.
The newspaper's editorial office has offered condolences to Kostenko's family and friends

Al Jazeera trial puts focus on Egypt's media crackdown


Al Jazeera trial puts focus on Egypt's media crackdown

The trial of Al Jazeera journalists puts Cairo's crackdown on the media in the spotlight - but for Egyptian journalists a climate of fear has been pervasive since the military took control last June.
On Thursday, three Al Jazeera journalists faced their first trial hearing in Cairo - accused of being involved with terrorist organisations and of disseminating "false information".Australian journalist Peter Greste and Egyptian journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, as well as six other Al Jazeera journalists, are among a group of twenty facing charges in connection to this case.On Thursday the court adjourned the trial until 5 March. Al Jazeera English Managing Director Al Anstey said the channel was "deeply disappointed" that the men had not been freed.The detentions have sparked a high-profile campaign for the journalists to be freed (see picture, below). At a demonstration outside the Egyptian embassy on Wednesday, Al Jazeera journalist Sue Turton told Channel 4 News how Al Jazeera staff had been covering events in Egypt as they would any other story.
Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday that the prosecution of these journalists shows "how fast the space for dissent in Egypt is evaporating."
Lindsey Hilsum and Jonathan Miller supporting the campaign to free Al Jazeera journalists
Above: Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum and Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Miller supporting the campaign to free Al Jazeera staff.
However, the crackdown on the media and on wider freedoms of expression is not a new phenomenon.
Attacks on the media have been taking place throughout Egypt's recent turbulent history – however, they appear to have escalated following the military coup that ousted President Morsi in July 2013. A month later the military declared a state of emergency in the country – which has enabled the de facto government to tighten its control over the media.

Killed

Egypt was the third deadliest country in the world for the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says, behind Syria and Iraq.
The CPJ reports that six journalists were killed in 2013 – higher than any other year since the organisation records began in 1992. Five out of these six were killed after President Morsi was ousted on 3 July.
Journalists should not have to risk years in an Egyptian prison for doing their job.Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
The deceased often worked for media organisations that supported the Muslim Brotherhood, the party of the ousted president, or were deemed to have beensupporting it.
The first journalist killed following the military takeover was Ahmed Assem el-Senousy, a photographer for the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice newspaper. He was killed while covering clashes between pro-Morsi supporters and security forces in the days following the military takeover.
El-Senousy, who was 26, was shot by a sniper after reportedly photographing security forces firing on protesters.
Photographers head for shelter in the Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque camp (picture: Getty)
Above: Photographers head for shelter in the Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque camp.
On August 14 the military began clearing pro-Morsi sit-in camps across Cairo. Mosaab al-Shami, Ahmed Abdel Gawad and Mick Deane of Sky News were all shot dead that day at a sit in at the Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque.
The week of clashes left nearly 1,000 people dead in Egypt, and the three journalists were there to report on the military crackdown.
Al-Shami, a photographer for the Rassd News Network which had criticised the military coup, was reported to have been shot in the chest by a sniper. Gawad, a reporter with state television, was also the editorial manager of the Muslim Brotherhood's TV station, Misr25. Mick Deane had worked for Sky for 15 years.

Jailed

The CPJ also found that five journalists were being held behind bars when it conducted its annual prison census on 1 December 2013 – but added that the number did not include the dozens of journalists who were detained without charge and later released.
It has listed 71 "anti-press violations" in the 90 days following the military coup – including 32 detentions, 27 assaults and injuries, nine raids and three confiscations.
Human Rights Watch has also recorded how "Egyptian authorities in recent months have demonstrated almost zero tolerance for any form of dissent."
In the aftermath of President Morsi's departure, the charity says, security forces closed down television stations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. 18 contributors to the citizen news network Rassd, which al-Shami worked for, have been detained.
As freedom of information is the cornerstone of any democratic state, we urge the authorities to release all detained news providers and to drop all proceedings against them.Reporters Without Borders
In 2014 the climate of fear for journalists in Egypt has remained, Human Rights Watch said.
On 22 January an Egyptian filmmaker, Hossam al-Menai, and an American translator, Jeremy Hodge, were arrested at an apartment in Cairo. Mr Hodge was released four days later, but Mr al-Menai was held for 18 days, and still faces charges of spreading "false names and endangering the stability of the nation."
Mr al-Menai is said to have been tortured whilst in detention.
On 1 February, police arrested a Yemeni blogger, Fera Shamsan, following interviews he had conducted at a Cairo book fair. It has been reported that Mr Shamsan got into an argument at the fair because of comments relating to the military coup, and was arrested by police.
He faces charges of spreading false news about the Egyptian authorities, receiving money from foreign agencies, taking photographs without permission, and disturbing the public peace.
On 2 February police raided Yqeen and Hasry, Cairo-based media outlets, arresting 13 staff members on allegations of inciting violence and airing false news. Police later released the journalists on bail, though Human Rights Watch said they still face criminal charges.

Social media

And it is not just journalists who are funding their freedoms curtailed. In recent months arrests have been made over critical tweets, for distributing posters and for giving critical lectures.
The Interior Ministry announced on January 30 that it would begin arresting those who engage in what it termed incitement against the police and other citizens on social media websites.
And the situation does not appear to be improving. At the start of the month, proposed anti-terrorism legislation was leaked – sparking concerns about government censorship. The legislation took a broad definition of terrorism as "acts of violence, threat, intimidation that obstruct public authorities or government, as well as implementation of the constitution."
The legislation would allow for social networking sites, such as Facebook, to be barred if they are seemed to be endangering public order.