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Summary: A short compilation of violations of freedom of press around the world.
In Syria, the government is carrying out a major anti-protest operation by restricting media coverage by cutting electricity, Internet and telephone lines in the southern city of Deraa, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe has said. Security forces have detained over 500 civilians, including many journalists and bloggers. The Committee to Protect Journalists has also highlighted that foreign press are prohibited entry to the country. Mr. Pascoe commented that this suppression of independent media was compounding the lack of transparency about the situation in the country. “One cumulative effect of this policy is to prevent the collection and dissemination of accurate and impartial information, leaving observers unable to confirm or deny many allegations,” he said. Full story.
Also in Bahrain, authorities have tried to limit coverage of the protests by closing opposition media networks, forcing senior media personnel to resign, harassing local journalists and foreign television crews, intimidating and threatening Bahrainis who talk to foreign journalists, and arresting bloggers. Full story.
Prominent journalists and activists in Yemen have been the targets smear campaigns, Reporters Without Borders has said. Media censorship has also meant that regional opposition newspapers have been confiscated at security checkpoints in several parts of the country. There are also reports that drivers transporting the newspapers have been detained, with one even being attacked. Full story.
Sixteen foreign journalists are currently detained or missing in Libya, some held in military prisons. In March, three BBC journalists were abducted by Libyan security forces and held for 21 hours, during which they were beaten and subjected to mock executions. On 26 April, a number foreign journalists were deported on orders by the Libyan government. And two prominent photojournalists were killed in a mortar attack in Misrata last week.
In Azerbaijan, a Swedish television crew that had arrived in the country to film a documentary on human rights and freedom of speech was detained and deported. Azerbaijani authorities said the crew did not have press accreditation, despite holding valid documentation which had previously been approved by the Azerbaijani embassy in Sweden. Police confiscated the crew’s digital cameras and erased all footage on their memory cards at an anti-government rally. Full story. At the same rally, police also arrested a five-year-old girl for shouting ‘freedom’. Full story.
Amid recent protests against rising food and fuel prices in Uganda, the head of the country’s Communications Commission has ordered Internet providers to block social media websites Facebook and Twitter to prevent civilian coordination of the “walk to work” campaign which has rallied thousands of citizens. Journalists have also been prohibited from going to areas where conflict is taking place or from entering hospitals in order to prevent them from counting up a death toll. Full story.
In Thailand, security forces shut down 12 radio stations, confiscated their equipment, and arrested three members of staff for allegedly broadcasting a speech by an opposition leader that was considered defamatory to the monarch. Full story.
This month in Cuba, the government released the last independent journalist remaining in prison, who was serving a three-year sentence on charges of “disrespect” and distributing opposition propaganda. However, independent journalists in Cuba continue to face harassment and intimidation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. Full story.
Meanwhile in United States, the Justice Department has issued subpoenas for members of WikiLeaks, even for a former volunteer, which the Inter-American Press Society has condemned as a serious threat to the future of press freedom. A federal judge has also authorised the search of information about anyone in the country who accesses WikiLeaks reports. Full story.
For regular news updates on press freedom around the world, visit the following organisations: