Russia: released rapper launches protest song

16 Aug 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features

Rapper Noize MC, who was jailed for 10 days in Volgograd after mocking local police in a song and an improvised rap at a festival, has released a new song criticising the police. Launched soon after the artist left jail last week, and entitled “10 Days in Paradise” or “10 Days (Stalingrad)”, the song sarcastically thanks police for the inspiration provided by his time in prison. The accompanying video shows footage of Russian police brutality, including violence at a demonstration in St. Petersburg on 31 July. Noize MC, whose real name is Ivan Alexeyev, has included in the song an apology he read out while in prison, which was distributed by the Volgograd police’s press service. Alexeyev told Gazeta.ru that the apology was only written and performed because he was threatened with having his charges changed from “disorderly conduct” to “insulting a police officer” — an offence punishable by up to one year of “correctional labour”.

Somalia: Journalist jailed for interviewing Islamist rebel

16 Aug 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features

The deputy director of a radio station in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland in north east Somalia has been sentenced to six years in prison following a court case from which the media were banned. Abdifatah Jama Mire was given the sentence after the radio station Horseed Media FM broadcast an interview in which he interviewed Mohamed Said Attom, an Islamist rebel chief who has been linked to Al-Qaeda. Seven journalists from the station were initially arrested but so far only Mire has been charged. All media reporters were banned from the trial, which ended in minutes.

'Do you know who I am?'

16 Aug 2010 | Uncategorized

A lieutenant colonel in the French army has been caught on camera menacing a Togolese journalist after the man took photographs of him admonishing youths. Romuald Letondo also threatened to smash Didier Ledoux’s camera.

Unfortunately for Letondot, the whole incident, including the rather pompous question “Do you know who I am?” was caught on video and has been posted on YouTube. The officer’s actions, unacceptable even back when Togo was a French colony, have drawn widespread condemnation from both the African media and French officials. Letondot was forced to apologise directly to Ledoux.

Letondot claims that he had been worried that the photos would be misinterpreted. Luckily the video clears up the affair. Fun starts at 50 seconds.