08 Mar 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
Voice of America’s (VOA) Amharic-language radio broadcasts have been blocked in Ethiopia. The Washington-based broadcaster has been informed by monitors that its news service in the East African state has been electronically-jammed, although it has not yet been able to identify the source. Ethiopia is preparing for a crucial parliament vote on 23 May and officials have described VOA as the “voice of the opposition”. The Ethiopian Communications Office has, however, denied any involvement.
08 Mar 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
The Cote d’Ivoire government suspended transmission of the broadcaster France 24 last week citing the agency’s biased reporting of political unrest in the West African country. The National Council for Audiovisual Communication scrambled the French station’s signal on 22 February and said that it will remain blocked until further notice. This followed France 24’s coverage of an incident in the western city of Gagnoa, where government forces killed five demonstrators protesting against President Laurent Gbagbo’s decision to disband the government and electoral commission. Robert Mahoney, Deputy Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, urged the authorities to reverse this ban and “refrain from censorship”.
25 Aug 09 | Index Index, minipost
The National Union of Somali Journalists has expressed its outrage at the continued suppression of media rights in the Gedo region by the Islamist group Al-Shabaab. The NUSJ report detailed how Radio Markabley was ordered to fire two of its journalists for writing “biased reports” and was issued with a seven-point decree by the group. The decree accuses the station of being “too neutral regarding holy war” and instructs them to stop broadcasting any secular songs or use any musical programs, interviews, advertisements or news content. Read more here
29 Jul 09 | Index Index, minipost
Filipino radio journalist Godofredo Linao was shot near the offices of Radyo Natin by two unidentified men. The men fired four shots at Linao as he was about to board his motorcycle, killing him on the spot. The motive for the attack is unclear. Linao also worked as a political spokesman and may have been targeted for his political broadcasts. Linao is the fourth journalist to die in the Philippines in the past two months. Read more here
