CJFE Protests Arrest of Journalists

Dear Letter Writers,
>
> Below is a letter of protest on Zambia. You can mail it or fax it at the
> co-ordinates below. Please copy [email protected].
>
> Many thanks
>
> Joel Ruimy, Executive Director
> CJFE
>
> ----text begins----
>
> His Excellency Levy Mwanawasa
> Office of the President
> State House, Cabinet Office
> Box 30208
> Lusaka
>
> Fax +260 1 252 545
>
> Email: [email protected]
>
> Your Excellency,
>
> I write on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a
> non-profit, non-governmental organization advocating for a free press and
> freedom of expression in Canada and around the world. CJFE wishes to
protest
> the arrest of Emmanuel Chilekwa, managing editor of the privately-owned
> newspaper, The People, his assistants Shadreck Banda and Kings Lweendo,
and
> student journalist Jane Chirwa on June 5, 2002. They were all charged with
> "defamation of the president."
>
> According to our information, the four were denied bail on June 7 by
Lusaka
> Principal Resident Magistrate Frank Tembo, who told them he will rule on
bail at
> their next court appearance June 25. They remain in custody until then.
>
> At issue is an article published in the May 25-31 issue of Chilekwa's
newspaper
> which alleged that your excellency suffers from Parkinson's disease.
>
> On May 28, Zambian police ordered Chilekwa to report to police
headquarters in
> Lusaka the following day for questioning in connection with the article.
On May
> 31, police picked up Chilekwa and his colleagues and assaulted them during
an
> interrogation about the article.
>
> The police actions follow a complaint by your excellency that your
character was
> being maligned.
>
> "Defamation of the president" under Section 69 of the Zambian Penal Code
makes
> it an offence to "bring hatred, ridicule or contempt to the reputation of
the
> president, to publish defamatory matter, whether in writing, print, word
of
> mouth, or any other form or manner." A conviction carries a jail
> term of up to three years without the option of a fine.
>
> We respectfully urge you to withdraw your complaint and drop the charges.
The
> Zambian Penal Code clearly impedes the right to freedom of expression and
a free
> press. Incarceration of these journalists constitutes a serious
human-rights
> violation.
>
> We further ask that you take steps to improve the state of free expression
in
> your country. We also wish to serve notice that we will continue to shine
a
> spotlight on Zambia until your country shows respect for internationally
> recognized norms of behaviour regarding freedom of expression.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Joel Ruimy, Executive Director
>
> **The information contained in this autolist item is the sole
responsibility of
> CJFE**
>