Zimbabwe: IFJ calls for Europe to lead international action
The International Federation of Journalists today called for the European Union to lead international community action to "condemn, isolate and put into political quarantine" the Government of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe over new restrictions on press freedom.
IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - ZIMBABWE
9 January 2002
IFJ calls for Europe to lead international action as press freedom faces
"moment of truth" in Zimbabwe
SOURCE: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels
**Updates IFEX alerts of 8 January 2002, 14 and 3 December, 29 October, 2
August, 25 July, 26 June, 9 April and 13 March 2001**
(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 January 2002 IFJ media release:
8 January 2002
IFJ Calls For Europe to Lead International Action as Press Freedom Faces
"Moment of Truth" in Zimbabwe
The International Federation of Journalists today called for the European
Union to lead international community action to "condemn, isolate and put
into political quarantine" the Government of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe over
new restrictions on press freedom.
"The Government in Harare has contempt for democracy and the rights of
journalists," said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ, the world's
largest journalists group, "now is a moment of truth for press freedom and
for the international community's commitment to democracy in the region."
The IFJ says that the government's controversial media bill banning
foreigners from working as correspondents in the country and which proposes
jail terms for dissident journalists is a "scandalous assault on freedom of
expression". The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act would
create a new Media and Information Commission with powers to control all
media within Zimbabwe. The move comes after months of attacks on journalists
and media organisations that have criticised land seizures, political
attacks on independent media and the judiciary, and a campaign of political
violence ahead of the presidential elections.
On Friday a meeting between Zimbabwe and the European Union in Brussels will
discuss the deepening political crisis. The EU is threatening to impose
sanctions on the Mugabe Government.
The IFJ is calling for the European Union and other governmental bodies to
break links with Zimbabwe, to impose sanctions and to isolate Zimbabwe in
the international community. "The time for action is long overdue," says the
IFJ, "journalists, lawyers, trades unionists and defenders of pluralist
civil society are being persecuted as they struggle to defend democracy in
Zimbabwe."
Although Information Minister Jonathan Moyo told state media on the weekend
that the government would move to adopt the media bill and would not be
deterred by criticism, Zimbabwe media unions say the media bill is draconian
and have vowed to defy it.
Under the proposed law, journalists can only work in Zimbabwe if they get a
one-year renewable accreditation from a government-appointed commission. The
bill imposes registration requirements for private media companies and bars
foreign nationals from working as correspondents. The bill also prescribes
heavy fines for journalists publishing stories on "protected" information,
or news likely to cause alarm and despondency, which could range from
rumors, advice offered to Mugabe or minutes of cabinet meetings.
"This is no thin disguise to this attack on journalists," said the IFJ, "It
is a determined effort to silence media critics ahead of elections and makes
a mockery of democratic notions of free expression."
The IFJ is the world's largest journalists' group with 500,000 members in
106 countries.
For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Center,
Residence Palace 155, Rue de la Loi - Bloc C, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel:
+322 235 2200 or +322 235 22 01, fax: +322 235 22 19, e-mail:
[email protected], Internet: http://www.ifj.org/
The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of IFJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit IFJ.
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