SAN FRANCISCO -- New America Media [NAM] is deeply concerned about the safety and condition of the journalists recently detained in North Korea and Iran. We urge all sides to take the necessary steps for their fair treatment and immediate release. As the country's first and largest collaboration of ethnic and youth news outlets representing more than 2,500 national associates, NAM supports the extremely vital role of the media in examining human rights conditions in communities across the globe.
On March 17, 2009, two journalists from San Francisco-based cable station Current TV, Chinese-American Laura Ling and Korean-American Euna Lee, were arrested by North Korean guards at the border with China, according to reports. Media reports from the area indicate that the two women have been transferred to Pyongyang and are being interrogated there. Cameraman Mitch Koss and their Chinese guide, who was with the group, were detained by Chinese police, according to various media reports.
On January 31, 2009, freelance journalist Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American, was detained at Iran's Evin prison in Tehran, according to media reports. She was arrested on charges of buying alcohol, which is prohibited in the Islamic republic. Wire reports quote her father, confirming that even though her press credential was previously revoked, Roxana "stayed in Tehran to pursue a master's degree and was doing research for a book about Iranian society." Roxana Saberi has worked for National Public Radio [NPR], the BBC, ABC News and other international media organizations.
We extend our sympathies and prayers to these journalists' families and loved ones and join our media colleagues who have issued their concerns about these detentions and have urged their release from custody. These groups include the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association, Reporters Without Borders, and many others.
We also acknowledge and appreciate the diplomatic efforts of the U.S. government in trying to arrange their release. NAM will continue to closely monitor the developments regarding the detention of these journalists.
Signed,
New America Media
Global News Exchange: www.newamericamedia.org
Contact: Odette Keeley, NAM Chief of Staff
okeeley@newamericamedia.org
415-503-4170
Showing posts with label Journalists' Arrest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journalists' Arrest. Show all posts
28 March, 2009
13 March, 2008
Sri Lankan Tamil journalists arrested and beaten by police
Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about the fate of five Tamil journalists of Sri Lanka, who were picked up by police in Colombo. A statement by the organization, which has been forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission, says:
Reporters without Borders is concerned about the fate of five Tamil journalists arrested by anti-terrorist police in Colombo in the past six days and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to explain why they are being held.
The anti-terrorist police are accusing the journalists of receiving money from the Tamil Tiger rebels, but after investigating, we can confirm that the funds in question came from a German foundation and from Tamil exiles. We condemn the fact the some of these journalists were badly beaten during their first few days in detention, and that this was clearly done to extract confessions from them.
The funds received by two of the journalists, V. Jasikaran and J.S. Tissanayagam, were to finance the Outreach (outreachlk.wordpress.com) website and to help Tamil students. An official with the German foundation FLICT told Reporters Without Borders that Tissanayagam, Outreach's editor, received 12,000 euros in November as part of this initiative.
Several other sources told Reporters Without Borders that Jasikaran received money from members of the Tamil exile community in Germany to help students in the east of the island.
The owner of the E-Kwality printing works and a writer known for his Tamil nationalist stance, Jasikaran was arrested in Colombo on 6 March. His computer and printing equipment were seized, and his wife, a TV producer, was also detained.
Tissanayagam, who writes for the Sunday Times newspaper as well as editing Outreach, was arrested by anti-terrorist police on 7 March. Reporter Kithsiri Wijesinghe, photographer Gayan Lasantha Ranga and video director Udayanan were arrested later the same day.
Journalist S. Sivakumar, the spokesman of the Free Media Movement, was detained for a few hours on 8 March in connection with the same case. He has been ordered to present himself to the police again.
Reporters without Borders is concerned about the fate of five Tamil journalists arrested by anti-terrorist police in Colombo in the past six days and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to explain why they are being held.
The anti-terrorist police are accusing the journalists of receiving money from the Tamil Tiger rebels, but after investigating, we can confirm that the funds in question came from a German foundation and from Tamil exiles. We condemn the fact the some of these journalists were badly beaten during their first few days in detention, and that this was clearly done to extract confessions from them.
The funds received by two of the journalists, V. Jasikaran and J.S. Tissanayagam, were to finance the Outreach (outreachlk.wordpress.com) website and to help Tamil students. An official with the German foundation FLICT told Reporters Without Borders that Tissanayagam, Outreach's editor, received 12,000 euros in November as part of this initiative.
Several other sources told Reporters Without Borders that Jasikaran received money from members of the Tamil exile community in Germany to help students in the east of the island.
The owner of the E-Kwality printing works and a writer known for his Tamil nationalist stance, Jasikaran was arrested in Colombo on 6 March. His computer and printing equipment were seized, and his wife, a TV producer, was also detained.
Tissanayagam, who writes for the Sunday Times newspaper as well as editing Outreach, was arrested by anti-terrorist police on 7 March. Reporter Kithsiri Wijesinghe, photographer Gayan Lasantha Ranga and video director Udayanan were arrested later the same day.
Journalist S. Sivakumar, the spokesman of the Free Media Movement, was detained for a few hours on 8 March in connection with the same case. He has been ordered to present himself to the police again.
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