21 Mar 12 | Africa, Index Index, minipost
A private television station in the Democratic Republic of Congo was stormed by unidentified men yesterday morning. Radio Télévision Kindu Maniema (RTKM) who broadcast from the capital of Maniema province was attacked by a group of men, who set fire to the station’s satellite antenna, and damaged the station’s offices. Programme presenter Mira Dipenge went into hiding five days ago, fearing he would be arrested following orders from the governor of the province, Tutu Salumu. In early February, Salumu ordered station management stop broadcasting call-in programmes in which callers could criticise his management of the province.
28 Apr 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Al-Jazeera suspended its Arabic services in Syria yesterday (27 April) in response to attacks on its staff and government restrictions. The authorities have pressured Syrian nationals into resigning from the organisation and have prevented journalists from entering and reporting in Daraa, the city where the Syrian uprising began on March 15. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, unknown assailants have attacked the Al-Jazeera offices with eggs and stones for the past three days. The events mirror those in Egypt, where Al-Jazeera journalists were also subject to abuse and intimidation.
28 Apr 11 | Index Index, minipost
A television cameraman was shot dead on Monday (25 April) while on his way to work. Alfredo Hurtado, 45, worked for Canal 33, a privately owned news channel. Three suspected gang members are believed to have entered the bus and shot him 12 times in a direct targeted attack. The police have yet to identify a motive for the assassination.
21 Apr 11 | Index Index, minipost
A journalist received a written warning over an article in which he questioned the Belarussian authorities’ claims to have arrested those responsible for April’s Minsk metro bombing. A prosecutor in Belarus’s eastern district issued a letter which also warns Nyarouny not to publish similar articles in the future.
