26 Jul 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
On 23 July, popular Nicaraguan stand-up Luis Enrique Calderón has revealed that he was offered money by government officials in return for not ridiculing President Daniel Ortega in upcoming performances organised to celebrate the comedian’s 20 year career. The humorist, renowned for satirising famous personalities and politicians, contacted First Lady Rosario Murillo ahead of the event to gain their support for the act. Yet senior political advisor Fidel Moreno responded by offering to pay Calderón’s mortgage and give his children scholarships if he did not criticise the president or government. Calderón turned down the offer. However, since the rejection, he has received anonymous phone calls warning him that the July 29-30 concerts may yet be cancelled.
26 Jul 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Journalist Gheyrat Niyaz has been given a 15-year jail sentence by the Chinese authorities after he was found guilty of endangering Chinese national security. The Uighur journalist and blogger was given the sentence following accusations that he criticised Chinese government policy towards the Uighurs and gave evidence to Western press organisations during last year’s race related riots in Xinjiang province.
22 Jul 2010 | Index Index, minipost
Hugo Chavez’s government has taken control of a 45.8 per cent share of its biggest critic, Globovison. President Chavez has been involved in various actions against the independent press in the past. Since the acquiring the shares Chavez has declared that the Venezuelan government is in a position to nominate a member of the board of directors. The President of Globovision, Guillermo Zuloaga, currently faces arrest in Venezuela and resides in Miami. In response to the news he declared that Globovision will stay critical of the Chavez regime.
20 Jul 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
The 14th hearing in the trial of the three men accused of murdering journalist Hrant Dink has revealed a lack of police cooperation and investigation. Reporters San Frontieres reports that various pieces of evidence for the trial had not been submitted by the investigating detectives, thus considerably holding up the trial’s progression. Missing evidence includes data from the computer used by one of the suspects after the murder, and information from a phonecall between a police officer and one of the accused. The former police intelligence chief, Sabri Uzun, also revealed that a report evaluating the likelihood of Dink’s murder was archived instead of sent to him. Uzun said in court, “If I had been informed of the existence of this report, Hrant Dink would still be alive today”.
