The police has come down hard on Chinese demonstrators, detaining and putting under arrest hundreds of activists and human rights campaigners. Journalists trying to cover the demonstrations have also been dealt with harshly, and were detained, beaten, and their equipment confiscated. Calls for a Tunisian-style ‘Jasmine Revolution’ to be replicated in China were met with little success.
Kyrgyz journalist Nazgul Kushnazarova was badly beaten near her home on 22 February. None of her possessions were taken, which has given rise to speculation that it was motivated by her professional activities. Kushnazarova is a journalist at the private radio station Almaz and anchor of a show called “Current Thoughts” about political, economic and social issues in Kyrgyzstan. She has been admitted to hospital with multiple injuries.
A journalist was attacked by a mob while covering the recent elections in Mbale district, south-eastern Uganda. Gerald Mutembu, who works for Wavah Broadcasting Service (WBS), was filming a scuffle between different groups fighting over the alleged bribery and intimidation tactics of supporters of the state minister for housing, Michael Werikhe. Six journalists have reportedly been attacked in different parts of the country while covering the elections.
Journalist, Fumbah Kanneh, was attacked and beaten by police while covering an international women’s football match between Liberia and Ghana on 13 February. The police spotted him as he videotaped them manhandling spectators who had invaded the pitch at the end of the match. He was flogged and hit in the mouth with a police baton, and his video camera was damaged.