Tag: Protest Letters by PPF

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of Uganda has expressed concern over the assault and detention of photojournalist James Akena for covering demonstrations in Uganda on August 20.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has condemned this attack and called on the Ugandan authorities and military to respect press freedom and stop attacking and detaining journalists for doing their work.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Akena was arrested while covering protests demanding the release of prominent musician and politician Robert Kyangulanyi, known as Bobi Wine.

Military officers surrounded the journalist and beat him up after which he was taken away. Akena was later released and taken to hospital for treatment.

The Ugandan army issued a statement after seeing widespread condemnation and stories of other journalists being attacked the same day. The army expressed umbrage at the unethical act and stated that it had issued orders for the arrest of the military personnel involved.

Security forces in Uganda have attacked journalists for years. Attacks on journalists often serve to discourage journalists from covering sensitive events and even serves to stop other groups from gathering evidence on or reporting about incidents of soldiers attacking citizens.

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada has expressed concern over the attack on award-winning photojournalist Stan Behal by a protestor in Toronto.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter commends the Toronto police for launching an investigation into this incident in response to the complaint filed by the journalist and also urged the Canadian government to be more active in taking action against violence on journalists and ensuring their safety.

According to Reporters Without Borders, Behal, a photojournalist who has been associated with the Toronto Sun for 36 years, was covering an anti-hate rally outside Toronto City Hall on August 11, when an unknown assailant jumped forward and hit him on the head before running off. Before the attack the man and other protestors were slating Behal and his co-worker, columnist Sue-Ann Levy.

Behal was taking photographs of the protestors when the incident happened. A number of police officers were also present on the spot, though video footage shows police officers witnessed the attack and did not intervene.

The video also showed Behal shouting, “Officer did you see that? Can you arrest him for assault?”

Toronto Police Service spokesperson told the Vancouver Sun that police is now investigating this incident.

Margaux Ewen, Director of RSF’s North America bureau said that, “A physical attack against one journalist can have a chilling effect on all journalists who wish to do their work without fear of violent repercussion, especially at protests”

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria has expressed concern over the arrest of Premium Times newspaper reporter, Mr. Samuel Ogundipe on August 14.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter condemned this action and urged the Nigerian government to immediately release Samuel Ogundipe. PPF also called for decisive action to promote and respect freedom of expression and the press.

The authorities have also been urged to launch an investigation into the matter and hold the perpetrators accountable.

According to Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigerian Police arrested and detained the reporter at the Force headquarters in Abuja for not revealing the source of his information for a news report.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police reportedly invited Mr. Ogundipe to its headquarters in Abuja and arrested him on his arrival.

Then he was transferred to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters, where is he is currently being detained. It is also reported that police has also frozen Ogundipe’s bank account without a court order.

The Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mr Musikilu Mojeed and education correspondent Ms Azeezat Adedigba were also manhandled and detained. Ms Adedigba was freed after three hours, while Mr Mojeed and Mr Ogundipe were taken to SARS headquarters where Mr. Ogundipe was forced to write a statement.

MRA Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe in a statement said to the police: “If you have any actionable case against Mr.

Ogundipe or any other journalist, you should follow the due process of the law; you should go to court and obtain a warrant if you have any evidence of criminal conduct by the journalist that necessitates his arrest and detention and the freezing of his bank account, rather than arresting and clamping him into detention in a manner reminiscent of the dictatorial practices that characterized the first coming of President Muhammadu Buhari as a military Head of State.”

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of Uganda expresses concern over the frequent attacks on journalists covering election campaigns of the Arua Municipality Parliamentary by-elections in Uganda.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali urged the government and security officials of Uganda to ensure the safety of journalists in the line of duty and promote freedom of expression and press freedom. PPF also urges the government to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), NTV journalists Herbert Zziwa and Ronald Muwanga were detained at Arua police station on August 13, and their equipment was also seized. The following day they were taken to Gulu, city in the northern region of Uganda and were charged with inciting violence and damaging public property before being released on bond.

In the evening of August 13, when journalists of NBS TV were preparing to broadcast coverage of the campaign, they were attacked by five men including some in army uniforms. Journalist Bakabaage Julius was by beaten up and hit on the head with a rod. His colleagues John Kibalizi and Benson Ongom managed to escape. They left behind their equipment which was taken away by the attackers.

Daily Monitor’s Yasin was also attacked and his camera was taken from him.

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Alpha Condé, President of Guinea condemns the attack on the office of Renaissance FM based in Ratoma, a suburb in Conakry.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali urged the authorities and police to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure the legal action is taken against the culprits involved in this incident.

According to the Media Foundation of West Africa (MFWA), on August 7, three armed men entered the premises of the radio station at around 4 am and beat up the only individual present there and also took away equipments and an undisclosed sum of cash.

Elizabeth Théa, a technician at Renaissance FM was present at the time of the attack and told online news portal, Guinee360.com that one of the armed men held her at gun point while the other two continued to destroy the office.

Benjamin Guilavogui, Director of Human Resources of Radio Renaissance FM has confirmed the incident. He said, “The attackers stole four computers and 68 million Guinean francs (7,500 US dollars.).”

He further said that the incident has been reported to the police for investigation.

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Khadga Prasad Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal has expressed concern over the physical attacks on journalists in Nepal.
PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali urged the Nepali government to investigate this incident and take steps to ensure the safety of journalists.
According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), two journalists Chhabilal Tiwari and Om Prakash Gayal were attacked in Parbat. Similarly in Rupendehi, three journalists Radheshyam Biswokarma, Salman Khan and Deepak Ghimire were attacked during reporting.

On August 9, a local businessman Puskal Sharma attacked Chhabilal Tiwari, correspondent of ‘Nagarik’ daily and chairman of the district committee of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and Nepal Press Union (NPU). He also attacked Om Prakash Gayal, station manager of ‘Radio Saligram’. The purpose behind the attack was not clear.

In another incident that took place on August 5, Radheshyam Bishwokarma of the daily ‘Butwal Today’ and ‘Buddha TV’, Salman Khan a local journalist from the daily ‘Annapurna Post’ and Deepak Ghimire, editor of ‘Khabarweekly’ were attacked and their equipment was also destroyed by students who were protesting over the death of a class fellow at the Universal College of Medical Sciences.
“The NPU demands immediate action against the attackers; and urges the local authorities to ensure safe reporting environment for journalists”, said NPU General Secretary Ajaya Babu Shiwakoti.