Tag: Protest Letters by PPF

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PPF denounces attack on transmitting station of Radio Musical del Coca

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Lenín Moreno, President of Ecuador has expressed concern over the attack on the transmitting station of Radio Musical del Coca.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter, has called on the authorities to immediately investigate the matter and determine the reason behind this attack.

According to Fundamedios – Andean Foundation for Media Observation and Study, on January 2 the radio station announced through its Facebook page the attack on station which resulted in the disruption of transmission on the night of December 31, 2018. The attackers cut the cables and disconnected equipment’s.

The incident was revealed after a complaint was registered to the National Electricity Corporation on January 1, 2019 and it was assumed that the station was off air due to electricity problems.

Later the director of the station, Nelson Munoz and the team verified the actual incident. Hence a complaint was made in the National Directorate of the Judicial Police and Investigations of Orellana and it was reported that the goon’s stolen minor devices from the station and the cables connected to transmission were cut.

 

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PPF condemns online harassment of female journalists in Brazil

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil has expressed concern over the harassment of female journalists on social media.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has condemned such incidents of harassment on social media and called on the newly elected government and authorities in Brazil to stop targeting journalists. PPF also urged to provide safe environment to journalists and media professionals.

According to Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI), female journalists were harassed and threatened on twitter for sharing their opinion during the coverage of President Jair Bolsonaro’s inauguration on January 1.

Tabata Viapiana of Central Brasileira de Notícias (CBN) and Amanda Audi of Intercept were subjected to hate speech in a video posted on the twitter account of Political Connection also shared on the twitter account of both journalists.

Viapiana stated that my comment was regarding working conditions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commonly referred as Itamaraty, I was called up a liar.

Audi and her colleagues Bruna de Lara and Nayara Felizardo from Intercept have also been harassed on social media since December 23, when President Jair Bolsonaro decided to block Intercept journalists.

Lara stated that she was threatened by a former advisor to Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro for tweeting fact. Lara added “I posted the Official Gazette with the date of hiring and exoneration of the aide.”

Felizardo who is already blocked on twitter by President Bolsonaro, wanted to express solidarity with colleague Audi for being harassed on social media.

All three journalists of Intercept will reach the legal department of their organization to discuss whether they can file suit for moral damages.

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PPF condemns investigation against Fox TV anchor Fatih Portakal

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey has expressed concern over the investigation launched against Fox TV anchor Fatih Portakal.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has condemned the threats and fine made against the anchor and channel and called on the authorities to stop targeting journalists and media persons for sharing their views.

According to IPS Communication Foundation-Bianet, The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bakırköy district of İstanbul has launched an investigation against Portakal for his views aired on December 10, 2018 in the prime time news bulletin.

A written request has been sent to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) with the records of the bulletin and the 16 complaint petitions submitted against Portakal were combined.

In his bulletin Portakal said, “Here we go, let’s protest these price increases, the increases in prices of natural gas with a peaceful protest demonstration. Come on, let’s do it. Can we do it? How many people can take to the streets out of fear and concern? Can you please tell me, for God’s sake, how many people can take to the streets? They are trying to take the individual and social opposition under pressure, they are trying to intimidate them.”

The pro-government media outlets and President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan started targeting the anchor after these statements.

The RTÜK has also imposed a fine of broadcast suspension for three days and an administrative fine on FOX TV Prime News Bulletin presented by Fatih Portakal.

 

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PPF expressed deep concern over murder of a radio announcer in Negros

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Rodrigo Duterte, President of Philippines has expressed deep concern over the murder of a radio announcer, Gabriel Alburo in the town of La Libertad, Negros Oriental on December 28.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has condemned the murder of Gabriel Alburo and called on the authorities to immediately and independently investigate the killing of radio announcer and hold those responsible for his murder.

According to Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), at around 3:05 a.m. Alburo was heading home to Guihulngan, city in Negros on his motorbike when he was shot by two armed motorcyclists on the national highway in Barangay North Poblacion.

After Edmund Sestoso who was murdered in Dumaguete on April 30, Alburo became the second media practitioner killed in Negros Oriental this year.

Alburo had recently continued broadcasting over 94.5 DYJL FM, a community radio station in Guihulngan.

The motive behind the murder of Alburo is not clear yet.

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PPF condemns arrest and assault on journalist

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Bruno Tshibala, Prime Minister of Democratic Republic of the Congo has expressed concern over the arrest and assault on Rodrigue Ndakazieka, a journalist and technician at Radio Mwinda.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter, condemned the arrest and physical assault on Ndakazieka and called on the authorities to immediately release him.

According to Journaliste en danger (JED), Ndakazieka was arrested for covering a meeting of opposition presidential hopeful, Martin Fayulu.

On December 19, when the journalist was leaving his editorial office he was picked up by police officers and forcibly taken to the residence of a local deputy from the majority party, where he was tied up and violently beaten for hours.

Later in the evening Ndakazieka was transferred to Kinshasa Provincial Police Station. The journalist was arrested soon after he broadcasted the rally of opponent and presidential candidate Martin Fayulu live.

The director of Radio Mwinda, Jean Bosco Diona said that the services of the station were under-siege by a group of police officers.

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PPF condemns arrest of journalist Hakan Gülseven in Istanbul

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey has expressed concern over the arrest of journalist and writer Hakan Gülseven.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has called on the Turkish authorities to immediately release the journalist and drop all charges against him.

According to IPS Communication Foundation-Bianet, Turkish court on December 20 arrested Gülseven and sent him to the Maltepe Prison in İstanbul.

The journalist was the editor of daily newspaper Yurt and he was held responsible for not paying the damages for the cases that were filed against him during the period he was working with the newspaper. The unpaid compensation penalties lead to prison sentences in the country.

The journalist was also arrested on June 19, 2018 for the same reason but he was later released after two days of detention.

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PPF concerned over detention of journalist in Mozambique

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique has expressed concern over the detention of a journalist along with a researcher and driver.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali has denounced the detention of journalist and termed it an act to threaten journalists from investigating any story. PPF called on the authorities to stop targeting journalists and media professional and allow them to freely fulfill their journalistic responsibilities.

According to Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces (FADM) arrested Estacio Valoi of the Zambeze daily newspaper along with David Matsinhe, researcher of Amnesty International and a driver. They were detained without any charges for two days and were later released on the morning of December 19.

All three were arrested on December 17 in Palma when they were coming back from investigating a story in Chitolo, Mocímboa da Praia in Mozambique.

MISA further reported that the journalist had acquired the permission and approval for investigating the story he was doing at the time of his arrest. The government and FADM has yet not given any reason for the arrest.