IFEX Communique #4-4

[root at newsdesk.aps.nl]

From: tabe at newsdesk.aps.nl (Tabe Kooistra)
Subject: Re: IFEX Communique #4-4
Reply-To: root at newsdesk.aps.nl

--------- Forwarded from : ifex at web.apc.org (Int Freedom Expression ) ----------

**** ****** ****** **   **
 **  **     **      ** **     
 **  *****  *****    ***        COMMUNIQUE # 4 - 4
 **  **     **      ** **     
**** **     ****** **   **      January 23, 1995

International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
_________________________________________________________________


INDEX OF THIS WEEK'S NEWS:

-TURKEY: "OZGUR ULKE" AND OTHER PAPERS CONFISCATED

"A new form of censorship is being practised against
non-mainstream publications in Turkey," says the Committee to
Protect Journalists (CPJ). On 6 January, the police and the
courts began confiscating "separatist" newspapers and magazines
before distribution. The pro-Kurdish daily "Ozgur Ulke", the
right-wing weekly "Taraf", the left-wing weeklies "Gercek" and
"Alinteri", and the pro-Kurdish weekly "Newroz" have all been
confiscated in this systematic manner. According to the CPJ,
these papers now publish a second version which omits separatist
articles by the state prosecutor. They appear with blank spaces
with the word "Censored" in place of the original article. CPJ
says this is a form of "prior censorship," a practice which is
banned by the Turkish Constitution. Article 28 of the
Constitution states, "The press is free and cannot be censored."
According to CPJ, "The new system openly gives state prosecutors
the role and authority of `censorship boards' who can read
material before it is published and take out things deemed
`improper' for the state.'

Reports from a variety of sources indicate that attacks on "Ozgur
Ulke", including the detention, imprisonment and torture of its
correspondents, have escalated in the past month. In a telephone
call to the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists (CCPJ), a
representative of "Ozgur Ulke" urged freedom of expression
organizations to send a delegation to Istanbul to observe
firsthand the persecution being faced by the newspaper.


ALERTS/ADVISORIES CARRIED THIS PAST WEEK BY THE CLEARING HOUSE

16/01/95
ALGERIA: Journalist Abdelmadjid Yahiaoui killed (RSF) - alert
ALGERIA: CPJ says death of Yahiaoui brings toll of journalists
killed in Algeria since May 1993 to 31 (CPJ) - alert update

17/01/95
CAMEROON: Satirical supplement "Le Messager Popoli" seized
(RSF) - alert
EGYPT: Five journalists on hunger strike for Adel Hussein
(EOHR) - advisory update
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: 4 Radio Zid journalists mobilised into
Bosnian army (IFJ/FIEJ) - alert 
ALGERIA: ANSA correspondent Mohammed Zaas arrested (RSF) - alert
TURKEY: "Ozgur Ulke" edition seized (A19) - alert
CAMBODIA: 2 Khmer language newspapers suspended (RSF) - alert
BRAZIL: 4 Journalists assaulted by military officers (IAPA) -
alert
ISRAEL: "Quds Press" raided by Israeli police (RSF) - alert
TURKEY: "Ozgur Ulke" 6 January edition seized (RSF) - alert

19/01/95
TURKEY: "Ozgur Ulke" correspondents detained (CCPJ) - alert
PERU: Canal 11 RBC television signal interrupted for 4 days
(IPYS) - alert
ANGOLA: "Imparcial Fax" Director, Ricardo De Mello, murdered
(MISA) - alert
BELARUS: Escalating attacks on the media -- censorship of 4
newspapers; dismissal of 2 editors; publishing rights denied
(IFJ) - alert
SIERRA LEONE: "New Breed" journalists released on bail (A19) -
alert update

20/01/95
EGYPT: Journalist Adel Hussein released (EOHR) - advisory update
CHINA: Detained journalist Gao Yu in poor health (RSF) - alert
update
ROMANIA: Paper mill shortages a form of censorship (CPJ) - alert
TURKEY: Several newspaper seizures (CPJ) - alert
NIGERIA: Ken Saro-Wiwa's trial postponed until February (Int PEN)
-alert update

** ** **

The IFEX Communique is published weekly by the IFEX Clearing
House, Toronto. The facility is operated by the Canadian
Committee to Protect Journalists in partnership with the member
organizations of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange
(IFEX). Material may be submitted to the Communique at E-mail:
ifex at web.apc.org; Fax: (1-416) 867-1034; or Tel: (1-416)
867-1638. Editors this week: Kristina Stockwood and Omar Cano.
Subscriptions are available by e-mail and surface mail.

----------------------------- End forwarded message --------------------------