The Hindu : CPJ alarmed by journalists' arrests

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 28, 2002

International

International

CPJ alarmed by journalists' arrests

New York Nov. 27. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the arrest in Bangladesh on November 25 of three journalists working on a documentary for Britain's Channel 4 "Unreported World'' series. Reporter Zaiba Malik, director and cameraman Bruno Sorrentino, and Priscilla Raj, a free-lance journalist working for the documentary team as an interpreter, were taken into custody along with their driver, Misir Ali.

Mr. Malik, Mr. Sorrentino, and Mr. Raj appeared in court in Dhaka and were remanded to police custody for five days for further investigation. The team is accused of sedition. Police are seeking to arrest a fourth journalist, Saleem Samad, who was also working for the documentary team as an interpreter. Mr. Samad, a prominent free-lance journalist and media activist, is the local representative for the Paris-based press freedom organisation Reporters Sans Frontières.

The arrests were made for an alleged involvement in "clandestine activities as journalists with an apparent and malicious intent of portraying Bangladesh as an Islamic fanatical country,'' said a statement issued by the Bangladeshi Government, according to the Agence France-Presse news agency.

Foreign correspondents and local journalists who work with international news organisations perceive the arrests as a Government warning.

``These draconian government actions against journalists threaten Bangladesh's reputation as a liberal democracy,'' said the CPJ Executive Director, Ann Cooper. "We are extremely worried about the climate of intolerance signalled by these detentions. It is unfortunate that these arrests come as CPJ is honouring Bangladeshi journalist Tipu Sultan with an International Press Freedom Award.''

The Bangladesh Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, congratulated Mr. Sultan for this honour and has pledged to uphold press freedom. Mr. Sultan will be receiving CPJ's award at a formal ceremony later in the night in New York that will be attended by major U.S. media organisations.

The Bangladeshi Government has reacted harshly to media reports focusing on controversial topics such as sectarian violence and the influence of Islamist militants in the country. At the end of 2001, the documentary filmmaker and activist, Shahriar Kabir, was arrested on sedition charges and imprisoned for nearly two months after reporting on a wave of attacks against Bangladesh's Hindu minority.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Weapons inspections commence in Iraq

U.K. to woo Muslim opinion on Iraq

Terrorism: dramatic turn to probe

Kissinger to head panel on Sept. 11 attack

Woman V-C for Cambridge

Cloned baby in January, says doctor

CPJ alarmed by journalists' arrests

Prabakaran ready to consider regional self-rule

'Situation in Afghanistan better than reported'

MQM decides to sit in Opposition