By: Thomas Wagner, Associated Press Writer (AP) Independent media face threats and new restrictions in many countries, including harassment and prosecution of journalists and the closure of newspapers and TV stations, Amnesty International said in
a report Thursday.
The report also criticized the U.S. military for limiting the questions that reporters could ask while visiting the American base at Guantanamo, Cuba, where terrorist suspects are held. Authorities rescinded the restrictions once they became public.
"Fortunately, this rule was dropped some days later after protests from journalists, but it reveals the atmosphere we are living in today," Amnesty said.
Amnesty also faulted Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council for imposing restrictions last month on the Arab TV networks Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya.
The Governing Council prohibited journalists from the two networks from government buildings and news conferences for two weeks, accusing them of violating rules that include not disclosing information about pending attacks on American troops.
Amnesty International also said freedom of expression is under threat in Russia, noting that TVS, the only independent television company with national coverage, was closed as the government tried to restrict coverage of the war in Chechnya.
The report also cited alleged abuses in Algeria, Belarus, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran, Rwanda, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
In Guatemala, Amnesty said, journalists are targets of what appears to be a systematic attempt to prevent coverage of corruption and other issues. "Police protection will not help you," one threat allegedly said. "We can get you wherever you are. We know where you live. We know your car and your daily movements."
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