Journalism News Around Africa

Swazi Times Newspaper Sued Again

By MISA/IFEX
Windhoek)

The "Times of Swaziland" newspaper has been sued for E75,000 (approx. US$10,000) by a man accused of recently bombing government structures and who is facing high treason charges at the High Court of Swaziland.

Vusi Shongwe states in court papers that on February 8, 2006, the "Times" published his picture on the front page next to a headline saying "Bomber" in bold typeface. He argues that the accompanying article was wrongful and defamatory to his person.

The "Times", on the other hand, states in court papers that Shongwe's picture was erroneously published. The newspaper says it had no intention of publishing Shongwe's photograph. As a result, the newspaper states, it acknowledged its mistake by publishing an apology the following day.

This is one of several lawsuits against the "Times" pending in the courts. The newspaper has lost three cases of defamation in 2006. However, in mid-2006, the newspaper successfully appealed against a E750,000 (approx. US$116,000) compensation order awarded to the late Deputy Prime Minister Albert Shabangu for alleged defamation (see IFEX alerts of 19 May 2006 and 9 August 2005).

The MISA Swaziland is concerned, and views the continuous lawsuits against the media in Swaziland, particularly against the "Times", which is the only independent newspaper, as a serious threat to press freedom, media diversity and the right to free expression. Already, the lawsuits are having an impact on these rights, as the Swazi media is becoming increasingly docile. As a result, stories on sex and murder currently dominate the headlines as the media tries to play it safe.

Meanwhile Reporters Without Borders reports that

Abdullahi Yasin Jama of privately-owned Radio Warsan by militiamen loyal to the federal transition government in the western city of Baidoa(Somalia). They held him for three days and abused him physically after luring him to the presidential palace on 24 November 2006 with an invitation to a fake news conference.

"The treatment Jama received was disgraceful," the press freedom organisation said. "His arrest and use as a plaything by militiamen was an act of utmost cowardice. Somalia's journalists, who are trying to cover a war consisting of lightning raids, betrayals and news manipulation, must be left in peace by the belligerents, as the population has a right to know what is going on in their country. The transitional government cannot claim to want to bring democracy to Somalia while tolerating such behaviour."

Jama, who is also a correspondent for the Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), a privately-owned radio station based in the northern city of Bossasso, received a call from a security official shortly after midday on 24 November inviting him to a news conference. Pro-government militiamen arrested him when he arrived at the presidential palace and took him to their base, where they repeatedly abused and humiliated him.

Omar Faruk Osman, the secretary-general of the Reporters Without Borders partner organisation, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), said Jama was arrested for reporting on the "massive presence" of Ethiopian troops in Somalia. NUSOJ's attempts to get the transitional government to free him met with rebuffs or expressions of bad faith, with officials claiming they were "unaware" of the case.

Jama was finally released on 27 November after Baidoa city elders interceded on his behalf, but he is still under surveillance by the militias and fears further reprisals.