Government minister punches journalist covering story on corruption

HRNJ-Uganda Engineer Abraham Byandala, a member of parliament for Katikamu North Constituency and currently a minister without portfolio in the Ugandan government, is under fire for assaulting journalist Judith Naluggwaa, who works for the government-owned Bukedde Television. Byandala punched Naluggwaa in the stomach as she covered a corruption-related story at the anti-corruption court in Kampala. Byandala is accused of misusing public funds amounting to 24 billion Uganda Shillings (approximately $7 million USD). The funds had been allocated for the construction of the Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi road when he was the Works and Transport Minister. Byandala appeared at…Read more

Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma steps down

Today is Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma's last day in office after 8 years.  He will be succeeded by Patricia Scotland who takes up office tomorrow. Yesterday, Secretary-General Sharma's portrait was unveiled and it will hang in Marlborough House alongside that of his predecessors.Read more

Commonwealth Day 2016

HM The Queen, as Head of the Commonwealth, sends her message to the citizens of the Commonwealth. HM The Queen Commonwealth Message The theme for 2016 is "An Inclusive Commonwealth"Read more

Indian television news anchor receives thousands of threatening phone calls

Committee to Protect Journalists Indian authorities should investigate threats made against a television journalist in the state of Kerala and ensure her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. News anchor Sindhu Sooryakumar has received thousands of threatening phone calls following a broadcast she hosted last week, she told reporters. Sooryakumar--who anchors the Malayalam-language news program "Cover Story" for the privately owned Asianet TV and who is the chief coordinating editor for the channel--told journalists that she has received more than 2,000 threatening and abusive phone calls since her February 26 show, which…Read more

Increase in cases of Internet censorship is cause for concern in Malaysia

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is greatly alarmed that certain Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have restricted access to online news outlet The Malaysian Insider since today. The outlet is the second news provider to be blocked this year following regional news site Asia Sentinel in January. This is clearly an assault on media freedom, freedom of information and Malaysia's promise for a free Internet. In January the government also blocked access to blog hosting site, Medium, as reported by local media. This is apparently due to one article published by Sarawak Report, although Medium's lawyers have been reported as saying the government…Read more

AFP journalist pepper sprayed while documenting Besigye’s arrest in Uganda

Human Rights Network for Journalists - Uganda Isaac Kasamani of AFP – an international news agency – was pepper sprayed by police while taking pictures of police arresting former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye at his residence in Wakiso District. Another journalist, Abubaker Lubowa, survived narrowly, while other journalists were blocked from accessing the news scene. Since 20 February 2016, police under the command of the Division Police Commander (DPC) of Kasangati Police Station James Kawalya have barred journalists from accessing Kizza Besigye's home and taking pictures of…Read more

The Independent and The Independent on Sunday to Close

Society of Editors (UK) The Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers are to close, it has been confirmed today. ESI Media has confirmed The Independent will close its print edition on 26 March 2016 and focus on digital-only content while The Independent on Sunday's last edition will be on 20 March 2016. The i newspaper has been sold to Johnston Press it was also announced. In an email to staff Evgeny Lebedev, the proprieter of the titles said: "Today the Independent titles announce an historic transition. At a time when our journalism is read and…Read more

BBC correspondent arrested, interrogated for filming hospital in Uganda

Human Rights Network for Journalists - Uganda On 6 February 2016, Catherine Byaruhanga – a BBC news correspondent in Uganda – was arrested by the police in the Abim district for allegedly filming Abim hospital without permission from the district security agents, and wanting to report "bad news all the time with bad intentions." She was arrested along with her cameraman – Kelvin Brown – and Sam Lawino, a news correspondent for NTV, based in the Gulu district. The trio was interrogated and detained for about four hours at the Abim central police…Read more

Malaysia ponders stricter punishments for whistleblowers, journalists

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is appalled at the most recent assault against the right to freedom of expression and information and its critical role in upholding democracy in Malaysia. We refer to the proposal by Attorney-General Mohamad Apandi Ali to increase the punishment under the already heavy-handed Official Secrets Act to include life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the rotan to target journalists. This is an indicator of a government who is intolerant of criticism and fearful of accountability, and a case of shooting the messenger to distract from the real issue at…Read more