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23 February 2012

Dear Friends of the FXI,

I am sorry to have to inform you that Elston Seppie, our executive
director, has resigned due to ill health. We are sorry to lose him as he has
played an important role in reorganising the FXI and giving it a fresh sense
of direction and purpose. We wish him well.

We have appointed Mbalenhle Cele and Raashied Galant as joint acting
executive directors to ensure the smooth-running of operations. We are
confident that they can continue to run our projects and meet our goals for
this period and we will be moving swiftly to fill the post.

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9 December 2011

Press Statement:    On the Victimisation and Assault of Activists at COP17

The Freedom of Expression Institute is deeply disturbed with the victimisation and assault of activists at the Presidential Meeting yesterday, 08 December 2011.  

We condemn those responsible and call on City Officials and National Government to do the same.  We further urge President Jacob Zuma and the responsible officials to investigate the rumours that those responsible for the victimisation and violence were hired by South African authorities.

As South Africans, we have a constitutional right to gather and protest.  This right was fought for over many decades and people lost their lives in pursuit thereof.  We have a responsibility as South Africans to not only observe the law, but to be courteous and afford people from other countries the same benefit, when we welcome them into our country.

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Date: Monday 05 December 2011

On the Arrest and Victimisation of activists at COP17

The Freedom of Expression Institute condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of activists protesting at COP17.

During the entire first week of the conference, we received reports of activists being harassed by police and metro police officers.  These actions are unwarranted and goes against the grain of what South Africans stand for.  Our rights as South Africans are extended to all visiting our country provided their action in relation thereto remains within the ambit of the law.

We call on the Chair of Cop17 and responsible government officials in Durban to ensure the immediate release of those arrested over the weekend and this morning.  We further call on the police and metro police leadership to insist that officers refrain from harassing and victimising activists at designated and other protest events.

 

End.

Elston Seppie

Executive Director

0792604326

 

22 Novemebr 2011

For Immediate Release

Voting on the Protection of State Information Bill in parliament

The Freedom of Expression Institute wish to register our disappointment in the ruling ANC for voting in favour of the bill in its current form.  We are particularly disappointed since the ruling party promised more consultation on the bill when the bill was withdrawn from parliament a few weeks ago.

Pronouncements in the National Assembly today, suggesting that those opposed to the bill is unpatriotic is shameful and unreasonable. The simple fact is that the bill infringes on our right to access to information – a fundamental right in terms of our bill of rights. All South Africans should  have an interest in our rights as enshrined in the constitution. For MP’s to suggest organisations and individuals are unpatriotic is just simply unacceptable.

 

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22 Novemebr 2011

For Immediate Release

The Freedom of Expression Institute is alarmed and disappointed at the decision of the SABC to suspend two radio journalists for playing the song by Izingane Zoma, titled Umalema.

The banning of the song by the SABC amounts to the worst form of self-censorship and is a direct infringement on the right to artistic freedom.  

We call on the SABC to explain the basis upon which they decided not to play the song and also provide substantive reasons for suspending the two journalists.


End

Elston Seppie
Executive Director.
0792604326