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23 February 2012 Dear Friends of the FXI, 9 December 2011 Press Statement: On the Victimisation and Assault of Activists at COP17
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 We are particularly disappointed since the ruling party promised more consultation on the bill when the bill was withdrawn from parliament a few weeks ago.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.
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
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