THE World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and World Editors Forum have expressed outrage at the beating and arrest of Post editor-in-chief Fred M�membe, his wife Mutinta, and deputy managing editor Joseph Mwenda.
In a protest letter to President Edgar Lungu dated June 29, 2016, WAN-IFRA president Tomas Bruneg�rd and WEF president Marcelo Rech stated that they were concerned that the authorities should close a news outlet that plays �such an important role in the democratic life of Zambia two months ahead of elections�.
�We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries, to express our grave concern at the closure of The Post, which will have a seriously adverse impact on press freedom in your country, as well as to express our outrage at the reported beating and arrest of editor-inchief Fred M�membe, his wife, and the newspaper�s deputy managing editor,� they stated.
The duo stated that they were concerned that the authorities should close a news outlet that plays an important role in the democratic life of Zambia.
�Its shutting and the reported arrest of its editor-in-chief at such a time, in such a heavyhanded manner, raises questions of political interference. We respectfully remind you that the government has a duty to support the right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: �Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers�,� they stated.
The duo called on President Lungu to take all possible steps to ensure that The Post was allowed to operate throughout the election period so that it could contribute to free and fair elections. They also urged President Lungu to ensure that The Post was treated in the same way as any other media company.
�We ask that your government fully respects its international obligations to freedom of expression� Furthermore, we count on you to set the example - to police, government institutions and those in authority - that impunity for crimes against journalists will not be tolerated in Zambia, and must insist that any claim of police brutality be thoroughly investigated and - if found guilty - the perpetrators brought to justice. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience,� stated the duo.
On Monday night, police assaulted and arrested M�membe, Mutinta and Mwenda, on instructions from State House, after rejecting a court order to ZRA to hand back properties it had seized and restricted. The police have since charged the trio with criminal trespass and uttering false document.
{UAH} DIASPORANS- PLEASE COME AND INVEST IN UGANDA- RUBATASIRWA.
{UAH} THE OBAMA DAYS KEEP ON BEING NUMBERED
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