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UNITED

NATIONS

A

General Assembly

Distr.

GENERAL

A/HRC/7/14/Add.1

25 February 2008

ENGLISH/FRENCH/SPANISH

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Seventh session

Agenda Item 3

PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO

DEVELOPMENT

The right to freedom of opinion and expression

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo

Addendum

Summary of cases transmitted to Governments

and replies received

The present document is being circulated as received, in the languates of submission only, as it greatly exceeds

the word limitations currently imposed by the relevant General Assembly Resolutions

The present report was submitted later than the indicated deadline, in order to incorporate the latest available

information on the subject matter

A/HRC/7/14/Add.1

Page 2

CONTENTS

Paragraphs Page

Introduction 1-6 5

SUMMARY OF CASES TRANSMITTED AND REPLIES 7-778 7

RECEIVED

Afghanistan ............................................. .................. 7-12 6 Algeria ................................................ ..................... 13-16 7 Angola ................................................... .................. 17-19 8 Argentina ................................................ .................. 20-22 9 Azerbaijan ................................................ ................. 23-27 9 Bahrain ................................................. .................... 28-40 11 Bangladesh ................................................ ................ 41-50 15 ................... 51 19 Bolivia ................................................ ..................... 52-54 19 Brazil ................................................... .................... 55-57 20 Bulgaria ......................................................... ............ 58-61 21 ................ 62-68 22 ................ 69-70 25 Chad ................................................... ..................... 71-72 25 Chile ................................................... ..................... 73-75 26 China .................................................... .................... 76-132 27 Colombia .................................................... ............... 133-157 42 Congo (Republic of the) .................................... .............. 158-160 51 Côte d'Ivoire ....................................... ........................ 161-162 51 Cuba ................................................... ..................... 163-168 52 Democratic Republic of the Congo ................................. ... 169-183 54 Djibouti .......................................................... ........... 184-186 58 Dominican Republic ...................................................... 187-188 59 ............ 189-190 59 Egypt ................................................... ..................... 191-200 60 El Salvador ............................................. .................... 201-205 63 Eritrea ............................................................. .......... 206-207 64 Ethiopia .......................................................... ........... 208-216 65 Fiji ............................................................... ............ 217-226 68 Gambia ................................................... .................. 227-229 71 Georgia ......................................................... ............. 230-232 71 Guatemala ................................................... ............... 233-244 72 Guinea ................................................... ................... 245-249 76 Guinée-Bissau .......................................... ................... 250-251 77 Haiti ............................................................ ............. 252-254 77 Hungary ................................................ .................... 255-257 78 India ............................................................ ............. 258-264 78 Iran (Islamic Republic of) ........................................... ..... 265-322 80 Iraq ............................................................... ........... 323-347 93

A/HRC/7/14/Add.1

Page 3

CONTENTS (continued)

Paragraphs Page

Israel ............................................................ ............ 348-356 98 Jordan ............................................................ .............. 357-363 98 Kazakhstan ................................................ ................. 364-367 99 Kyrgyzstan ................................................ ................. 368-373 99 Liberia ........................................................... ............ 374-376 101 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya ..................................................

377-380 102

Malaysia ......................................................... ........... 381-394 103 Mali ............................................................ .............. 395-397 106 Mauritania ................................................ .................. 398-399 107 Mexico ......................................................... ............. 400-416 108 Morocco ......................................................... ........... 417-426 115 Myanmar ...................................................... ............. 427-451 118 Nepal ................................................... ..................... 452-465 124 Niger ............................................................ ............ 466-473 127 Nigeria ......................................................... ............. 474-477 129 Pakistan ......................................................... ............ 478-497 130 Panama ...................................................... ............... 498-499 135 Paraguay ......................................................... ........... 500-503 136 Peru ................................................... ...................... 504-514 137 Philippines ................................................... ............... 515-528 139 Republic of Moldova ...................................................... 529-532 143 Republic of Serbia ........................................................ 533-534 144 Russian Federation ........................................................ 535-582 144 Rwanda ................................................... .................. 583-588 155 Senegal ......................................................... ............ 589-593 156 Somalia ......................................................... ............ 594-602 158 South Africa ............................................. .................. 603-604 160 Sri Lanka ................................................ ................... 605-631 160 Sudan ................................................... .................... 632-643 165 Syrian Arab Republic .................................................... 644-660 168 Thailand ......................................................... ........... 661-670 173 Tunisia ......................................................... ............. 671-676 175 Turkey ................................................... ................... 677-690 177 Turkmenistan ................................................... ........... 691-693 180 Uganda ................................................... .................. 694-695 181 Ukraine ......................................................... ............ 696-702 181 United Arab Emirates .................................................... 703-704 182 United States of America ................................................

705-707 183

Uzbekistan ................................................ .................. 708-721 184 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) ........................... ......... 722-733 188 Viet Nam ...................................................... ............. 734-742 191

A/HRC/7/14/Add.1

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CONTENTS (continued)

Paragraphs Page

Yemen ................................................... ................... 743-748 192 Zimbabwe ................................................... ............... 749-774 194 Information transmitted to the Palestinian Authority..................... 775-777 199
Annex ...................................................... ................. 201

A/HRC/7/14/Add.1

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INTRODUCTION

1. At its sixty-first session, the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 2005/38

entitled 'The right to freedom of opinion and expression', appealed to all States to cooperate fully with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his tasks, and to provide him with all necessary information requested by him. The Human Rights Council, in its decision 1/102, dated 30 June 2006, decided to extend exceptionally for one year, subject to the review to be undertaken by the Human Rights Council in conformity with General Assembly resolution 60/251, the mandates and the mandate holders of all the special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights. The Human Rights Council also requested the special procedures to continue with the implementation of their mandates and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide them with the necessary support. 2. In accordance with the above-mentioned provisions, the present report contains, on a country-by-country basis, summaries of general and individual allegations, as well as urgent appeals transmitted to Governments between 1 January and 31 December 2007, as well as replies received from Governments until 15 January 2008. Replies to communications received after 15 January 2008 will be included in the next communication report of the Special Rapporteur, as well as replies not yet translated by that date. Observations made by the Special Rapporteur have also been included where applicable.

3. During the period under review, the Special Rapporteur transmitted 241

communications on behalf of 623 persons to the Governments of 81 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China (People's Republic of), Colombia, Congo (Republic of the), Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, México, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Serbia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe. Two communications were sent to the Palestinian Authorithy. 4. Owing to restrictions on the length of documents, the Special Rapporteur has reduced details of communications sent and received. The full text of all communications is available within the files of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 5. In reporting on the communications, the Special Rapporteur has used initials for those victims who, in the Special Rapporteur's opinion, could be in a potentially sensitive situation, in order to respect their privacy and to prevent the possibility of further victimization. With a view to preserve the presumption of innocence, the Special Rapporteur omitted to include the names of alleged perpetrators, and of other individuals involved in the cases included in this report. Conversely, Governments' communications may contain names of persons and/or disclose specific situations linked to the violation.

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6. The Special Rapporteur wishes to reiterate that violations and concerns regarding the right to freedom of opinion and expression are, to different extents, a common phenomenon in the whole world. Consequently, the exclusion or the inclusion of a particular country or territory should not be interpreted as the indication of any specific choice done by the Special Rapporteur regarding the analysis of trends and patterns of the implementation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

SUMMARY OF CASES TRANSMITTED AND REPLIES RECEIVED

Afghanistan

Letter of allegations sent on 12 March 2007

7. The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government a case in which the Minister of Culture and Information and 50 security personnel allegedly entered the Radio

Television Afghanistan

(RTA) headquarters, during the absence of the then director-general, Mr. Najib Roshan, to dismiss the chief of the news section. It is alleged that the Minister instructed the security guards protecting the headquarters to prevent 55 persons appointed as contractors to enter the premises. It was also reported that on 20 December 2006, the Minister of Communication appointed the director of the Radio Division of RTA, in apparent contravention with the procedures outlined in the applicable Media Law (2004). Reportedly, these were attempts of the Minister of Culture and Information to maintain and further increase government control over the media. 8. The Special Rapporteur also referred in his communication to the new Draft Law on Media , adopted in December 2005 by presidential decree, and expected to be approved by the Parliament. According to the information received, since the appointment of the Minister of Culture and Information, and particularly since November 2006, control oriented amendments have been introduced in the draft Media Law. Allegedly, these amendments, if adopted, would introduce new prohibitions for journalists; eliminate several of the initially proposed commissions, including the Afghan National Radio-Television Commission; place the Minister of Culture and Information at the Head of the High Media Council (in charge of policy making) and grant him significant new powers over the Commission on Media Affairs (replacing the former Private Media Commission). These amendments, if adopted, are seen to effectively open the media to political interference and to place the national broadcaster Radio Television Afghanistan under direct control of the State, via the Ministry of Culture and

Information.

9. This draft Law on Media is also considered as failing to address the needs of private media in Afghanistan. In this regard, the Rapporteur referred to reports that over the past months, a prominent Dari/English publication, Kabul Weekly - among the first of the post- Taliban papers, closed down, and that financial problems were reported at other media organizations and programmes including Nai, CIJ, The Khillid Group, The Voice of Women Radio, Internews, Good Morning Afghanistan, Institute of War & Peace Reporting, Pahjwok Afghan News Agency, and the UN's Irin Radio. As of late 2006, some 15 provincial community radio stations were reported to be facing difficulties in paying staff and meeting running costs. It has been reported as well that a growing number of Islamist government

A/HRC/7/14/Add.1

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officials have expressed their concerns with regard to the number of women portrayed on TV and their clothing, which they consider to be disrespectful to Islamic values. 10. In the same communication, the Special Rapporteur finally referred to information received that the National Assembly's Draft Amnesty law reportedly contains two articles that appear to conflict with the Constitutional guarantees relating to Freedom of Expression and that would prevent journalists from reporting on certain issues. Allegedly, its Article 1 states that: "the champions of resistance shall be immune to all kinds of animosity" and should be "treated properly". In addition, Article 11 reportedly states that "the mass media should keep in mind the provisions of the national reconciliation charter and make efforts to strengthen peace and national reconciliation."

Letter of allegations sent on 10 October 2007

11. The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government the situation of Ghulam Ali Sarem, Chief-Editor of Etesam Monthly Magazine. On 4 October 2007, Mr. Sarem was attacked in Kabul while attempting to take photographs of an army bus which had exploded by a suicide bomber. It is reported that the attackers were members of the Afghan National Army, and that Mr. Sarem was placed under arrest and taken to a detention facility.

Observations

12. The Special Rapporteur regrets that he has not received a reply for the two communications sent in 2007.

Algeria

Lettre d'allégations envoyée le 6 mars 2007 conjointement avec la Représentante

spéciale du Secrétaire général sur la situation des défenseurs des droits de l'homme et la

Rapporteuse spéciale chargée de la question de la violence contre les femmes, y compris ses causes et ses conséquences 13. Les Rapporteurs spéciaux et la Représentante Spéciale ont attiré l'attention du

Gouvernement sur l'interdiction d'un séminaire sur les disparitions forcées à Alger. Selon les

informations reçues, le 7 février 2007, le séminaire "Pour la Vérité, la Paix et la Conciliation

», organisé par le Collectif des familles de disparus en Algérie, SOS Disparus, Djazairouna,

l'Association nationale des familles de disparus et Somoud, n'aurait pu se tenir en raison de

l'intervention des forces de l'ordre alors même que les autorités algériennes auraient été

informées et invitées à ce séminaire et que celles-ci n'auraient pas manifesté leur opposition à

sa tenue. Les forces de l'ordre, venues en grand nombre, auraient empêché l'accès à la salle

de conférence située dans un hôtel d'Alger et auraient également fait couper l'alimentation

électrique. Les conférenciers déjà présents dans la salle se seraient alors installés à la tribune à

la lueur des bougies, mais les forces de l'ordre auraient fait évacuer entièrement la salle. Lettre d'allégations envoyée le 2 novembre 2007 14. Le Rapporteur spécial a attiré l'attention du Gouvernement sur la situation de M. Dhif Talal

, correspondant du journal " Al Fadjr », qui aurait été condamné à 6 mois de prison pour

diffamation le 15 octobre 2007 suivant une plainte présentée par le Ministère de l'Agriculture,

A/HRC/7/14/Add.1

Page 8

à la suite d'un article que M. Talal aurait écrit faisant état d'une perte de fonds publics en

raison d'une mauvaise administration au sein du Ministère de l'Agriculture. 15. Dans la même communication, le Rapporteur a relaté le cas de M. Ouahid Oussama,

correspondant du journal " Al Bilad », qui aurait été sommé de se présenter à la Cour le 19

novembre pour répondre d'une plainte en diffamation déposée par le Directeur du Département d'Education de Djelfa. M. Oussama aurait écrit un article critiquant les problèmes du système éducatif dans la région.

Observations

16. The Special Rapporteur regrets that he has not received a reply for the two

communications sent in 2007.

Angola

Letter of allegations sent on 6 March 2007 with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders 17. The Special Rapporteur and the Special Representative brought to the attention of the

Government the situation of Ms

Sarah Wykes, a human rights activist working for Global Witness, a non-governmental organization dealing with environmental issues and campaigning against corruption. According to the information received, on 18 February 2007, Ms Wykes was arrested by the Angolan police in Cabinda, following her meetings withquotesdbs_dbs27.pdfusesText_33

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