Release detained journalists, watchdog groups urge

Ten media watchdogs have called on the government of Eritrea to free 17 detained journalists, a statement issued on Friday by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said. "Those detained include more than a dozen journalists who have been incarcerated for over three years without being formally charged," CPJ said. "Jailing people for the peaceful expression of their opinion is a serious violation of human rights." The CPJ issued the statement to mark the third anniversary of the detention of the journalists, most of whom were detained in September 2001 following the government's imposition of a ban on all private and independent publications in the country. The independent media were closed down after being accused of engaging in activities that "endangered national security and unity". They were accused of carrying the opinions of government dissidents, 11 of whom are also in detention. Friday's letter was jointly signed by CPJ, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Media Institute of Southern Africa based in Namibia, West African Journalists Association based in Senegal, South Africa's Freedom of Expression Institute, Journaliste en Danger based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Media Institute of Kenya, African Free Media Foundation based in Kenya, and the Media Foundation for West Africa based in Ghana. [See www.cpj.org]