Wednesday, June 26, 2013
His Excellency Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
White House
Via facsimile: +1 202-456-2461
Dear President Obama:
Ahead of your first trip to East Africa, we would like
to bring to your attention the deteriorating state of press freedom in Tanzania.
In your meetings with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, we ask that you
discuss the critical importance of press freedom to economic development and
democracy.
In the past year, CPJ has documented a rise in threats
and attacks against journalists in Tanzania. In September 2012, CPJ documented
the first work-related journalist killing in the country since we began keeping
detailed records in 1992. Police shot at point-blank range Daudi Mwangosi,
reporter for TV Channel 10, after the journalist confronted them over the
arrest of another reporter. A junior officer was arrested, but several other
officers seen as being involved have not been held accountable. Another
journalist, Issa Ngumba, was found dead from gunshot wounds in January. CPJ is
investigating to determine if the murder was related to his coverage of local
farming issues. No one has been arrested.
In addition, several journalists have been attacked in
connection with their work. In March, unknown assailants attacked
Absalom Kibanda, chairman of Tanzanian Editor's Forum and managing editor of
the New
Habari media company, leaving the critical columnist with severe
injuries. No one has been arrested. Local
journalists also said they have often been threatened by officials and
high-ranking businessmen via text messages, emails, or intermediaries.
Reporters based outside the capital, Dar es Salaam, are often targeted, the
sources said.
This new trend of attacks against the press in
Tanzania occurs against a backdrop of restrictive anti-press laws. One of them,
the 1976 Newspaper Act, which allows the information minister discretionary
powers to suspend publications, was used to ban
the leading independent weekly Mwanahalisi
in July 2012. The constitution includes at least 16 other anti-press laws
that have induced journalists to practice self-censorship, our research shows.
Tanzanian authorities said they would present a new
press bill this year that would eliminate legislation that censors or restricts
the press. But the contents of the bill
have been kept from the public, and local and regional media outlets have said
they fear renewed anti-press legislation.
As you know, the Tanzanian government is one of five
African nations that signed
on to your Open Government
Partnership Initiative, a multilateral effort to promote transparency. Tanzania
cannot uphold its obligation given the current media climate of threats against
the press and existing restrictive legislation. Economic development that
benefits Tanzanian citizens can only occur in a system in which officials are
held accountable by a free and vibrant press.
Tanzanian journalists are working in a highly
restrictive media environment and are being attacked with impunity. We ask that
you urge President Kikwete to promote media freedom in the country, without
which vibrant democracy and economic development cannot exist.
Sincerely,
Joel Simon
Executive Director
Executive Director
CC List:
H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, President of Tanzania
H.E. Mwanaidi S. Maajar, Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States of America
H.E. Alfonso E. Lenhardt, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Tanzania
Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, Head of the Delegation of European Union to the Republic of Tanzania
John Kerry, Secretary of State for the United States of America
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs for the United States of America
Dr. Fenella Mukandara, Minister of Information of the Republic of Tanzania
Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Reginald Mengi, Chairman of the Media Association of Tanzania
Dr. Jeffrey Ashley, USAID / East Africa Mission Director
Kajubi Mukajanga, Executive Secretary of the Media Council of Tanzania
Mohamed Tibanyendera, Chairman of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Tanzania
Ernest Sungura, Executive Director of the Tanzania Media Fund
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