New York — The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the detention in Harare today of New York Times correspondent Barry Bearak and calls for his immediate release. CPJ is also deeply concerned about reports that Zimbabwean authorities have detained other foreign correspondents.
"In light of the political situation, it is imperative that all journalists, foreign and domestic, be allowed to work freely," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. "We call on authorities to immediately release Barry Bearak and any other journalist currently being held."
In a statement, the Times said that police had detained Bearak, a Johannesburg-based reporter who was in Zimbabwe to cover the country's election. Executive Editor Bill Keller said the newspaper did not immediately know where Bearak was being held, or whether any charges had been filed.
Keller described Bearak as "an experienced and respected professional who has reported from many places." Bearak won a Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for coverage of life in Afghanistan, the paper said.
Other foreign correspondents were also believed to have been detained, according to CPJ sources in Harare and initial news reports. No other names were immediately confirmed. The Media Institute of South Africa, a press freedom organization, said a large contingent of police had come to the York Lodge, a hotel where a number of foreign journalists had been staying, to make arrests.
"I can confirm that we have arrested two reporters at York Lodge for practicing without accreditation," police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told Reuters. He said police would identify them on Friday.
President Robert Mugabe, who was clinging to power after 28 years as ruler, also moved against opposition party leaders today. The Associated Press reported that authorities raided a hotel used by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Delays in announcing the results of Saturday's vote have caused mounting international concern. Zimabwe's election commission has issued results in the parliamentary races - won by the opposition - but has yet to announce tallies in the presidential and senate races. The opposition has claimed victory in the presidential vote.
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In as much as i do agree with RSF and CPJ calling on the Zimbabwean Government for the immediate release of those two journalists, it is important to both of them that they are not above the law. These two journalists actually break the law.Suffice it to say that any one of them had won prizes: does that give them unlimited freedom to break laws of sovereign states?What arrant nonsense is that? Why didn't they apply for work permit? They behaved like slaves. They are fugitives who want to take the Zimbabweans for granted. They never said a word when their governments (British and USA) were sanctioning Zimbabweans from travelling abroad. But when their Country men are barred from entering Zim, they behaved like fugitives or common criminals by trying to make a by pass . Africans cannot dare go to a no go area in either the USA or Britain.But they attempted taking chance in Zimbabwe. Bravo Zimbabwe Security force.It was good that you trap the lawless animals. Who the hell do they think they are? They would have used it against the Country. Let them face the full penalty of the law. They will tell the stories.
I'm glad that you agree with CP for calling on the Zimbabwean Goverment for the immediate release of these two journalists. That was the only intelligent thing you wrote. THe journalists are not politicians, they are there to report what is really happening in an unbiased way (something one cannot, unfortunately, count on from the Government). Their arbitrary detention is a gross violation of international norms, is a disgrace to all the people of Zimbabwe, and should be reversed immediately.
All human beings are political. Arguably, one can either be active,pro active or being modest or very modest.
But that is not the issue here. The issue is the failure on their parts to apply for accreditation.
Except you dont want to be sincere in comming to terms with elections news reporting or you are ignorant of procedures regarding reporting in a different country. Otherwise you wouldn't have waisted your time arguing.
journalists just can't go and start reporting about events in any country like that. They should first be accredited".The authorities must be aware of their presence for their own security.I am sure had anything gone wrong with them you would have blamed the authorities.
expressing our opinions freely like what we now do in the " allafrica.com" does not mean that there is no procedure. Had the journalists been accredited, they wouldn't have been apprehended. So their arrest is not arbitrary.
Can you be pleased to make reference to just a single report from any of the Western media that is free from bias.
The most popular BBC African service both Network and Focus on Africa have now experience a nose dive popularity because of the bias that is manifested in the reports and presentation regarding Zimbabwe. The only mature and reliable BBC program we now rely on is the BBC's "News hour" .
They will always tell listeners "the BBC is not allowed to report from Zimbabwe:" what is wrong with you? cant you think?
Civilized people obey laws. We can only join CPJ,RSF and other rights group to call for their immediate release.
Thanks for your comment. Of course I do want to be sincere, but based on the facts. It seems clear that Mr. Mugabe is cracking down on government because his 28 year rule is threatened. As a secondary effort, he is cracking down on journalists who might be reporting about this crackdown. This forum serves as a way to try and educate people about what is going on, and is something of a homage to the journalists who are suffering at Mugabe's expense. He would appear a dangerous man, and, for their own good, the people would do well to try and organize protest against his actions.
It appears that the journalists are represented by some of the finest lawyers in the country, including Beatrice Mtetwa. It also seems clear that the authorities are arbitrarily changing the rules you refer to to artificially maintain the detention of the journalists. As you said, they were first arrested on charges of working as journalist without accreditation. However, when it was pointed out to the police that the press law had been changed, he was recharged with falsely presenting himself as a journalist. This is the hallmark of a government that does not respect the rule of law or fair procedures you are arguing in favor of.
Sorry, western reports are all bias and westerners in most cases feel above the law in the third world.