PPF seeks end to free expression violations in Ghana and Mexico | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

PPF seeks end to free expression violations in Ghana and Mexico

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) voiced concern over the violation of media rights in Ghana and Mexico.

On April 8, 2017 PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali wrote to Nana Akufo-Addo, President the Republic of Ghana regarding the alleged torture to Kendrick Ofei, a freelance journalist.

Ofei, who was brutally assaulted by some soldiers on March 6th, 2017, had been caught filming an assault on a civilian by military officers after the Independence Day parade, at the Independence Square in the capital, Accra.

Ofei, on March 21, narrated his ordeal during a TV program named ‘State Affairs,’ broadcast on the privately-owned GhOneTV. He appeared on the program wearing a cervical collar and showed bruises on his body.

On April 7, 2017 PPF Secretary General Ali wrote to Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico, and expressed serious concern over the killings of three journalists and two attempted murders in the month of March.

Ali urged the government of Mexico, to assure the free environment for the journalist where they perform their duties freely and professional practices.

According to Reporters Without Boarders (RSF), on March 28 Julio Omar Gómez’s, a freelance journalist’s home was attacked in the city of Cabo San Lucas, although Gómez’ and his family escaped injury but his guard was killed.

On 29 March, the day after the attack on Gómez, Armando Arrieta Granados, the managing editor of the regional newspaper La Opinión, was fired several shots by unidentified assailants in Poza Rica, in the eastern state of Veracruz. The journalist survived the attack, but remains at a local hospital in a critical condition.

Alone in March three journalist were shot dead on March 23, Miroslava Breach reporter for the Norte de Juárez and La Jornada newspapers, on March 19, Ricardo Monlui in Veracruz state and on March 2 Cecilio Pineda Birto in Ciudad Altamirano, in the southwestern state of Guerrero.

The PPF Secretary General urged the authorities of both countries to properly investigate each case and bring an end to violations of free expression, and ensure conditions where media workers can perform their professional duties without fear of intimidation or retaliation.