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Pakistan Media Mirror |
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Media Mirror: 02-10-2007 |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation
Pims refuses to admit hurt journalist until forced by court |
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The executive director (ED) of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Monday initially refused to admit an injured journalist, referred there by the Poly Clinic Hospital. However, on the directives of the Supreme Court, the Pims administration took the patient from the court premises and admitted him to the hospital. According to details, the Poly Clinic administration had referred Mazhar Sheikh, a reporter of Daily Asas, who was seriously injured during indiscriminate use of force by police against peaceful protesters, agitating against acceptance of Gen Musharraf’s nomination papers, outside the offices of the election commission on Saturday. While refusing to admit the injured journalist, the executive director, Fazl Hadi and the duty doctor, had allegedly sarcastically told him to “consult (the) Supreme Court for your treatment.” The reporter, Mr Sheikh, approached the Supreme Court and appeared before the chief justice to narrate his ordeal. Later, the Pims executive director appeared in court but refused to admit he had said anything of that sort. Anyhow, the chief justice directed him to ensure that the injured journalist was admitted to the hospital and also ordered the executive director to dispatch a report on the progress of the patient to court on a daily basis.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/02/top18.htm |
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Journalists condemn threatening telephonic call to salaib Mehsud by security forces |
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A meeting of Tribal Union of Journalists Sourth Waziristan unit held, senior journalist Khalil Mehsud chaired the session. Journalists from the Sourth Waziristan agency attended the meeting. Meeting expressed its deepest concerns over threatening and abusive telephonic call to president tribal union of journalist Salaib Mehsud. Meeting urged security agencies not to use such intimidation against media men. Meeting asked higher authorities to take notice of harassment and action against irresponsible officials.
(Jang-3)
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Media in Courts
Capital officials suspended on SC orders |
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Three top officials of the federal capital’s administration were suspended on Monday by the interior ministry on orders of the apex court, which held them responsible for the use of force by law-enforcement agencies against lawyers, journalists and other civil society representatives on September 29.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/02/top1.htm |
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Media Protest
Sept 29 termed darkest day in country’s history : Baton-charge on lawyers, journalists |
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The journalist community, backed by opposition parties, lawyers and human rights activists, continued their protest for the second day on Monday here to condemn the government’s use of force against mediapersons and lawyers. A procession was taken out here from the press club which marched towards the Governor ’s House. The protesters were led by Khyber Union of Journalists president Jan Afzal, Peshawar High Court Bar Association president Abdul Latif Afridi, Awami National Party’s Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Jamaat-i-Islami NWFP Amir Sirajul Haq, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Mukhtar Yousafzai and Pakistan Muslim League (N)’s Arshad Qureshi. They strongly condemned the police high-handedness and said that time had come now to launch a decisive movement against the present regime. They said the struggle launched by lawyers and journalists against the military regime would go down in history in golden words. The days were not far away when people of the country would be freed from the shackles of tyranny, they claimed. A heavy-contingent of baton-wielding police force prevented the procession from reaching the main gate of the Governor House.
(News-3) |
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/02/local31.htm |
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KUJ rally against police action |
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Journalists belonging to the print and electronic media staged a peaceful rally on Monday against the use of “brute force” on media men and lawyers in Islamabad on Sept 29, and demanded immediate removal of IG Islamabad Syed Morawat Ali Shah. They said the mere suspension of the IG was not enough. Participants of the rally, organised by the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), marched from the Karachi Press Club to the Governor’s House and vowed to resist all attempts by the government to put curbs on the press through such a brazen use of brute force. They resolved that the freedom of the press would be defended at any cost. The rally was attended by activists of various political parties, including ANP, PPP, PTI, JI and other components of the MMA and APDM, besides civil society organisations and the Aurat Foundation. The rally was part of the nationwide protest for which a call was given by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The participants urged the media owners to stand alongside journalists in the struggle for press freedom. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=74264 |
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Action against lawyers, journalists condemned |
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Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani has strongly condemned the brutal police action against journalists in Islamabad and termed it a barbarian attack on the media. On his returning from New Delhi on Monday after attending the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentarian Conference, he said that the way police adopted against journalists and lawyers exposed the future designs of the government towards the media and members of the civil society. He said that lobbing tear gas and resorting baton change against journalists had no justification while they were performing their professional duties. He expressed solidarity with the journalist community and assured his support in their struggle for the freedom of press in the country.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/02/nat6.htm |
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SANA condemns attacks on journalists |
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The Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) has condemned the brutal attacks by police and security agencies against lawyers and journalists in Islamabad and other cities and expressed the fear that such actions are pushing the country towards civil strife and a point of no return. In a statement, SANA president Aziz Narejo expressed solidarity with protesting lawyers and journalists and urged all sections of civil society in Pakistan to stand up for unadulterated democracy, rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution, independence of judiciary, freedom of media, decentralisation of powers, provincial autonomy and an end to military intervention in civilian affairs. He said no good could ever come to the country until each and every citizen stands up and says no to military dictatorship. He also called upon the PPP leadership to publicly declare an end to backdoor parleys with the regime for power-sharing. He urged the party to align itself with other democratic forces to rid the country of “khaki rule”. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\02\story_2-10-2007_pg7_12 |
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APHR condemns violence against lawyers, journalists |
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The Alliance for Protection of Human Rights (APHR) has condemned the state violence against lawyers and journalists in Islamabad on Saturday and demanded a judicial probe to bring the culprits to justice. In a press release issued here on Monday, the alliance, which includes the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Shirkat Gah, Aurat Foundation, Khwendo Kor, Strengthening Participatory Organisation, Human Resource Management and Development Centre, Sungi Development Foundation, and Noor Education Trust, said what happened around the Election Commission and nearby Supreme Court put the rulers to shame.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\02\story_2-10-2007_pg7_32 |
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DBA protests torture on lawyers, journalists |
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In response to the unprecedented torture on lawyers and journalists unleashed by the police and other security officials on September 9, the District Bar Association, Rawalpindi, like other bar associations of the country, protested strongly as hundreds of lawyers peacefully marched through the city Monday.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=121307&catid=2 |
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Journalists, lawyers stage protest rallies in RY Khan |
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A large number of journalists, lawyers and NGOs representative staged protest rallies throughout the district and strongly condemned violence on their colleagues. Senior Journalist Mian Jameel Azhar said that common man was fed up with the policies of the government. He said that the government had subjected the mediamen and lawyers to violence and the blood of journalists would bring a revolution in the country soon.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=121169&catid=2 |
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Editorial the Post , “Whither media freedom?” |
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“But why does he want to smother media freedom? Knowing the draconian traits inherent in one-man rule, a possible reason could be that the government does not want to have an independent media putting spokes in its works by presenting objective reality and pointing out aberrations. If this is the kind of regime the media is going to endure for the next five years, it is indeed in for rough times ahead. It says much for the government’s character that after perpetrating the worst kind of brutality, it remains unmoved in the face of the fierce protest of the journalists’ community. If anything, it has filed an FIR against some journalists under the ant-terrorism law. So we have moved from being an irresponsible media to a ‘terrorist’ media! From this vantage point, the government, which is engaged in the war on terrorism, is justified in taking action to decimate the new pools of ‘terrorism’ in Pakistan within the media.” |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=121181&catid=10 |
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Editorial Daily Times “Fatal mishandling of the media” |
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“Meanwhile, Mr Mazhar Abbas, the indefatigable secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, has his job cut out for him. He has just received the coveted Press Freedom Award from the prestigious New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists for his fearless devotion to the cause of journalism in Pakistan over the decade. There is no one more deserving than him. Now he is in the thick of battle again to protect the hard-won freedoms of journalists in this country. The government would do well to engage the PFUJ in talks aimed at punishing officials responsible for the onslaught against the media on Saturday. The damage to General Pervez Musharraf’s proud flagship — a free and vibrant media — done by more-loyal-than-the-King officials is unmistaken and irrevocable.”
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\02\story_2-10-2007_pg3_1 |
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Media under attack by Waheed Hussain |
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“Media is the fourth pillar of the state. It is the responsibility of other three state institutions, government, opposition and the civil society to protect it. If the government through the use of force tries to hide the truth, ultimately it will damage its own credibility. The government should show patience, maturity, magnanimity and broad-mindedness to digest the positive and constructive criticism and factual reporting. Training guns at the media will not serve any purpose. After the presidential elections the country will be moving towards general elections, where the media will again play an important role. Therefore, we hope and expect that rulers will not repeat the Saturday episode and create an environment where the journalists will perform their professional duties without any fear.”
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http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/oct-2007/2/columns2.php |
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Real threats, lawyers and journalists |
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Nawa-i-Waqt columnist Ajmal Niazi comments, “lawyers and journalists are real opposition against government while opposition leaders are just struggling to protect own interests.”
(Nawa-i-Waqt-5)
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Nawa I Waqt column |
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Nawa-i-Waqt columnist Rana Abdul Baqi comments, “There were no solid reasons to torture media men and lawyers. They should be allowed to perform professional duties in peaceful environment.
(Nawa-i-Waqt- Column)
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Match with media |
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The Jang columnist Hassan Nisar comments, “Government wants to boost up anti government movement through direct tussle with media and lawyers. Our rulers can made fool innocent citizens through claims of free media. But people know real motives behind claims of freedom of media.
(Jang-2)
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Letter to editor “Attacks on journalists” |
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Ziauddin Butt, “It has become common practice for law enforcement agencies to target journalists whenever and wherever it is possible for them to do so. Journalists are duty-bound to go to any place where an important event of public interest takes place, be that a public meeting, a political rally or a sports event.
Journalists perform their duties to keep the people informed of what is happening and they do so quite often at the risk of exposing themselves to unforeseen perils. Friday’s incident outside the Election Commission’s office in Islamabad is an ugly example of how ruthlessly the journalist community was treated by the armed, baton-wielding policemen. Why should the presence of journalists provoke the authorities? They are not party to any dispute nor do they take sides.
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The Post Cartoon |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/TCartoon.aspx?catid=16 |
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Media Miscellaneous
US calls for unhindered media freedom |
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The United States takes seriously any attempt to close down or hinder media organisations, according to the US State Department. A State Department statement said on Monday that it had conveyed its concerns to the government of Pakistan both publicly and privately, urging it to “ensure that the media are free to report what’s happening in the country”. The State Department also urged Islamabad to make certain that the journalists were free to perform their duties “without intimidation and without fear of reprisal”. At a regular briefing in Washington, the department’s deputy spokesperson Tom Casey noted that the Supreme Court had taken notice of Saturday’s incident when police beat up journalists who were performing their duties, and noted that the court had “shown that they are capable” of dealing with situations like this. Mr Casey urged the media, the lawyers and the government to “behave responsibly” and to take steps to ensure that the situation did not deteriorate any further. He also noted that the Supreme Court has already ordered the suspension of Islamabad’s police chief and other officials. “We want to see the Pakistani people express their views freely and peacefully, and we would hope that neither protestors nor law enforcement officials would resort to violence,” another State Department official told Dawn. “It’s a fundamental and important right of democratic countries to be able to demonstrate and express views peacefully,” she said. “In terms of the media freedoms in Pakistan, we want to make sure that all legitimate media representatives are able to help inform the Pakistani people of what’s happening now and in the future,” the official added.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/02/nat7.htm |
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Media ends govt functions’ boycott |
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After the suspension of the IG and SSP, on orders of the Supreme Court, journalists have announced to end their boycott of coverage of official proceedings. It is pertinent to note that journalists had marked Sunday as a black day against the worst-ever police brutalities against them, and had also announced a boycott of all official proceedings, including the Iftar dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of the police brutalities on Sunday, and had ordered the immediate suspension of both the IG and the SSP.
(Dawn-17)
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PFUJ takes back protest call |
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The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Monday took back its call for boycott of government functions and countrywide protest against the government for police baton-charge and tear-gassing of journalists after the Supreme Court suspended Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Marvat Ali Shah and some other officials. Journalists were ruthlessly beaten up and tear-gassed in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday while covering lawyers’ protest against filing of nomination papers of President General Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFJU) Secretary Mazhar Abbas said the union had taken back countrywide protest call and boycott of government functions after the apex court decision. However, he said their movement againt the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and for implementation of wage awards would continue till realisation of objectives.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\02\story_2-10-2007_pg11_4 |
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Durrani launches APP ENG Service, says it will assist private media dream |
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Durrani seeks media help
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani Monday formally launched the Electronic News Gathering (ENG) service of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) here at a local hotel. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan, Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mehmood, Managing Director APP Rai Riaz Hussain, Consultant APP ENG Service M. S. Haali and other high-ranking officials were also present. “The formal launch of the APP ENG service would materialize the dream of facilitating the private media sector in dissemination of the news of ongoing developments,” the Minister said while addressing the audience at the ceremony.
(Daily Times),
(The Post),
(App)
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Tariq Azeem visits injured journalist |
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Minister of Sate for Information and Broadcasting Senator Tariq Azeem Khan visited Shifa International Hospital here on Monday and enquired about the health of injured journalist who was injured due to police baton charge on September 29. Tariq Azeem directed the hospital administration to provide best medical aid to the injured cameraman of a private TV channel and said that all expenses would be borne by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Tariq Azim was also attacked and injured by some protestors on September 29 when he came back to the Election Commission Office after shifting the same cameraman to hospital in an ambulance.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/MainNewsT.aspx?bdtl_id=7547&fb_id=2&catid=14 |
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ISPR to post bulletins on website |
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To facilitate media in procurement of quick and accurate information and to avoid speculative reporting on war against terrorism and other issues related to security forces, ISPR will post a four hourly bulletins on its website www.ispr.gov.pk with effect from October 2, says an ISPR press release.
(News-19)
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Journalists get plot allotment letters |
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NWFP Information and Public Relations Minister Asif Iqbal Daudzai and Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Sardar Muhammad Idrees Monday distributed plots allotment letters among the members of the Peshawar Press Club. District Nazim Haji Ghulam Ali was also present on the occasion. The allotment letters for the Durrani Media Colony were distributed as per the announcement made by NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani during his visit to the Press Club few months ago.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=121247&catid=2 |
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Radio
LCWU radio channel will now start in December, Frequency FM 96.6 assigned |
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The Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) will broadcast its first-ever FM radio channel in December 2007. The LCWU administration said the radio channel had planned to launch in January 2007, but it had to put it ahead because the building allocated for the channel was not yet been constructed. LCWU vice chancellor (VC) Prof Bushra Mateen told Daily Times that all staff for the channel had been hired, soundproofing of the building was underway and the technical departments were being set up. She said the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had allocated funds for the project. Mass Communication Department’s chairperson Anjum Zia told Daily Times that the department was in the process of starting the FM channel. She said the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had issued the license for the channel in January 2006. She said the Frequency Allocation Board had assigned the frequency of FM 96.6 to the channel and that the channel would be known as LCWU 96.6. She also said the HEC had allocated Rs 37.9 million strengthen the Mass Communications Department. The department had also planned several new projects with the funds allocated.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\02\story_2-10-2007_pg7_26 |
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Movies
Nine months later still no cinemas |
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The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has yet not given physical shape to its plans to construct two cinema halls in the metropolis nine months after having received the required approvals. The CDA had initiated the plan after receiving complaints from the residents of Islamabad about the shortage of recreational facilities in the capital. They demanded the authority construct some cinema halls in the capital, official sources said on Thursday while talking to Daily Times. The official said three cinema halls had been set up in Islamabad earlier including Nafdec, the Melody cinema and the Sitara Market cinema, not one of which is currently operational.
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\02\story_2-10-2007_pg11_9 |
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DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service to media observers. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.
Updated at 11:00 PST (06:00 GMT) |
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