Targeted for years by supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's government, private radio stations in Haiti are cautiously returning to the airwaves following a rebellion that left more than 300 dead and forced the embattled leader to flee.
But fear of attacks against journalists who used to work for pro-government stations still lingers in the traumatized nation where the media and government have long been at odds.
"These journalists are hiding from ... anyone with a gun or a grievance," said Joanne Mariner, Americas director for New York-based Human Rights Watch.
During the monthlong revolt that led to Aristide's ouster on Feb. 29, more than a dozen journalists were either threatened or attacked, including a Spanish television reporter who was killed when shots broke out during a demonstration held to celebrate Aristide's departure.
The shooting was blamed on Aristide militants, but US Marines say they also returned fire.
Under Aristide's administration, at least two journalists were killed -- including well-known radio host Jean Dominique -- and several others considering to hold an anti-Aristide bias were attacked. Dozens went into hiding or left the country, fearing for their lives.
Some reported getting anonymous calls with the sounds of guns clicking on the other end. Others were in radio stations while attackers sprayed the buildings with gunfire.
"I'm still afraid of Aristide's supporters," said Romney Cajuste, a reporter for the private station Radio Metropole who was kidnapped by armed thugs claiming to be Aristide loyalists. "They've told us we'll collect our punishment at the cemetery."
Since Aristide's departure, many say they feel safer to do their jobs but some journalists who worked for pro-government stations still fear reprisals.
In northern Cap-Haitien, where rebels maintain a strong presence, two radio stations linked to Aristide's Lavalas Family party were torched by residents and shot up by rebels.
Throughout decades of turmoil, radio has been one of few reliable mediums in this impoverished nation of 8 million. More than 150 stations operate in Haiti, made all the more vital since a little more than half of Haitians can read, and few can afford televisions.
"Everything happens on the radio here. People call and complain to radio stations instead of going to the police," said Dadou Jean-Bart, owner of the private Radio Galaxy.
A new online voting system aimed at boosting turnout among the Philippines’ millions of overseas workers ahead of Monday’s mid-term elections has been marked by confusion and fears of disenfranchisement. Thousands of overseas Filipino workers have already cast their ballots in the race dominated by a bitter feud between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his impeached vice president, Sara Duterte. While official turnout figures are not yet publicly available, data from the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) showed that at least 134,000 of the 1.22 million registered overseas voters have signed up for the new online system, which opened on April 13. However,
ENTERTAINMENT: Rio officials have a history of organizing massive concerts on Copacabana Beach, with Madonna’s show drawing about 1.6 million fans last year Lady Gaga on Saturday night gave a free concert in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for the biggest show of her career. “Tonight, we’re making history... Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd. The Mother Monster, as she is known, started the show at about 10:10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary. Cries of joy rose from the tightly packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand. Concert organizers said 2.1 million people attended the show. Lady Gaga
CONFLICTING REPORTS: Beijing said it was ‘not familiar with the matter’ when asked if Chinese jets were used in the conflict, after Pakistan’s foreign minister said they were The Pakistan Army yesterday said it shot down 25 Indian drones, a day after the worst violence between the nuclear-armed rivals in two decades. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to retaliate after India launched deadly missile strikes on Wednesday morning, escalating days of gunfire along their border. At least 45 deaths were reported from both sides following Wednesday’s violence, including children. Pakistan’s military said in a statement yesterday that it had “so far shot down 25 Israeli-made Harop drones” at multiple location across the country. “Last night, India showed another act of aggression by sending drones to multiple locations,” Pakistan military spokesman Ahmed
ALLIES: Calling Putin his ‘old friend,’ Xi said Beijing stood alongside Russia ‘in the face of the international counter-current of unilateralism and hegemonic bullying’ Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday was in Moscow for a state visit ahead of the Kremlin’s grand Victory Day celebrations, as Ukraine accused Russia’s army of launching air strikes just hours into a supposed truce. More than 20 foreign leaders were in Russia to attend a vast military parade today marking 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, taking place three years into Russia’s offensive in Ukraine. Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and has marshaled the memory of Soviet victory against Nazi Germany to justify his campaign and rally society behind the offensive,
RSS