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| Press Statement: Sanef Council Raises Concern About Film And Publications Amendment Bill The council of the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef), at its meeting in Grahamstown on Sunday, September 10, has raised serious concerns about the impact on media freedom of the Film and Publications Amendment Bill that has been tabled in parliament. The organization will embark on a programme of rolling protest action and high-level engagement to ensure the bill is amended to protect media freedom. Sanef welcomes the broad front of opposition to the bill as it has been tabled in parliament. These include international and local media freedom bodies and a wide range of civic and business organizations. Chairperson Ferial Haffajee said: “It’s the bill that should be banned, not the media.” Sanef also, along with the African Editors Forum, also meeting in Grahamstown, strongly condemned the assassination of Sudanese editor Mohamed Taha on Wednesday 7 September in Khartoum. Taha was kidnapped by unknown gunmen and brutally murdered, with his head severed. The council also deplored the continuing exile of Musa Saidykhan, Editor of Gambian newspaper, The Independent, who was forced to flee after being detained and harassed by that country’s intelligence agents. Saidykhan was taken from his office in Banjul after he had written a story in his newspaper about how South African President Thabo Mbeki, had promised to help Gambian journalists by interceding with the government there over media repression. Sanef spoke out against the recent harassment of journalists by President Thabo Mbeki’s security staff and the confiscation of pictures taken on the day of the president’s consultation at a hospital. For further information contact:Sanef Chairperson Ferial Haffajee Mobile: 0829243643 Sanef Deputy Chairperson Thabo Leshilo Mobile: 0824668140 Sanef Secretary General Mary Papayya Mobile: 0823794957
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