Reporters Without Borders calls for release of Slovenian envoy Tomo Kriznar jailed for 2 years by Darfurian court

Aug 17 2006 Reporters sans fronti�res report excerpt:

Reporters Without Borders called today for the release of Slovenian writer and activist Tomo Kriznar after he was sentenced on 14 August by a court in Al Fashir, the capital of the western state of North Darfur, to two years in prison on charges of spying and publishing false information. Kriznar, who was acting as a special envoy of his country's president, was arrested in Darfur on 19 July.

"We condemn this outrageous manoeuvre by the Sudanese government, which is clearly aimed at discouraging journalists and humanitarian activists from investigating the large-scale massacres that have been taking place in Darfur for the past three years," Reporters Without Borders said.

"Kriznar used his position as a writer, photographer and human rights activist to denounce this major humanitarian crisis," the organisation added. "The government cannot negotiate with rebel groups under Slovenia's aegis and at the same time jail a Slovenian representative under an absurd pretext."

See Aug 16 2006 - Jailed Slovene envoy Tomo Kriznar to appeal against verdict



Photo: Tomo Kriznar (Yahoo News)