As a former journalist and member of Amnesty International, I am confident that personal letters to government ministers on behalf of their persona non grata do act as a deterrent to torture and imprisonment. The past few years have seen an alarming escalation in the official silencing of principled journalists the world over. It outrages me that if Mondi Makhanya ever has to 'fly the beloved country' (to paraphrase Paton) he may not find asylum in our former fair-go land of Australia. Even more ironically, to quote the Friends of the ABC's latest newsletter (issue 25, Spring 2007): "Australia now lags well behind most democracies in freedom of speech rankings compiled by two independent organisations, Reporters Without Borders, and Freedom House. The latest worldwide press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders ranks Australia 35th behind nations such as Bolivia (16th), South Korea (31st) and China (34th)."

An update on the situation

http://blogs.thetimes.co.za/hartley/2007/10/23/time-to-investigate-these-keystone-cops/

Time to investigate these Keystone cops
The Times - Johannesburg,Gauteng,South Africa
While Director Brand has been reportedly chasing the “case” against Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhanya and journalist Jocelyn Maker all over New Zealand, ...
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http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=592388

‘Press has no freedom’ – SABC
Sowetan - Soweto,South Africa
He further accused Mondli Makhanya, Sunday Times editor, of lying about his imminent arrest. Sanef said it is within their right to expose wrong things. ...
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http://allafrica.com/stories/200710230501.html

South Africa: Watchdog Warns Against Arrest of Editor
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
ARRESTING Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhanya would have a negative effect on SA's global media freedom rankings, says Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF). ...
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http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Insight/Article.aspx?id=591431

Brief thoughts on Malala’s column
The Times - Johannesburg,Gauteng,South Africa
You are just preserving your job by trying to beat Mondli Makhanya at his idiocy. I am ashamed of you. — Neo Kagiso, by SMS The President seems to have now ...
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Steven,

Thank you for the information.

SPANKY,

Fortunately what you say is not entirely accurate. There are a number of bodies through which you can send letters or email petitions on behalf of journalists/writers who have been denied freedom of the press. These bodies have proven succesful in many, many instances. Journalists have been freed from gaol, even on death row.

See the following

International PEN, the worldwide association of writers with 145 Centres in 104 Countries, exists to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere, to fight for freedom of expression and represent the conscience of world literature.
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/

Sydney PEN membership is open to all individuals and organisations who support the freedom to read and the freedom to write. (Other Australian states have their own groups). They have excellent links.
www.pen.org.au/

Danielle,
Just out of interest..Have you ever lived and earned a living in South Africa? when I say lived, is it longer than some people who have a lot to say having only been there for a few weeks and they seem to know a lot more, than people actually living there.

I am all for peace and solidarity, living together as one peacefull nation, but do the South Africans have to continue living in fear in their own homes?, not being able to do a normal human natural act as taking a walk, play with ones own children in the park without being antagonised or threatened.

The black people themselves are no longer safe amongst their own people, as rape and murder, child molestation runs rampant among them, within their own townships, bringing the same into city centres and running amok in night clubs.

The ever presence of over-seas students, young women being led off to waiting cars and whisked off to near-by townships, never to be seen again.

Where does it stop? again...say hello to Zimbabwe no 2.

SPANKY,

I do not know what your comments have to do with making protests about South African journalists being denied freedom of the press, who reveal the crimes committed in the country. The more the world knows, the better.

Extremely brave Iranian dissidents have a petition site where they ask for support against attrocities committed by their regime. In some cases, such as an execution, gaoling, or stoning, has been aborted because of the amount of protests the regime has received. Also, importantly, these dissidents inform the world knows exactly what is occurring in that country.
Free Iran
www.activistchat.com

I don't know why you ask if I have lived in South Africa. No, I haven't. Surely that isn't an impediment to protesting.

I did live in Malaya for seven years during the Communist Emergency. We lost friends. Communist terrorists also killed and committed attrocities against the local inhabitants who were very vulnerable. Communists freely used machine guns and grenades against them.

Danielle,
Forgive me..this hs a lot to do with the subject of freedom of the press, as the press are the ones included in the murdered and missing!

Exactly my point, the more the press reveal about South Africa, at least, what they are able to "leak" out of S.A.,the less the government are getting away with!

It's the press finding out more of whats actually going on over there and the more they find out, the more the world will understand the huge farce taking place over there, the goverment of S.A. are acting just like Mugabe, this is why I say...Hello Zimbabwe no 2