International journalists arrested in Kenya
Two German and a Dutch Journalist were arrested under the allegation of “terrorist activities” in Kenya. Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe stated, they “have been conducting themselves in a suspicious manner” and photos of “vital installations” were found in their possession. Gerd Uwe Hauth and Andrej Hermlin and Fleur Van Dissel, were arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Andrej Hermlin, who is married to a Kenyan citizen, is a well known German swing musician, and also works as a journalist. He lives part time in the village of his wife in the Mt Kenya region, where he has a house. Due to his knowledge about Kenyan politics he was interviewed and quoted in many German articles and radio features before he left for Kenya earlier this month.
Get real and free Andrej, Gerd and Fleur!
Fleur Van Dissel was working on documentaries about Raila Odinga. One of his documentaries was aired shortly before the election.
There have been complaints by other international journalists, that they were harassed by Kenyan Police and Paramilitary forces, for example they were deliberately tear gassed or attacked by Police on horses. The Standard reports that the KTN journalist who took the incredible footage of the policeman killing a demonstrator in kisumu has reported to police that he has had death threats. Reuters photographer Thomas Mukhoya, who was also reporting from kisumu, has also been threatened.
After censoring live broadcast on TV in Kenya, Kibaki’s regime tries to threaten foreign journalist who they blame for the political unrest.
We call for the immediate release of all three journalists.
Kenyan riot police officers on horseback chase photographers in central Nairobi, Kenya, Jan. 16. Picture from josephkaroki
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Here the reuters articel: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL18135163.html
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Two German men and a Dutch woman who entered Kenya as journalists have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism after being found with photos of “vital installations”, police said on Friday.
“Although they entered the country as journalists they have been conducting themselves in a suspicious manner,” police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told reporters.
“We are investigating materials recovered from them. Some of them include photographs of vital installations,” he added, without giving further details.
“The suspects … have been arrested with suspicion of terrorist activities,” Kiraithe said.
Kiraithe said the two Germans — Gerd Uwe Hauth and Andrej Hermlin — and Fleur Van Dissel, a Dutch national, were arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The German and Dutch foreign ministries confirmed the arrests. “The embassy is in touch with local authorities to try to ensure they are released quickly,” a German foreign ministry spokesman said.
A spokeswoman for the Dutch foreign ministry said their embassy had been in contact with Van Dissel to help her deal with the Kenyan authorities.
She added that the Dutch ambassador had spoken to the Kenyan foreign minister to ensure she would be treated well.
Hermlin, a musician known in Germany as “the king of swing,” is the son of well-known East German writer Stephan Hermlin. He is married to a Kenyan woman.
Kiraithe said the three raised suspicions after they changed vehicles four times on the trip from Nairobi to the airport.
But Salim Lone, spokesman for the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), said Van Dissel had been making a documentary about its leader Raila Odinga, which was aired on local television a few days before a Dec. 27 election.
“I am astounded to hear they have been arrested. I know Fleur has been working on a documentary on Odinga for at least five years, while Andrej Hermlin is a famous musician,” Lone told Reuters.
He said Van Dissel was working on another documentary on Odinga, a former political prisoner who accuses President Mwai Kibaki — who narrowly won the vote — of stealing victory.
Hundreds of foreign reporters descended on Nairobi for the polls and many more arrived after Kibaki’s re-election triggered political and ethnic violence killing around 650 people.
Comment: Jannek – 19. January 2008 @ 1:38 am
[...] Comments Jai on Jai on Eyes on Kenya Blog… on EoK on Mzalendo on [...]
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Why were those three arrested? Andrej Hermlin openly supported ODM and knows Odinga personally. There is a good chance that they were in possession of documents and information, which they planed to publish from abroad. Most likely information which the Kibaki government did not want to leave the country. It is easy to be called “a terrorist” those days, if you are to close to the opposition. It was a sure sign for all foreigners to stay out of it.
Comment: Goodman – 19. January 2008 @ 12:45 pm
[...] Eyes on Kenya « International journalists arrested in Kenya [...]
Pingback: Eyes on Kenya » Blog Archive » International Journalists Released – 19. January 2008 @ 5:09 pm
[...] institution which most likely is still under government control. Demonstrators have been executed, journalists attacked and peaceful gatherings at funerals and at Melitus Mugabe Were’s compound were tear-gassed [...]
Pingback: Eyes on Kenya » Comments on the assasination of Melitus Mugabe Were | – 30. January 2008 @ 5:21 pm
[...] holds a discussion about the political situation in Kenya. Speakers are the German swing musician Andrej Hermlin, who was arrested in Kenya in Janurary 2008, Dr. Claus Dieter König and Member of the German parliament for the Linke- Hüseyin Aydin. It will [...]
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