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| Obama 'concerned' over US reporters held in Iran, NKorea | |
| 2009-05-03 | |
| WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President Barack Obama said Friday his administration was "especially concerned" about the detention of two US journalists in North Korea and one in Iran. "We are... especially concerned about the citizens from our own country currently under detention abroad: individuals such as Roxana Saberi in Iran, and Euna Lee and Laura Ling in North Korea," Obama said in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3.
US-Iranian reporter Saberi, who marked her 32nd birthday in jail Sunday, was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of spying for the United States, allegations Washington says are unfounded. Her father, Reza Saberi, told AFP in Tehran that his daughter was now into her second week on a hunger strike, in which she takes only sugared water, and that despite losing lots of weight would keep up her protest until she is released. Euna Lee, a Korean-American, and Laura Ling, a Chinese-American, were detained by North Korea March 17 along the Tumen River which marks the border with China. Pyongyang said Friday the two female journalists would stand trial on criminal charges, a move seen by some analysts as pressuring Washington to open direct dialogue. The North had previously said the pair would face trial for "hostile acts" and illegally entering the country. Obama decried the jailing or active harassment of journalists that have taken place "in every corner of the globe," including China, Cuba, Eritrea, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. "Emblematic examples of this distressing reality are figures like J.S. Tissainayagam in Sri Lanka, or Shi Tao and Hu Jia in China," he said. Obama noted that since World Press Freedom Day was first celebrated in 1993, 692 journalists have been killed as they worked "to expose truth and enhance accountability around the world." | |
| Posted by: |
| #10 ION PAKISTANI DEFENSE FORUMS > IRANIAN HELICOPTERS ATTACK IRAQI KURDISH VILLAGES DESPITE US CONTROL OF AIRSPACE; + WAR IS COMING:PENTAGON ASKS US CONGRESS FOR WARTIME AUTHORITIES/POWERS FOR DEALING WITH PAKISTAN [OABAM ADMIN, USDOD desire to treat PK as a de facto US WAR/COMBAT ZONE = THEATER as per IRAQ 2003 + AFGHANISTAN], + PAKISTAN'S FOUR THEATRES OF WAR. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-05-03 21:53 |
| #9 We're holding several Iranians captured in Iraq, and Iran is hoping for a 'prisoner exchange', same as in 2007. President Bush didn't blink then and sure enough, Iran eventually let the "Iranian-American" go, unharmed. Jim is right about Obama, but I sure as hell hope he doesn't decide to any kind of exchange for Saberi, hunger strike or not. Dollars to donuts she'll write a glowing report of how well she was treated in Iran's most 'infamous' prison, just as her predecesor did. Same shit/different day. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-05-03 15:38 |
| #8 Obama doesn't give a shit but was told by his handlers "You should say something". There, fixed it for you. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-05-03 13:40 |
| #7 Yeah, I didn't take it personally LOL. I'm sure the offender values no opinion other than his own. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-05-03 12:41 |
| #6 Emotions run quite high here from time to time Zorba. I'm sure it was only meant as emphasis, or simply a term of endearment. The ones look out for are not the ones who call you a POS or SOB in a blog or over a bar stool. They are the friendlies! Mind the silent ones. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-05-03 12:10 |
| #5 And to the person who called me a stupid piece of fecal matter the last time I commented on this subject -- do yourself a favor and stay off the internet. Your stupidity is stunning and may cause self-inflicted injury. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-05-03 11:44 |
| #4 Saberi has been in Iran for 6 years. No one forced her to go. Any American who sets foot in that place for any reason (other than to bomb the hell out of them) is a suicidal IDIOT. I'll save my sympathy for those that actually deserve it. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-05-03 11:36 |
| #3 "Concern" to be followed by a STERNLY worded statement. Man, those Norks are in for it now! |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2009-05-03 11:30 |
| #2 I wanna hear Rachel Corrie style OUTRAGE. Not just a one liner! snark off |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-05-03 08:42 |
| #1 Shouldn't they've stayed in USA---exposing vast right wing conspiracy by combat veterans? Or, at least, went to Gaza to report on Zionist oppression? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-05-03 04:03 |