The 1990s
Government actions against journalists, 1990 to 1999
4 recorded incidents dated 1990 to 1999, by continent and region.
Africa
| Date | Incident | Country | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1995 | Nigeria's military government convicts journalists by special tribunal over coup-plot reporting | Nigeria (RSF 2026 rank: 112th of 180) | Detention and violence | Sani Abacha | Reversed (June 15, 1998) |
Asia
| Date | Incident | Country | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 20, 1998 | Malaysia pressures domestic media and monitors foreign correspondents after arresting former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim | Malaysia (RSF 2026 rank: 95th of 180) | Surveillance and subpoenas | Mahathir Mohamad | Unknown |
Europe
| Date | Incident | Country | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 20, 1998 | Serbia's Public Information Act lets courts fine independent newspapers into financial danger | Serbia (RSF 2026 rank: 104th of 180) | Insult and defamation laws | Slobodan Milosevic | Reversed (January 1, 2001) |
North America
| Date | Incident | Country | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 17, 1991 | United States military restricts reporters to escorted press pools during the Gulf War | United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180) | Access bans | George H. W. Bush | Sustained (February 28, 1991) |