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IPI calls for investigation into journalist's death in Zimbabwe
International Press Institute (IPI)
July 30, 2008

The International Press Institute (IPI) has written to South African President Thabo urging him to investigate the mysterious circumstances leading to the death in Zimbabwe on 14 July 2008 of photojournalist Richard Mills of Northern Ireland.

According to an alert issued by the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) on 29 July 2008 attributing its source as IPI, Mills was in Zimbabwe on an undercover assignment when he met with his death. IPI is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries.

Please find below IPI Director David Dadge's letter to President Mbeki.

H.E. Thabo Mbeki
President of South Africa
c/o Ambassador L.M. Gumbi
South African Embassy to Austria
Sandgasse 33
A-1190 Vienna, Austria
Via Fax: 01 320 6493 51
Vienna, 29 July 2008

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, urges you to do everything in your power to ensure that Zimbabwean authorities clarify fully the circumstances of the death of photojournalist Richard Mills of Northern Ireland.

According to information before IPI, Richard Mills died under unknown circumstances on 14 July in Zimbabwe. Mills, who was 41 years old, was in Zimbabwe on an undercover assignment that included interviewing, on the day of his death, a white farmer who was attacked after speaking out against Robert Mugabe. The photojournalist had planned to leave Zimbabwe on 15 July.

Instead, his family was informed that he had died and that the cause of his death was asphyxiation by hanging.

Mugabe's regime has a notorious press freedom record, with local and foreign journalists having suffered countless attacks both physical and judicial. Such a record triggers profound doubt about the Zimbabwean authorities' claims as to the cause of Richard Mills' death. We therefore call on you to raise this incident in future discussions with Zimbabwean authorities, and to ensure that it is investigated both thoroughly and openly.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

David Dadge
Director

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