Brussels, 04/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - This year's Lorenzo Natali prize, awarded by the European Commission to journalists on their articles on development and civil rights, was given to Kamau Ngotho for his article on impunity and wrongful imprisonment, "The Pinto Murder" and appeared in the Kenyan Sunday Nation newspaper. Romain Gubert also received the prize in the EU category for his article, "The Shocking Evidence of the Chechen Refugees", published in the French weekly newspaper, Le Point.
A special commendation was received by Teun Voeten for his article, "The Bitter Peace of Sierra Leone", which appeared in the Dutch Vrij Nederland newspaper.
The two first prize-winners were also awarded EUR 10,000. European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, declared, "The Commission's commitment to this Prize is a clear demonstration of the value we attach to freedom of expression and the belief that democracy and respect for human rights are of the highest importance".
The Natali Prize is named after the late Commissioner for Development and campaigner for human rights causes, Lorenzo Natali, and is awarded annually to a journalist from the European Union and a journalist from a developing country. More than 100 candidates from leading media organisations from 41 countries participated in the competition. Prize-winners were chosen by a jury made up of six prominent journalists working in the field of development and human rights, who are also members of the International Federation of Journalists and manage the prize-giving process on behalf of the European Commission.