2001
THREE COLOMBIAN JOURNALISTS KILLED IN PAST WEEK
New York, July 11, 2001—In a tragic week for the Colombian press, three local broadcast journalists have been murdered in the violence-plagued country since July 4. CPJ is investigating all three deaths to determine whether the journalists were killed because of their work. “In the interests of press freedom and simple justice, CPJ will investigate…
Police seize print run of local weekly
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is disturbed by the recent government seizure of the entire print run of the private Lomé-based weekly Le Combat du Peuple and the sentencing of Lucien Messan, the paper’s editor-in-chief, to 18 months in prison. On July 2, according to international news sources, 30 armed police officers stormed the printing press of Le Combat du Peuple, seizing printing plates and all copies of the paper’s latest edition.
Japanese journalist detained in Taliban territory
November 1, 2001 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is very concerned by the detention of Japanese journalist Daigen Yanagida in Taliban-controlled territory. Yanagida was arrested on October 22 in Asadabad, near the border with Pakistan, and is currently being held in Jalalabad for questioning, according to Japanese and international news sources. Yanagida was…
EDITOR RELEASED
New York, November 9, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes the release of Geoff Nyarota, editor-in-chief of the Daily News, and Wilf Mbanga, the former chief executive officer of the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), the paper’s publisher. Nyarota and Mbanga were arrested on the morning of November 8 and taken to the headquarters…
CPJ concerned by lack of progress in Larry Lee murder investigation
New York, November 9, 2001—In a letter sent today to Guatemalan attorney general Adolfo González Rodas, CPJ expressed deep concern about the lack of progress in the investigation of the 1999 killing of Larry Lee, Guatemala correspondent for the financial wire service BridgeNews. While the motive for Lee’s killing is unknown, it is quite clear…
Al-Jazeera reporter expelled by Northern Alliance
New York, November 8, 2001—Soldiers of the opposition Northern Alliance expelled a reporter for the influential Arabic-language news channel Al-Jazeera from Afghanistan yesterday. An Al-Jazeera source told CPJ that the reporter, Ali Al-Arab, was escorted to the Tajik border on the afternoon of November 7 and advised to return “in a time of peace.” Al-Arab…
CPJ condemns arrest of editor
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns today’s arrests and detentions of Geoff Nyarota, editor-in-chief of the Daily News, Zimbabwe’s only independent daily newspaper, and Wilf Mbanga, the former chief executive officer of the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), the company that publishes the Daily News.
French journalist Peyrard released
November 5, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes the release of French journalist Michel Peyrard, who was imprisoned for 25 days by Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban militia. CPJ remains concerned about the continued detention of Peyrard’s guides, Pakistani nationals Mukkaram Khan and Mohammad Irfan, who remain in Taliban custody in Jalalabad.
CPJ awardee receives nine-year sentence
New York, November 2, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the nine-year prison sentence handed down to journalist Jiang Weiping by the Dalian Intermediate Court in Liaoning Province. The sentence was confirmed by CPJ sources, but has not yet been publicly announced. In a secret trial held on September 5, CPJ International Press Freedom…