2001
black mark
New York, December 25, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is outraged by the prison sentence handed down today to journalist Grigory Pasko by the Military Court of the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok. The court found Pasko guilty of treason and sentenced him to four years in prison, according to local news reports and CPJ…
CPJ responds to Israel Defense Forces report on journalist shootings
FPA STATEMENT The IDF has completed what it describes as “an accounting” of the outstanding cases in which journalists were shot in the territories. We are pleased that the IDF has reaffirmed its commitment to the freedom of the press, the safety of journalists and their freedom of movement.
CPJ condemns destruction of Palestinian radio facility
New York, December 13, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned Israel’s destruction of the Voice of Palestine radio station broadcasting headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The Associated Press reported that Israeli missiles hit the building’s main transmitter, knocking the station off the air.
Foreign Correspondents Association created
New York, December 13, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists applauds the creation on December 7 of the Zimbabwe Foreign Correspondents Association (ZFCA), which has vowed to challenge a restrictive new press law in court. The draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill would allow only Zimbabwean citizens to work for foreign media. A…
Killers of Indonesian journalist convicted of “crimes against humanity”
New York, December 12, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes yesterday’s announcement that the killers of journalist Agus Muliawan were among those convicted of “crimes against humanity” in connection with the violence that surrounded East Timor’s August 1999 vote for independence from Indonesia. The Special Panel for Serious Crimes of the District Court in…
Moscow authorities free Tajik journalist
Atovullo told CPJ, “This is a big victory for journalists in the entire post-Soviet region.” New York, July 12, 2001—Dododjon Atovullo, the Tajik journalist and opposition activist who was detained in Moscow last week while Russian authorities considered extraditing him to Tajikistan, was released today and has returned to Germany, where he is currently living…
British reporter attacked by Afghan refugees
New York, December 10, 2001—On December 8, Robert Fisk, Middle East correspondent for the London daily Independent, was severely beaten by Afghan refugees in the village of Kila Abdullah in western Pakistan. Fisk, his Independent colleague Justin Huggler, driver Amanullah, and translator Fayyaz Ahmed were driving past Kila Abdullah, near the Afghan border, when their…
Government tightens noose on independent press
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by your government’s ongoing crackdown on the independent press in Eritrea. According to our research, all the country’s independent newspapers have now been shut down. Eleven journalists are currently jailed without charges, while the whereabouts of three others are unknown.