2006
Mob threatens photographer covering pre-election riot
New York, July 28, 2006—Journalist Emmanuel Makila was surrounded by rioters and threatened with death after an election rally by presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba yesterday in Kinshasa. Makila, who works for private weeklies The Post and Révélateur, told the Committee to Protect Journalists he was saved by a few bystanders who pleaded with the mob…
President signs law labeling criticism of state officials “extremism”
New York, July 28, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a new law broadening the definition of extremism to include media criticism of state officials. Despite local and international criticism, President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the Law on Fighting Extremist Activity today, according to Russian press reports. The new legislation will allow…
Ex-officer says he plotted editor’s murder; some are skeptical
New York, July 27, 2006—A former Interior Ministry officer facing trial on a series of charges including murder and kidnapping said in court on Tuesday that he took part in another, unrelated killing—the March 2005 murder of Elmar Huseynov, founder and editor of the Baku-based opposition weekly news magazine Monitor, according to local and international…
TV crews allege targeting by Israeli warplanes in the south
New York, July 27, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern today over allegations by several television crews that Israeli warplanes had attacked them, effectively shutting down live television coverage from southeast Lebanon. Crews from four Arab television stations told CPJ that Israeli aircraft fired missiles within 80 yards (75 meters) of them on July…
Three journalists convicted of criminal defamation
JULY 27, 2006 Posted August 8, 2006 Anaylis Cañizales, “Los dueños del circo” Enrique Crespo, “Los dueños del circo” Alí David Demey, “Los dueños del circo” LEGAL ACTION A Santo Domingo judge found Cañizales, Crespo, and Demey guilty of criminal defamation, after charges were brought in June by the Association of Art Reporters (Acroarte). The…
Palestine TV alleges cameraman was targeted by Israeli tank
New York, July 27, 2006–The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by the wounding of Palestine Television cameraman Ibrahim al-Atla by an Israeli tank shell while covering fighting in Gaza. Palestine Television head Mohammed al-Dahoudi alleged that the tank fired deliberately at al-Atla and other journalists with him. Al-Atla was hit by shrapnel during…
In Russia, reporter found slain in apartment
New York, July 26, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the murder of Yevgeny Gerasimenko, a correspondent for the independent weekly Saratovsky Rasklad, who was found dead this morning in his apartment in Saratov in southeastern Russia, according to local press reports.
CPJ calls for probe into death threats against Bucaramanga editor
New York, July 25, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Colombian authorities to fully investigate death threats against a provincial journalist who criticized a local mayor. Marcos Perales Mendoza, editor of the weekly regional newspaper Portada in the northeastern city of Bucaramanga, has already been given a bulletproof vest, and a two-way police…
China: Policeman beats Guizhou editor to death in public
New York, July 25, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Chinese authorities to fully investigate the death of a newspaper editor who was beaten by a uniformed policeman in public, the second journalist to die at the hands of police in less than a year. Authorities in the southwest province of Guizhou have arrested…