2006
African leaders urged to defend press freedom
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists urges you as chairman of the African Union to discuss with your fellow heads of state and government at your summit in the Gambian capital, Banjul, from July 1, the need to defend press freedom on the continent.
Voice of America AM broadcasts jammed
New York, June 30, 2006—Zimbabwe is jamming medium wave news broadcasts by Voice of America (VOA) in English and local languages in the capital Harare. The U.S.-government funded broadcaster said its Studio 7 service, which is on the air for 90 minutes each weekday, was being blocked. “We have had reports of jamming of our…
Bill seeks to label critical journalists extremists
New York, June 30, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a bill before the Russian Parliament that broadens the definition of extremism to include media criticism of public officials. The draft legislation allows for imprisonment of up to three years for journalists, and the suspension or closure of their publication, if convicted of…
Press club stormed during news conference
JUNE 29, 2006 Posted: June 30, 2006 Peshawar Press Club ATTACKED Dozens of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) activists stormed into the Peshawar Press Club during a news conference held by dissident PML members. The activists, who were armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, pistols and sticks, beat up journalists and dissident members when they were asked…
Independent publication banned
June 28, 2006 Posted: July 10, 2006 L’Opinion CENSORED Zakari Anzouma, L’Opinion and Opinions HARASSED The High Council on Communications (known as the CSC), a government-controlled media regulatory body, banned the independent weekly L’Opinion indefinitely, accusing it of insulting the president and inciting “rebellion,” according to international news reports and Abdourahamane Ousmane, president of the…
Newspaper copies seized in southern Akwa Ibom State
JUNE 27, 2006 Posted July 30, 2007 EventsCENSORED Fifteen armed men stormed the printing plant of the private weekly Events in the capital city of Uyo and seized about 5,000 copies of the newspaper, according to local journalists and news reports. The attack occurred in the morning, just before the distribution and sale of the…
Israeli authorities restrict Gaza press access
New York, June 27, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about Israeli government restrictions on journalists attempting to report from the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday that Israeli passport holders and dual nationals would be prohibited from entering Gaza. “Due to the current security assessments journalists with Israeli citizenship…
Two journalists charged with sedition over presidential jet story
New York, June 27, 2006—Two journalists charged with sedition over a story about President Olusegun Obasanjo’s new jet pled not guilty in court today. Mike Gbenga Aruleba, a presenter at leading private television station African Independent Television (AIT), and Rotimi Durojaiye, a senior correspondent for the Daily Independent newspaper, appeared in court in the capital,…
Online reporter arrested
June 26, 2006 Posted: July 28, 2006 Hussein Yasin Godegode, idamaale.com HARASSED Police in the northeastern region of Puntland arrested online journalist Godegode in the city of Galkayo after he wrote critical reports about the regional authorities there, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and another CPJ source. Godegode works for idamaale.com,…