2007
In United States, two journalists avoid jail in steroid case
New York, February 15, 2007—Two San Francisco Chronicle reporters will avoid going to jail after their source revealed himself in a criminal plea agreement. The reporters, Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada, had faced up to 18 months in prison for refusing to name the source who provided them with secret grand jury testimony about alleged…
In Venezuela, newspaper and humorist fined over satirical letter to Chávez’s daughter
New York, February 15, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists protests a Venezuelan court decision to fine the daily newspaper Tal Cual and humorist Laureano Márquez following a satirical letter addressed to President Hugo Chávez Frías’ daughter. On February 13, a juvenile court (the case was tried here because of the young age of Chávez’s daughter)…
NICARAGUA: Local officials threaten reporter with death
FEBRUARY 14, 2007 Posted February 21, 2007 William Aragón, La Prensa THREATENED Aragón, a correspondent in the northern Madriz province for the Managua-based daily La Prensa, received death threats from local government officials after reporting on local government corruption, the journalist told CPJ.
In Sudan, two editors accused of sedition
New York, February 14, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the recent detention of two Sudanese editors and the temporary closure of their newspaper after they interviewed religious militants last week. At around midnight on February 7, a Sudanese security officer visited the home of Adil Sid Ahmed, deputy editor-in-chief of the…
CPJ condemns media crackdown under martial law in Guinea
New York, February 14, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports of increasing government crackdowns on the media after President Lansana Conté declared martial law on Monday in response to deadly unrest in the country. 112 people have died since union leaders launched a national strike last month to demand the resignation of…
In Moscow, second Klebnikov murder trial starts tomorrow
New York, February 14, 2007–The second jury trial of two Chechen men charged in the July 2004 slaying of Forbes Russia Editor Paul Klebnikov will start tomorrow in Moscow. The Committee to Protect Journalists urges court officials to make the proceedings open to the public, to ensure the suspects are present in court, and to…
In Niger, court overturns conviction of journalists in defamation trial
New York, February 13, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Monday’s ruling by an appeals court in the capital Niamey to overturn the conviction of two journalists jailed for nearly four months on criminal defamation charges over an article critical of the prime minister. An appeals court repealed 18-month prison sentences handed down by a…
In Uzbekistan, journalist arrested and charged with smuggling illegal literature
New York, February 13, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the January 22 detention of an independent journalist and human rights researcher in Tashkent. Umida Niyazova covered politics and human rights in Uzbekistan for the Central Asia news Web site Oasis, a project of the Moscow-based media watchdog Center for Journalism in Extreme…
Prominent editor released early after three years in jail
FEBRUARY 12, 2007 Li Minying, Nanfang Dushi Bao LEGAL ACTION Li, the former editor of Guangzhou-based newspaper Nanfang Dushi Bao, was released after spending more than three years in jail, half of his sentence. His colleague, former deputy editor-in-chief and General Manager Yu Huafeng, remained jailed on an eight-year sentence.