2007
In the Philippines, one journalist killed, another wounded in a shooting spree
New York, June 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Philippine government to quickly investigate and bring to justice the killer of Vicente Sumalpong, an announcer for the government-owned Radyo ng Bayan (People’s Radio) network. Sumalpong was with two companions when a gunman attacked them this morning in the town of Bongao in…
Investigative journalist severely beaten in Hungarian capital
New York, June 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Friday’s brutal attack on Iren Karman, an investigative journalist who had published a book and made a documentary film on illegal oil sales in 1990s Hungary. Unknown assailants assaulted Karman in the outskirts of the capital, Budapest, on Friday evening, pushed her into a car,…
Independent journalist beaten in southern Russia
New York, June 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalist is concerned about a recent assault against Mikhail Afanasyev, editor of the online magazine Novy Focus, in the southern city of Abakan, capital of the Russian republic of Khakasiya. Afanasyev was attacked on June 16 by at least two men who identified themselves as police officers…
CUBA: Health of jailed independent journalist worsens, says family
June 22, 2007 José Luis García Paneque, Libertad IMPRISONED The health of García Paneque, the imprisoned director of the independent news agency Libertad, deteriorated considerably over the prior two months, his wife Yamilé Llánez Labrada told CPJ. García Paneque is being held at Las Mangas Prison in Granma province.
In Nigerian capital, government demolishes broadcaster’s offices
New York, June 22, 2007—Nigeria’s leading independent broadcast network says it will take the government to court next week after authorities demolished three new station facilities in the capital, Abuja. African Independent Television (AIT) plans to sue for damages after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a local government entity, last week bulldozed without warning three…
Journalist flees country after receiving death threat
New York, June 22, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about an anonymous death threat made Saturday against Radio Free Asia (RFA) reporter Lem Pichpisey. Fearing for his safety, Lem fled across the Thai-Cambodian border the next day and is now in exile in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Lem told CPJ that…
CUBA: Health of independent journalist in prison deteriorates
June 21, 2007 Normando Hernández González, Colegio de Periodistas Independientes de Camagüey IMPRISONED The health of imprisoned journalist Hernández González, director of the Colegio de Periodistas Independientes de Camagüey, worsened visibly between April and June, according to press reports and CPJ interviews.
Miami columnist target of threats
JUNE 2007 Posted June 21, 2007 Leonard Pitts, Miami Herald HARASSED, THREATENED Columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. wrote a commentary on June 3 challenging the notion that the media is biased against whites when it comes to covering violent crime. Pitts was referring to a car-jacking, kidnapping and sexual assault of a white couple in January…
More Malian journalists jailed in high school essay crackdown
New York, June 21, 2007—Authorities in the capital Bamako have jailed five journalists in a week—the first arrests in the country since 2003—in the aftermath of an article about a high school essay assignment concerning an imaginary presidential sex scandal. Director Hameye Cissé of the private weekly Le Scorpion, and directors Birama Fall of Le…
Nepal: Two newspapers are forced to suspend publication
New York, June 21, 2007—Two newspapers in Kathmandu have suspended publication this week in response to pressure, including death threats, from a Maoist party-affiliated trade union, the All-Nepal Communication, Press and Publications Trade Union. Nepalese journalists told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the trade union action appeared to be aimed at influencing coverage of…