2007
Russian editor released after months in detention; case still pending
New York, June 21, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the recent release of Vladimir Chugunov, founder and editor of the independent weekly Chugunka inthe town ofSolnechnogorsk, who had been held incommunicado since January 21 on a charge of “threatening to murder or cause serious health damage.” The criminal case is still pending, however, and…
In Cuba, health of jailed journalists deteriorates
New York, June 20, 2007—Families and friends of eight independent Cuban journalists who have been unjustly imprisoned since 2003 say that the health of their loved ones has seriously deteriorated in recent months amid poor prison conditions and insufficient health care. In a series of interviews with the Committee to Protect Journalists, relatives and friends…
Yemen: Editor detained on terrorism allegations
New York, June 20, 2007–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Yemeni authorities to detail terrorism accusations it has leveled against an opposition newspaper editor detained today by government forces at his home in the capital, Sana’a. At around noon on Wednesday, Yemeni security agents raided the home of Abdelkarim al-Khaiwani, editor of the online…
In Sri Lanka, the government silences a Tamil Web site
New York, June 20, 2007—The Sri Lankan government should restore domestic access to the TamilNet Web site, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Free Media Movement, a Colombo-based press freedom group, and news outlets reported Tuesday that Internet service providers had blocked access to the site on government orders. TamilNet, which openly supports…
U.N. urged to examine accreditation policy
Dear Mr. Secretary-General: The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned about the United Nations’ refusal to accredit journalists from states not recognized by the U.N. General Assembly. In its rigid application of this policy, the organization excludes these journalists from entering any U.N. facility anywhere in the world and prevents them from performing their work. Journalists from Taiwan are particularly affected by this policy and were unfairly excluded from covering this year’s World Health Organization annual assembly on May 14, as they have been since 2004.
Sudan: Journalists detained for nearly a week
New York, June 19, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the ongoing detention of four Sudanese reporters, now held for nearly a week after attempting to report on deadly clashes between government forces and protestors in the country’s north. On June 13, Sudanese security forces detained reporters Ghadafi Abdul Muttalib of the daily Al-Ayyam, Abu…
In Iraq, body of abducted editor found in morgue
New York, June 18, 2007—The body of an Iraqi newspaper editor was found in Baghdad’s main morgue on Sunday, four days after he was abducted by armed men. Filaih Wuday Mijthab, who worked with the government-run daily Al-Sabah, suffered bullet wounds to the head, the independent news agency Aswat al-Iraq reported. There has been no…
Mother of jailed Chinese journalist calls for international protest
New York, June 18, 2007—The mother of imprisoned Chinese journalist Shi Tao has called on the international community to maintain pressure on Chinese authorities to release her son ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. “My son is not guilty. You should keep up pressure on the Chinese government to release him,” Gao Qinsheng…
CPJ calls for release of detained media workers in Iraq
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned that 11 current and former employees of the independent production company Wasan Media have been held by the Interior Ministry for nearly four months on specious criminal charges and without due process.
Radio station in DRC shut down for broadcasting `bad French’
New York, June 15, 2007— Intelligence agents in the Democratic Republic of Congo shut down a privately owned radio station for “intoxicating the population” and “broadcasting in bad French.” It was the sixth Congolese broadcaster this year to be raided by security forces over its coverage. Radio Canal Satellite remained off the air today after…