2008

  

Ugandan political radio shows allowed to resume broadcast

New York, March 14, 2008—Police in Uganda should respect a court ruling that lifts a ban on two live radio programs, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The court decision today allows two live political shows on Life FM in Fort Portal to resume broadcasting, but the station has since received a warning from…

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Iraqi journalist gunned down in Baghdad

New York, March 14, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of an Iraqi journalist by at least one unknown gunman in Baghdad on Thursday. Qassim Abdul Hussein al-Iqabi, 36, of the local daily Al-Muwatin (The Citizen) was shot dead in Baghdad’s predominantly Shiite Karradah neighborhood, according to local and international news reports.

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Eissa ruling expected soon in Egypt

New York, March 24, 2008―The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by an upcoming court ruling in Cairo that might send a leading Egyptian editor to prison. The ruling is expected on March 26. Ibrahim Eissa, editor-in-chief of the daily Al-Dustour and one of Egypt’s top critics of President Hosni Mubarak’s 27-year rule, was charged…

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Environmental publication banned

MARCH 14, 2008 Posted April 22, 2008 Croissance Saine Environnement CENSORED Gabon’s state-run National Communications Council indefinitely suspended Croissance Saine Environnement, a monthly newspaper published by a local environmental advocacy group of the same name, in connection with a series of stories critical of a government official, according to news reports and local journalists.

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Niger renews suspension of RFI

New York, March 13, 2008—Niger’s official media regulator summarily suspended on Wednesday the FM broadcasts of France-based Radio France Internationale (RFI) for three months. Authorities accused RFI of discrediting the government in connection with a day-long series of programs on Monday about the detention of RFI correspondent Moussa Kaka.

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Appeals court stays fines against USA Today reporter

New York, March 13, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is pleased that a federal appeals court on Tuesday temporarily blocked a lower court’s ruling requiring a former USA Today journalist to pay thousands of dollars of fines out of her own pocket for refusing to disclose sources. On February 29, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B.…

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Newspaper suspended over report on president’s wealth

Newspaper suspended over report on president’s wealth New York, March 12, 2008—Gabonese authorities banned on Tuesday a private newspaper for republishing a report on President Omar Bongo’s private wealth in France, according to local news reports. The original story appeared in the French daily Le Monde at the end of January. Gabon’s state-run National Communications…

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Sri Lanka arrests six in connection with news Web site

New York, March 11, 2008—Six people affiliated with the Sri Lankan news Web site OutreachSL have been detained by the Terrorist Investigation Division of the Sri Lankan police force in Colombo since last week, according to Agence France-Presse and local news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the government of Sri Lanka to charge…

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More than 50 civil defamation suits filed against daily and reporter

FEBRUARY 18, 2008 Posted March 10, 2008 Elvira Lobato, Folha de S. Paulo LEGAL ACTION, HARASSED At least 54 individual members of a Brazilian church have filed civil defamation suits in different cities across the country against the national daily Folha de S. Paulo and Lobato, its business reporter. The plaintiffs claim the reporter and…

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Suspect in journalist’s murder reappears to face trial in the Philippines

New York, March 7, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the surrender of a suspect to police in the 2004 murder of Filipino broadcaster Herson Hinolan, but is concerned that the move comes shortly after the withdrawal of an important prosecution witness from the case. Alfredo Arcenio, a former mayor of the town of Lezo,…

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