2008

  

Independent journalist arrested on allegations of drug possession

New York, June 13, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the June 7 arrest of Solidzhon Abdurakhmonov, an independent Uzbek journalist for a number of international news outlets. Police arrested Abdurakhmonov in the city of Nukus for alleged drug possession, independent news Web site Uznews reported. If convicted, Abdurakhmonov faces up to five…

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One online journalist arrested, one missing in Chengdu

New York, June 13, 2008—Chinese police arrested Internet writer Zeng Hongling in Chengdu, the capital of the earthquake-hit province of Sichuan, on Monday for publishing personal accounts of the earthquake on overseas Chinese-language Web sites, according to news reports and a Chinese press freedom advocate. Three days later, a well-known Internet publisher and human rights…

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Press freedom in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate

Dear President Rajapaksa, The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by your government’s policies toward journalists who write critically about the conflict between Sri Lanka’s military forces and Tamil secessionists. We have seen an increase in harassment, intimidation, and detention of reporters, many of whom are columnists in senior positions with well-established careers. Police have failed to investigate threats to journalists who cover elections or expose alleged corruption or misdeeds. They have also never investigated the death of a television journalist.

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Israeli ambassador regrets Reuters cameraman’s death

New York, June 12, 2008—Israel’s ambassador to the United States expressed regret in a meeting with CPJ yesterday over the death of Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana, who was killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip in April. “Israel’s Ambassador Sallai Meridor met yesterday with the Committee to Protect Journalists delegation at their request,” said…

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Government ban on RFI lifted after 3 months

NIGER: June 12, 2008 Posted July 24, 2008 Original alert: March 13, 2008Radio France Internationale CENSORED French broadcaster Radio France Internationale resumed FM broadcasts in Niger following a three-month suspension imposed by Niger authorities in March, according to news reports.

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CPJ delegation urges Israel to release findings in death of Reuters cameraman

Washington, June 11, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Israeli authorities today to release the findings of an army investigation into the killing of a Reuters cameraman by an Israeli tank shell in the Gaza Strip two months ago. In a meeting with Israel’s ambassador to the United States, the CPJ delegation also urged…

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As Karzai seeks aid, a call for press freedom

Dear President Karzai, News reports have described your plan to present a $50 billion, long-term development strategy to international donors in Paris on Thursday. Those reports have also noted the concerns of international donors about allegations of widespread corruption in Afghanistan.

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As Karzai seeks aid, a call for press freedom

Dear President Karzai, News reports have described your plan to present a $50 billion, long-term development strategy to international donors in Paris on Thursday. Those reports have also noted the concerns of international donors about allegations of widespread corruption in Afghanistan.

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Covering the Beijing Games? Expect to Be Censored

Bob Dietz Published in The Huffington Post June 10, 2008 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-dietz/covering-the-beijing-game_b_106378.html Despite China’s initial openness to reporters in the days and weeks following the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province, anyone who thinks China is going to be warm and friendly towards the media during the August Olympics should do a reality check. In the last…

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Journalist jailed on defamation, disinformation charges

New York, June 10, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention of Dam Sith, editor-in-chief of the opposition-aligned, Khmer-language daily newspaper Moneakseka Khmer. Dam Sith was arrested on Sunday by plainclothes police at a car wash and interrogated for several hours at the national military police headquarters in the capital, Phnom Penh. A criminal…

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