2012
In Mali, Islamic militants beat journalist, close radio station
Lagos, Nigeria, August 7, 2012–Members of an Islamist militant group attacked a radio journalist in Mali on Sunday and ordered his station off the air, according to local journalists and news reports. The attack was in retaliation for the station’s coverage of local protests, according to local journalists and a leader of the Islamist group.
US pursues return of Palestinian TV station’s equipment
For more than five months, the Ramallah-based private television broadcaster Wattan TV has been without key equipment, including transmitters, computers, files, and archives. On February 29, Israeli soldiers and officials from the Ministry of Communications raided the station without a warrant, saying it was broadcasting illegally and interfering with aircraft transmissions.
Journalist jailed in Ethiopia is championed in D.C., abroad
In July, CPJ condemned the 18-year sentence of Eskinder Nega, promiment Ethiopian blogger, who was convicted over critical articles he had written.In reporting worldwide appeals for Eskinder’s sentence, The Washington Post speaks to Eskinder’s supporters and advocates, including CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator, Mohamed Keita.Click here for the full story
Broadcaster Raajje TV silenced in the Maldives
New York, August 7, 2012–Authorities in the Maldives must immediately investigate today’s attack on the opposition Raajje TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The attack came just days after police accused the station of making false allegations against security forces, according to news reports.
No right to information in Sri Lanka
You would think that with fighting between government forces and secessionist Tamils finished in May 2009, the Sri Lankan government might ease its grip on public information–information which is really the property of the country’s citizens, not whichever administration happens to be holding political power. In 2004, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike’s cabinet did approve a…
Weak cyber protections lead to personal, institutional risk
The Syrian civil war is also a propaganda war. With the Assad regime and the rebels both attempting to assure their supporters and the world that they are on the brink of victory, how the facts are reported has become central to the struggle. Hackers working in support of Assad loyalists this week decided to…
Gabon suspends 2 newspapers critical of government
New York, August 6, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Friday’s decision by Gabon’s state-run media regulator to suspend two private newspapers for six months over criticism of top officials. In a press statement obtained by CPJ, the National Communications Council accused weeklies Ezombolo and La Une of disrespecting public institutions “and the personalities that…
Journalist’s house attacked by gunmen in Honduras
New York, August 6, 2012–Authorities in Honduras must immediately investigate the attack on the house of a radio journalist in the state of Yoro, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. José Encarnación Chinchilla López, a reporter for Radio Cadena Voces in the city of El Progreso, told reporters that he was certain he was…