Americas
2006
Photographer attacked by security forces
JUNE 30, 2006 Posted: July 17, 2006 Nicolás Revello, Tiempo Sur ATTACKED Revello, a photographer for the Río Gallegos-based daily Tiempo Sur in the southern province of Santa Cruz, was attacked by local security forces while covering the arrest of soccer fans who were protesting after the national team was disqualified from the 2006 World…
African leaders urged to defend press freedom
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists urges you as chairman of the African Union to discuss with your fellow heads of state and government at your summit in the Gambian capital, Banjul, from July 1, the need to defend press freedom on the continent.
CPJ alarmed by plan to double jail time for defamation
New York, June 23, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a proposal sent to Panama’s President Martín Torrijos to stiffen penalties for defamation, including a doubling of prison terms. A commission of lawyers and academics, which was set up by Torrijos to examine penal code reform, made the proposals in a draft bill…
CPJ urges revival of probe into murder of Zeta editor
New York, June 22, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Mexican authorities to revive a stalled investigation into the murder of Francisco Ortiz Franco, co-editor of the Tijuana-based weekly Zeta, who was gunned two years ago today. José Luis Vasconcelos, the leading prosecutor in the organized crime division of the federal Attorney General’s office, told…
Journalist’s car set on fire
June 20, 2006 Posted: July 17, 2006 Manuel Acuña López, ¡Por Esto! HARRASSED Acuña’s car was set on fire while parked inside the garage beside his home. Acuña, a journalist for the Mérida-based daily ¡Por Esto!, has reported on government corruption in Mérida and criticized local authorities.
CPJ concerned about death threats against radio journalist
New York, June 16, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by repeated attacks and death threats against a radio journalist in Argentina who criticized a local mayor for corruption. Carlos Furman told CPJ that he began receiving death threats in February last year after he accused Domingo Daniel Rossi, mayor of Santa Helena town…
Chávez threatens critical private broadcasters
New York, June 15, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s threat to block the renewal of broadcast licenses for privately owned television and radio stations that oppose his government. Chávez said Wednesday that he had ordered a review of licenses for media outlets that supported the 2002 coup attempt…
CPJ alarmed by threats against journalists and press freedom group
New York, June 14 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a spate of threats of violence this month against Colombian journalists and nongovernmental organizations, including the press freedom group Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP). An unknown group calling itself Frente Democrático Colombia Libre (Free Colombia Democratic Front) sent e-mails on June…