New York, May 29, 2007—Venezuela’s commitment to democracy has suffered a serious blow as the government forced private television station RCTV off the air for political reasons on Monday after 53 years of continuous broadcasting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. “This arbitrary decision thwarts Venezuelans’ right to seek and receive information and represents…
MAY 28, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 Anuska Buenaluque, América TV ATTACKED Buenaluque, Caracas correspondent for the weekly news program “Cuarto Poder” on the Limaóbased América TV, was shot at least 25 times with rubber bullets while covering a student protest against the closure of the Venezuelan television station Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), according to…
May 25, 2007 Gonzalo Guillén, El Nuevo Herald THREATENED An anonymous e-mail message was sent on May 25 to the offices of the Miami-based daily El Nuevo Herald, informing the paper that there was a plot to murder Guillén, the Herald’s Bogotá correspondent, the journalist told CPJ.
New York, May 25, 2007—Colombian radio journalist Rodrigo Callejas has been forced to flee his home in the western Tolima province after receiving death threats from an alleged guerrilla commander. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Colombian authorities today to provide Callejas with the necessary protection to allow him to work without fear of…
New York, May 25, 2007—The Mexican federal government must provide immediate protection to the Hermosillo-based daily Cambio de Sonora so it can resume publishing, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The paper announced Thursday that it would suspend publication after two bomb attacks and repeated threats. Mario Vázquez Raña, president of the Mexican Editorial…
MAY 24, 2007 Orlando Rucana Cuba, Radio Melodía and Radio Alegría Manuel Caballero Vidal, Canal 13 TV THREATENED Rucana, director of the daily news programs on Radio Melodía and Radio Alegría, told CPJ that he received a text message on May 24 threatening him and a colleague with death.
Mr. President: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to express serious concern about Venezuela’s commitment to free expression in the wake of your government’s unprecedented decision not to renew the broadcast concession of the country’s oldest private television station, RCTV, which expires Sunday.
New York, May 24, 2007—A U.S. military report that exonerated U.S. troops in the killings of two Al-Arabiya journalists at a Baghdad checkpoint in 2004 failed to address contradictory witness reports, including statements from Al-Arabiya employees that at least two U.S. soldiers fired directly on the journalists’ vehicle, newly declassified records show. The report, disclosed…
MAY 22, 2007 Rocío Vásquez Goicochea, Investigando Chimbote LEGAL ACTION The Fifth Criminal Court of Lima convicted Vásquez, director of the weekly Investigando Chimbote in the northeastern Áncash region, of defamation, the journalist told CPJ. Vásquez was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay 3,000 soles (US$900) as civil reparation to local…
New York, May 18, 2007—Haitian authorities must conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into the murder of radio journalist Alix Joseph, who was gunned down on Wednesday night in the northern city of Gonaïves, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. CPJ is investigating possible links between Joseph’s murder and his professional work. At 9:30…