Americas
2007
CPJ welcomes Calderón’s signature on landmark defamation law
New York, April 13, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa’s signature on legislation that effectively eliminates criminal defamation, libel, and slander at the federal level, making Mexico the second country in Latin America to repeal defamation as a criminal offense. “We praise President Calderón for signing this important piece of…
In Mexico, two men arrested in connection with journalist’s murder
New York, April 11, 2007—Mexican authorities detained two men in connection with last week’s murder of veteran broadcast journalist Amado Ramírez Dillanes in Acapulco. Leonel Bustos Muñoz and Genaro Vásquez Durán were arrested Tuesday in Acapulco, 198 miles (320 kilometers) from Mexico City. According to an official statement, when federal police stopped Bustos and Vásquez…
CPJ urges Mexican president to stop attacks against the press after execution of journalist Amado Ramírez Dillanes
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to express alarm after the execution-style killing of veteran journalist Amado Ramírez Dillanes in Acapulco, in what has become a pattern of deadly attacks against the press that continue at an alarming rate. We are deeply concerned about the state of press freedom in Mexico, and call for swift and decisive federal action to stop this tide of violence.
CPJ welcomes release of freelance journalist Josh Wolf
New York, April 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes today’s news that freelance journalist Josh Wolf, the longest imprisoned journalist in U.S. history, was released from a federal prison in California. “We’re very relieved by news that Josh Wolf was finally released from federal prison, and we are looking forward to speaking with him,”…
About this Report
To examine press conditions in Venezuela, a joint delegation from CPJ and the Peru-based Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS) visited Caracas from January 7 to 13. The CPJ-IPYS delegation met with members of private and state-owned media, government officials, media executives, press freedom advocates, lawyers, and scholars during its weeklong mission.
Authorities accuse Ceferino García of premeditated murder of Mauro Marcano
Updated: March 29, 2007 Original Case: September 17, 2004 Mauro Marcano, Radio Maturín, El Oriental KILLED On March 5, Venezuelan authorities arrested Ceferino García, believed to be the mastermind behind Marcano’s death, and accused him of premeditated murder, reported the local press. García is being held in Pica prison in the northern Monagas province.
CPJ calls for release of imprisoned journalist Josh Wolf
New York, March 29, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for the release of video blogger Josh Wolf, who has been jailed longer than any reporter in U.S. history after refusing to provide raw video footage of July 2005 San Francisco street protests to a federal grand jury. “No more purpose is served by…
Two Colombian journalists flee after death threats and murder plot
New York, March 27, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by death threats against Colombian journalist Germán Hernández, who fled his hometown, and a murder plot against journalist Darío Arizmendi, who fled the country this month. “We are concerned by the death threats against our colleague Germán Hernández, as well as by allegations of…