Americas
2007
Uribe urged to retract comments about reporters
New York, October 11, 2007 Mr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez President of the Republic of Colombia Casa de Nariño Bogotá D.C., Colombia Via facsimile: 011-571-337-5890 Dear Mr. President: We strongly object to your recent accusations against two prominent journalists. Your strident and personal comments have resulted in multiple death threats against these journalists and have forced…
Al-Jazeera cameraman’s health deteriorates at Guantanamo
New York, October 10, 2007—An Al-Jazeera cameraman held at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay for five years without charge is in deteriorating health as a result of a hunger strike, his lawyer told the Committee to Protect Journalists. The lawyer also revealed that the U.S. military, in a recent hearing, cited cameraman Sami…
MEXICO: Newsroom resigns following death threats and murder of media workers
October 9, 2007 Posted October 17, 2007 El Imprarcial del Istmo THREATENED All reporters working for the Oaxaca-based daily El Imparcial del Istmo resigned a day after three of the paper’s media workers were murdered on the afternoon of October 8 while driving in the southern state of Oaxaca in a vehicle bearing the paper’s…
Colombian journalist forced to flee following Uribe’s accusations
New York, October 9, 2007—Colombian reporter Gonzalo Guillén has been forced to flee his home in Bogotá after receiving more than 20 death threats following comments made by President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, the journalist said today. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Uribe today to personally ensure that Colombian authorities conduct a prompt investigation…
Three media workers murdered in Mexican state of Oaxaca
New York, October 9, 2007—Three media workers for the Oaxaca-based daily El Imparcial del Istmo were shot and killed on Monday afternoon while driving in the southern state of Oaxaca in a vehicle bearing the paper’s logo. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the attack today and called on Mexican authorities to conduct a prompt…
Former BBC captive voices support for detained Al-Jazeera cameraman
New York, October 4, 2007—A BBC reporter kidnapped and held captive in the Gaza Strip for nearly four months this year is expressing his support for Al-Jazeera cameraman Sami al-Haj, who has been held for more than five years without charge at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In Colombia, Uribe’s accusations raise alarm
New York, October 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about comments made Tuesday by President Álvaro Uribe Vélez that could endanger Colombian journalist Gonzalo Guillén. Uribe called national Caracol Radio and RCN Radio to deny recent allegations that he had close to ties to the deceased drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The accusations were…
BELIZE: Journalist beaten outside home in Belize City
OCTOBER 2, 2007 Posted December 19, 2007 Rufus X, Krem Radio, Krem TV ATTACKED An unidentified assailant attacked Rufus X, host of news programs on local Krem TV and Krem Radio, outside his home in Belize City, breaking his arm with an iron rod, according to reports on the local press.
BELIZE: Unidentified individuals vandalize local journalist’s car
SEPTEMBER 28, 2007 Posted December 18, 2007 Evan Hyde, Amandala, Krem TV, Krem Radio THREATENED Unidentified individuals vandalized a car owned by Hyde, host of news programs on Belize City-based TV Krem and Radio Krem and contributor to the local biweekly publication Amandala, outside his home in Belize City on September 28. According to reports…