Daily in northern Mexico shuts down after attacks
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…
Two journalists threatened in northwestern Áncash province
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.
CPJ urges Chávez to allow RCTV to stay on the air
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.
In clearing soldiers in 2004 Iraq shooting, U.S. report leaves contradictions unaddressed
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…
Provincial journalist convicted of defamation
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…
Haitian radio journalist shot to death
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…
In Mexico, second grenade attack against northern newspaper
New York, May 17, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Wednesday’s grenade assault outside the offices of Cambio de Sonora, the second explosive attack in the last month against the Hermosillo-based daily. At 3:35 p.m., a grenade exploded in Cambio de Sonora’s parking lot in Hermosillo, about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) northwest of Mexico City,…
CPJ urges Colombia to probe tapping of journalists’ phones
New York, May 15, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Colombian authorities today to fully investigate the illegal tapping of journalists’ telephone lines. The government acknowledged on Monday that the national police have improperly listened in on the telephone conversations of public officials, opposition members, and journalists.
Ecuadoran President Correa should drop libel suit
New York, May 15, 2007—Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa Delgado should immediately drop a criminal defamation complaint filed against a top newspaper executive over a critical editorial, and he should help bring the country’s press laws into compliance with international standards on free expression, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Mexican TV news crew missing since Thursday
New York, May 14, 2007— TV Azteca Noreste reporter Gamaliel López Candanosa and camera operator Gerardo Paredes Pérez went missing on Thursday in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating possible links between their disappearance and their professional work.