Asia

Bangkok, March 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Vietnamese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Le Anh Hung and cease harassing independent commentators for expressing critical views online. On March 9, police arrested Hung at a friend’s house in central Dak Lak province, according to news reports and information compiled by Project 88, an independent rights group that…

March 12, 2026, Chennai—Sri Lankan authorities should immediately release Sandaruwan Senadheera, editor of the exile news website Lanka-e-News, and ensure any legal proceedings against him follow due process and do not undermine press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Police detained Senadheera after he arrived at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport on February 11…

Jakarta, March 12, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Indonesian authorities to hold accountable those responsible for assaulting journalists Frendy Primadana and Dedy Wahyudi and ensure all Indonesian reporters can cover environmental issues without fear of reprisal. At about 2 p.m. on March 7, workers at Putraprima Mineral Mandiri, a zircon processing company in…

The Committee to Protect Journalists has written to major political parties preparing for elections in four Indian states and one territory, urging them to include strong commitments to protect press freedom and ensure journalists’ safety in their election manifestos. In separate letters, CPJ called on leading parties in the Indian states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil…

March 9, 2026, New Delhi—Indian authorities must drop all pending charges against Republic TV journalists C.G. Shankar and S. Mani and stop using espionage laws to criminalize legitimate journalism, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Shankar, Mani, and a boat driver were detained on March 7 by officers from a paramilitary force after allegedly…

Bangkok, March 9, 2026—China’s Embassy in the Philippines should cease its online attacks and intimidation against the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) after the outlet published a report into China-aligned influence networks operating in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. The embassy’s remarks targeted PCIJ contributor Regine Cabato’s investigation and follow-up…

New York, March 4, 2026—The Taliban must return control of the privately owned Rah-e-Farda TV station to its owner, permit the broadcaster to resume operations, and immediately end their systematic repression of independent media in Afghanistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On February 28, Taliban intelligence officers raided Rah-e-Farda TV’s office in the…

Singapore, March 4, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release in recent days of at least four journalists in Myanmar as part of an amnesty of more than 7,300 prisoners convicted of terrorism, but urges military authorities to free all remaining jailed reporters. Those released include Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, Myat Kalay (Naing Win Tun), Than Htike…

New York, February 27, 2026—Pakistani authorities should swiftly investigate a shooting attack on the residence of journalist Ihsan Khattak and ensure the safety of all reporters working in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On February 12, at about 9.45 p.m., unidentified gunmen fired multiple shots at the main…

Jakarta, February 26, 2026—Malaysian anti-corruption chief Azam Baki should immediately withdraw his lawsuit against Bloomberg news agency for a report about his alleged shareholdings, and allow journalists to report on matters of public interest without the fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. “Azam Baki should drop his legal action against Bloomberg…