Asia documents by Year:
Philippines COVID-19 state of emergency includes prison time for spreading ‘false news’
March 27, 2020 10:05 AM ET
Bangkok, March 27, 2020 -- The Philippine Congress should repeal a recently enacted regulation that imposes criminal penalties for spreading ‘false news’ about the coronavirus pandemic, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
Thailand declares state of emergency, imposes press restrictions
March 26, 2020 9:50 AM ET
Bangkok, March 26, 2020 -- Thailand should uphold press freedom and refrain from harassing and restricting reporters while emergency rule is imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
Journalist Ariful Islam freed after arrest, beating, and conviction in Bangladesh
March 25, 2020 1:50 PM ET
In the evening of March 13, 2020, men in paramilitary uniforms accompanied by local administrative officials in Kurigram District, in northern Bangladesh, raided the home of Ariful Islam, the area’s correspondent for the English-language Dhaka Tribune daily, and arrested him after allegedly finding illegal drugs in the house, according...
Beijing dismisses Chinese news assistants working for U.S. bureaus
March 20, 2020 4:09 PM ET
Washington, D.C., March 20, 2020 -- The Chinese government should immediately reverse the dismissals of Chinese employees working for U.S. news organizations in Beijing, and stop creating obstacles to news gathering by foreign outlets in China, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
China expels at least 13 US journalists in retaliatory move
March 18, 2020 10:55 AM ET
Taipei, March 18, 2020 -- Chinese authorities should immediately suspend efforts to expel American journalists, cease retaliatory measures against U.S. media operations, and resolve differences with the United States through negotiations rather than attacks on the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
China revokes press credentials of US reporters at three major outlets
March 17, 2020 2:35 PM ET
Washington, D.C., March 17, 2020 -- In response to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs notice that it will revoke the press credentials of U.S. citizens working as journalists for the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post whose visas expire by the end of...
Myanmar military sues Irrawaddy editor Ye Ni over Rakhine conflict report
March 17, 2020 10:50 AM ET
Bangkok, March 17, 2020 -- The Myanmar military should immediately drop its criminal defamation complaint against editor Ye Ni and stop using legal threats to stifle reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
Pakistan broadcast regulator cuts distribution of Geo News after CEO’s arrest
March 13, 2020 2:15 PM ET
Washington, D.C., March 13, 2020 -- Pakistan authorities should immediately lift restrictions placed on Geo News and allow it to broadcast freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
Journalist missing in Bangladesh following defamation suit
March 13, 2020 12:15 PM ET
Washington, D.C., March 13, 2020 -- Bangladesh authorities should spare no effort to locate missing journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, and should not allow a criminal defamation case to proceed against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....