Asia

2008

  

New York-based South Asian weekly editor threatened

New York, April 7, 2008—The editor of a New York-based weekly told CPJ he received a death threat. Majeed Babar, executive editor of the Weekly Asia Tribune, said a man called him on March 29 and told him, “We will cut you to pieces” in Urdu. Babar said the threat was linked to opinion columns…

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IOC must press Beijing to meet media commitments

New York, April 1, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to insist that Beijing ensure freedom for the press to report in the run up to and during August’s Olympic Games. The IOC’s coordinating committee is in Beijing for a final three days of meetings before the Games…

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Investigative reporter arrested after exposing police corruption

Investigative reporter arrested after exposing police corruption MARCH 28, 2008 Posted April 25, 2008 Rabiul Islam, Daily Sunshine ARRESTED, HARRASSED Rabiul told CPJ he was arrested without warrant and detained by police, who accused him of committing robbery in Rajshahi. Rabiul, a journalist for the Daily Sunshine, a Rajshahi-based local newspaper in the Bangla Language,…

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CPJ concerned about Philippine murder trial

Dear Chief Justice Puno, The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about recent maneuvers to delay the ongoing murder trial of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat. As you are aware, the assassins in this case, Estanislao Bismanos, Gerry Cabayag, and Randy Grecia, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison on October 6, 2006.

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Cartoonist freed

MARCH 21, 2008 Posted March 24, 2008 Arifur Rahman, Prothom Alo RELEASED Arifur Rahman was freed from Dhaka Central Jail after the police officer who had filed a case against him failed to appear in court hearings because he was in East Timor, The Associated Press reported.

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Sri Lankan media faces increasing harassment

Dear President Rajapaksa, The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by ongoing intimidation of Sri Lanka’s media. Recent events in the state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation in Colombo and the treatment of Tamil journalists under investigation by the Terrorist Investigation Division both reveal how press workers face increasing threat of restriction under your government.

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Foreign media clampdown spreads in China

New York, March 19, 2008—The Chinese government has expanded its obstruction of foreign media covering the violence in Tibet into the neighboring provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, and Sichuan, as well as the capital, Beijing, according to international news reports that quoted a foreign correspondents group. The Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) told reporters they…

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Chinese media stifled as Tibetan unrest continues

New York, March 18, 2008—With international attention focused on the unfolding violence in Tibet, the Chinese media are confronting massive censorship, leaving the Chinese public largely in the dark, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Chinese government has barred or expelled virtually all international reporters from the region, and the state media presents…

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China should abide by press pledges and allow coverage in Tibet

New York, March 17, 2008—The Chinese government should abide by its promises to the international community not to restrict the news media, and it should immediately halt efforts to block domestic and foreign coverage of protests in Tibet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chinese authorities expelled journalists with six Hong Kong broadcasters from…

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Afghan journalist detained without explanation in Iran

New York, March 14, 2008—Iranian authorities should immediately disclose the legal status of Afghan journalist Ali Mohaqiq Nasab who was arrested in the north-central city of Qom 10 days ago, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Nasab, 50, was taken from his home on March 4 by three plainclothes police officers who were bearing…

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2008