New York, February 18, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned by the detention of Canadian Television (CTV) journalist Jawed Ahmad by U.S. military forces at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, for almost three months without charge. Ahmad, who is also known as Jojo Yazemi and is about 22 years old, was detained in…
FEBRUARY 15, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Khuon Phlay Vy, aka Sar Keo Virak, Sakal THREATENED, VICTIM OF AUTO ACCIDENT Khuon Phlay Vy, editor of the Khmer language daily newspaper Sakal, received a threat by telephone on February 15 over a story his publication ran on the same day about an illegal gambling den in…
New York, February 15, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the safety of journalists who confront restrictions placed on the media in the run-up to Pakistani parliamentary elections on February 18. “We know the commitment of Pakistani journalists to serving the interests of their viewers and readers, and we fear that the government…
New York, February 15, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about recent news reports that Thai radio broadcaster Chirmsak Pinthong’s popular talk news program has been cancelled. Chirmsak told local reporters that his program was cancelled after Jakrapob Penkair, a minister in the prime minister’s office, called FM 105 station’s concession holder, Fatima Broadcasting…
Dear Prime Minister Samak: The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the installation of your popularly elected government, marking a welcome return to democracy after a period of military rule that often worked at odds with Thailand’s proud tradition of press freedom.
New York, February 12, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of Dr. Chishti Mujahid, a columnist for the weekly magazine Akbar-e-Jehan, who was shot and killed in a targeted attack outside his home in Quetta on Saturday. Mujahid, an eye doctor who had written a column for more than 20 years, was shot…
New York, February 11, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of imprisoned journalist Yu Huafeng on Friday after his sentence was reduced, but remains concerned about conditions for critical reporters in China. Yu’s appeal lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, confirmed the release in an e-mail to CPJ. The deputy editor-in-chief and general manager of…
Dear General Razon: The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the arrest warrants issued for two suspects in the 2005 murder of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat. This is a significant step forward for the Philippines, where no mastermind has been convicted in the killing of a journalist since CPJ began documenting journalist deaths in 1992.
New York, February 7, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s decision to remove independent broadcaster Aaj TV from air for more than 12 hours. Satellite transmissions of Aaj were shut down Wednesday after a prominent critic of the Musharraf government, Nusrat Javed, appeared on a late-night political talk show, according to…
Positive signs from Afghan officials, but Kambakhsh still faces death New York, February 6, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists cautiously welcomes signs today that the authorities in Afghanistan are responding to pressure to commute the death sentence young journalist Parwez Kambakhsh faces for alleged blasphemy. Afghanistan’s Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak told journalists in Estonia…