2009

There’s a familiar pattern emerging in Sri Lanka, one we’ve seen in many countries. When the government doesn’t have a viable case against a critical journalist, prosecutors turn to state security laws to keep them in detention.

New York, March 18, 2009–Chinese public security officials in northwest Gansu province should release two Tibetan journalists detained in the past month or charge them with an offense, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

New York, March 13, 2009–Amid widespread civil demonstrations and a growing political crisis, Pakistan’s largest independent news broadcaster, Geo TV, was removed today from cable carriers in five major cities, Managing News Editor Azhar Abbas told CPJ. 

Has the Chinese government learned a public relations lesson from its handling of the unrest in Tibet last year? 

Responding to media reports that Afghan journalist Jawed Ahmad was killed in a drive-by shooting in the southern city of Kandahar today, we issued the following statement…

Dear President Karzai: We are deeply concerned about the fate of journalism student Parwez Kambakhsh after his lawyer was informed that the Supreme Court apparently upheld his 20-year prison sentence. We ask that you determine the status of Kambakhsh’s case (which has yet to be made public), to pardon him if the sentence is in fact in effect, and to ensure his safe release.

New York, March 9, 2009–Chinese authorities in Tibet should open the region to foreign journalists and release imprisoned Tibetan journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Tuesday is the 50th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule.

New York, March 9, 2009–Following the murder attempt against radio journalist Nilo Labares, the head reporter at DXCC Radio Mindanao Network, the Committee to Protect Journalists called today for a thorough investigation into the shooting and an end to impunity in crimes against journalists.

Bangkok, March 6, 2009–On the same day that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told a meeting of news editors of his intention to restore Thailand’s press freedom reputation, police officials raided the offices and arrested the executive director of a popular online news site, Prachatai.