Asia
2017
CPJ joins coalition to establish sports and human rights center
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined a coalition of international sport organizations, civil society, and governments that are establishing an independent Centre for Sport and Human Rights. In a statement published today, the Mega-Sporting Events Platform for Human Rights, which CPJ is part of, outlined its commitment to establishing the center in 2018.
Vietnamese blogger sentenced to 7 years for anti-state “propaganda”
Bangkok, November 28, 2017–Vietnamese authorities should immediately release the blogger Nguyen Van Hoa who was sentenced on Monday to seven years in prison on charges of disseminating “propaganda against the state,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Pakistan arrests journalist whose rental car was rigged with bomb
New York, November 27, 2017– The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Pakistani security forces to immediately release journalist Khalil Afridi, who police are holding without charge in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Authorities detained the correspondent for the Khyber News TV channel on November 24 after an explosive device was found under a car…
Investigative journalist shot dead at paramilitary base in India
New Delhi, November 22, 2017–Indian authorities must thoroughly investigate the shooting yesterday of Sudip Dutta Bhaumik, an investigative reporter at the Bengali-language daily Syandan Patrika, and ensure those responsible are held accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Two former Radio Free Asia journalists detained in Cambodia
Bangkok, November 16, 2017–Two former reporters with the U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Asia were detained in Cambodia on November 14 on suspicion of illegally producing and disseminating news, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Cambodian authorities to immediately release the pair and drop any charges against them.
Journalists jailed for two months in Myanmar over drone use
Bangkok, November 10, 2017–A Myanmar court today sentenced two foreign journalists who were on assignment for Turkey’s state broadcaster, along with their interpreter and driver, to two months in prison on charges of filming with a drone without official permission, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentencing and calls on…
Gunmen, suicide bombers attack Kabul TV station
New York, November 7, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the attack on a television station today in Kabul, Afghanistan. Gunmen and suicide bombers this morning attacked Shamshad TV, a leading Pashto-language station, killing one security guard and injuring at least 20 people including television staffers, Shamshad TV’s CEO and broadcast director, Nasim Pakhtoon,…
Indian police arrest journalist on charges of alleged extortion and blackmail
Indian regional police arrested freelance journalist Vinod Verma on October 27, 2017, on claims that he used a sex tape to extort and blackmail a minister from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Chhattisgarh region– claims the journalist denies, according to news reports.
