Asia Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

Pakistani journalists protest censorship, holding a banner that reads: "nation wide protest of journalists," in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Pakistani journalists hold nationwide protests to denounce rampant censorship by the country's powerful security services, massive layoffs due to budget cuts and months-long delays in payments of their wages. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Pakistani journalist sentenced to five years in prison under anti-terrorism laws

December 31, 2019 12:15 PM EST

Washington, D.C., December 31, 2019—Pakistani authorities should immediately release and drop all legal proceedings against journalist Nasrullah Chaudhry, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chaudhry was convicted under anti-terrorism laws and sentenced to five years in prison on December 21 over the alleged possession of banned literature, according to news reports.

Journalists in Sindh province pictured at a protest in 2019. Police on December 24 arrested Daily Jurat reporter Ajeeb Lakho. (Ejaz Korai)

Police in Pakistan’s Sindh province arrest Daily Jurat reporter Ajeeb Lakho

December 26, 2019 4:43 PM EST

Washington, D.C., December 26, 2019—Police in Sukkur, a city in Pakistan’s Sindh province, should immediately release Ajeeb Lakho and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A man reads a newspaper in Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, in May 2015. Journalists in Nepal say proposed regulations and pressure from authorities are damaging press freedom. (AFP/Prakash Singh)

Nepal’s hard-fought press freedom at risk amid restrictive bills, government pressure

December 26, 2019 11:22 AM EST

Last year, when Raju Basnet was covering landgrabs in the Nepali city of Lalitpur, he knew he was playing with fire. His reports in the weekly Khojtalas alleged that powerful people, including government officials, were involved in the scheme and Basnet had already received multiple warnings to back off the story. Despite this, Basnet told…

A relative of one of the Maguindanao massacre victims addresses the crowd during a rally to call for justice in Quezon city, on December 18, 2019. A Philippines court today issued its verdict on the 2009 attack, in which 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, were killed. (AP/Aaron Favila)

Ten years for justice in Maguindanao case is too long: We can do better

December 19, 2019 12:00 AM EST

Never Forget. This became the rallying cry among journalists, freedom of expression activists and human rights defenders as they demanded justice following the massacre on November 23, 2009 of 58 people in Maguindanao. The attack, in which 32 journalists and media workers were killed, was the single deadliest event for the press that CPJ has…

Some of the accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre are seen attending the promulgation of the case inside a Taguig City prison, in this December 19, 2019 handout picture. A court today found masterminds Andal Ampatuan Jr., his brother Zaldy Ampatuan, and 26 accomplices guilty of murder for the November 23, 2009 attack that killed 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers. (Handout via Reuters)

In the Philippines, convictions finally achieved for Maguindanao massacre

December 18, 2019 11:33 PM EST

Bangkok, December 19, 2019—The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed a Philippine court’s decision to hold to account the mastermind, his brother and 26 accomplices of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

A security officer checks journalists' belongings at Macau International Airport on December 18, 2019. At least three journalists were recently denied entry into the territory. (Reuters/Jason Lee)

At least 3 Hong Kong journalists denied entry to Macao to cover Xi visit

December 18, 2019 1:15 PM EST

Taipei, December 18, 2019 — Authorities in Macao should allow all journalists to enter and report freely from the territory, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police officers chase protesters in New Delhi, India, on December 17, 2019. Several journalists have been attacked since the protests began. (AP/Manish Swarup)

Journalists attacked by police, disrupted by demonstrators while covering protests in India

December 17, 2019 1:40 PM EST

New York, December 17, 2019 — Indian authorities must ensure the safety of all journalists covering protests across the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Flowers cover the coffin of Mexican journalist Jorge Celestino Ruiz Vazquez, who was killed in Veracruz in August. Ruiz is one of at least five journalists murdered in retaliation for their work in Mexico in 2019. (Reuters/Oscar Martinez)

Number of journalists killed falls sharply as reprisal murders hit record low

December 17, 2019 11:59 AM EST

As wars subsided and a record low number of journalists were murdered in reprisal for reporting, the total number of journalists killed because of their work fell sharply in 2019. A CPJ special report by Elana Beiser

A man reads a newspaper in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 31, 2018. Police recently arrested and detained newspaper editor Abdul Asad. (AP/Anupam Nath)

Bangladeshi court orders 3-day detention of editor Abul Asad

December 16, 2019 4:08 PM EST

New York, December 16, 2019 — Bangladeshi authorities should immediately release editor Abul Asad and must protect news outlets so they can report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Security personnel are seen in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on November 17, 2019. Journalists were recently attacked and interrogated throughout Sri Lanka. (AFP/Jewel Samad)

Journalists beaten by unidentified groups, interrogated by police in Sri Lanka

December 16, 2019 11:20 AM EST

New York, December 16, 2019 — Sri Lankan authorities must thoroughly investigate several recent attacks against journalists, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that journalists can report freely in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.