Asia

  
Journalist Santu Pan of Republic Bangla is arrested by police live on air in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, on February 19, 2024.

Indian journalist Santu Pan arrested, 3 others assaulted in West Bengal violence

New Delhi, February 21, 2024—Indian authorities must drop the charges against journalist Santu Pan, who was arrested live on air while reporting on allegations of abuse by West Bengal officials, and investigate the earlier assault of three journalists reporting on clashes related to one of those officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday….

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Chinese director Chen Pinlin arrested over White Paper protest documentary  

Taipei, February 22, 2024—Chinese authorities must immediately release documentary director Chen Pinlin, drop all legal proceedings, and allow journalists to document demonstrations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On February 18, Chinese authorities charged Chen, who published a documentary on anti-COVID restriction protests in late 2023, with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” according to…

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Police stand guard in Kathmandu, Nepal, on November 25, 2021. (Photo: AFP/Prakash Mathema)

Nepali journalists Aishwarya Kunwar, Puskar Bhatt arrested under cybercrime law

On February 10, police in Kanchanpur district of western Sudurpaschim province arrested Aishwarya Kunwar, a reporter for the privately owned news website Nigarani Khabar, and Puskar Bhatt, a correspondent for the privately owned broadcaster Mountain Television, following their reporting and social media commentary on allegations of police misconduct, according to the local advocacy organizations Media…

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French journalist Vanessa Dougnac leaves India after journalism permit revoked

New York, February 16, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Indian authorities to immediately reinstate French reporter Vanessa Dougnac’s journalism permit and cease using legal technicalities to prevent journalists from carrying out their duties. Indian authorities compelled Dougnac, a former South Asia correspondent for multiple international news organizations who is married to an Indian citizen,…

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headshot of Myanmar journalist Myat Thu Tan

Myanmar journalist Myat Thu Tan killed in military custody

Bangkok, February 16, 2024—Myanmar authorities must conduct a credible independent investigation into the killing of journalist Myat Thu Tan and bring the perpetrators to swift and full justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday. Myat Thu Tan, a contributor to the local online outlet Western News who also had reported for the independent…

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Thai reporter Nattaphol Meksobhon (left) and photographer Nattaphon Phanphongsanon are seen after receiving bail in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 13, 2024.

Thailand charges 2 journalists for reporting on anti-royal vandalism

Bangkok, February 14, 2023—Thai authorities should drop all charges pending against journalist Nutthaphol Meksobhon and photographer Natthapon Phanphongsanon and stop harassing the press for reporting on issues related to the nation’s monarchy, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday. Nutthaphol, a reporter with the local independent Prachatai news website, and Natthapon, a freelance photographer,…

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Bangladeshi journalist Mohammed Emran Hossan killed in road crash after reporting death threat

Mohammed Emran Hossan, a correspondent for the news website Newsnow24 and Dainik Amader Shomoy newspaper, was killed in a collision with a vehicle at around 1 a.m. on December 30, in the Rangunia sub-district of southeast Chittagong district, according to news reports and Rustam Ali Sikder, the journalist’s father, who spoke with CPJ. A jeep…

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CPJ joins call urging Pakistan to reinstate internet access after election day suspension

On Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Access Now, and the #KeepItOn coalition strongly condemned the Pakistani caretaker government’s suspension of mobile services across the country during its elections and called for full internet access to be reinstated immediately. Read the full joint statement here.

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British journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown during an interview in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 20, 2018.

Malaysia hands 2-year prison sentence to UK journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown

Bangkok, February 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Malaysian authorities to reverse the decision to sentence British anti-corruption reporter Clare Rewcastle Brown to two years in prison in absentia for criminal defamation over her investigation into a major financial corruption scandal. “Malaysia should scrap the outrageous prison sentence given to Clare Rewcastle Brown…

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Polling station staff empty a ballot box after polls closed during the general election, in Lahore, Pakistan, on February 8, 2024.

CPJ condemns phone and internet disruptions, barring of journalists during Pakistan election

New York, February 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the cell phone service suspension and widespread internet disruptions as Pakistan went to the polls on Thursday, with reports of journalists prevented from coverage in some areas. “Cutting off mobile communication services on an election day and preventing journalists from reporting from polling stations severely…

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