Asia

  
Singapore's Parliament House is seen on March 20, 2019. The country is currently considering a law that poses a threat to freedom of speech online. (Roslan Rahman/AFP)

Singapore ‘fake news’ legislation endangers press freedom

Bangkok, April 2, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists called today on the Singapore parliament to reject legislation that would force online platforms to take down or amend news or information authorities deem as false.

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Maria Ressa, executive editor of news website Rappler, speaks to the media after posting bail in a cyber-libel case at a court in Manila City, Philippines, on February 14, 2019. Philippine authorities issued arrest warrants for Ressa and several other Rappler executives on March 28 in a separate case. (Reuters/Eloisa Lopez)

Philippines issues arrest warrants against Rappler’s Maria Ressa, other executives

Bangkok, March 28, 2019 – Authorities in the Philippines issued today arrest warrants against news website Rappler editors and executives, including executive editor and founder Maria Ressa, for violating laws barring foreign ownership of media, according to news reports.

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CPJ calls on Maldives to empower commission on enforced disappearances and murders

CPJ writes to the speaker of the People’s Majlis, asking him to strengthen press freedom in the Maldives and commit to pursuing justice and ending impunity by calling for a vote on a bill to grant investigative powers to the presidential commission on enforced disappearances and murders.

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Detained Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone are escorted by police as they leave after a court hearing in Yangon, Myanmar, on August 20, 2018. The journalists will have their appeal heard at the Myanmar Supreme Court on March 26. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Myanmar Supreme Court to hear appeal of jailed Reuters reporters

Bangkok, March 25, 2019 — The Supreme Court of Myanmar will hear an appeal by the lawyers of jailed Reuters news agency reporters Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone on March 26, according to a statement from Reuters seen by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

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A worker dries material for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress Party election campaigns on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, in March. India is due to hold elections from April 11 to May 19. (AFP/Sam Panthaky)

India elections 2019: Journalist safety kit

India is scheduled to hold national and provincial elections from April 11 to May 19, 2019. As the country celebrates over 70 years of democracy, journalists are under pressure from attacks, harassment, cyber bullying, and government restrictions. At least five journalists were killed in relation to their work in India in 2018, including four who…

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Chinese police seen on November 9, 2018. Recently, several editors of a labor rights website in China have been arrested or have gone missing. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)

Labor rights website editor Wei Zhili arrested in China; another is missing

Taipei, March 21, 2019 — Chinese authorities should immediately release ILabour.net editor Wei Zhili and ensure that editors and reporters will not be arrested for reporting on workers’ rights.

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Blogger Truong Duy Nhat stands trial in Vietnam on March 4, 2014. He recently disappeared from Thailand and has resurfaced in a Vietnamese prison. (Vietnam News Agency via AFP)

Vietnamese blogger Truong Duy Nhat, who disappeared in Thailand, imprisoned in Vietnam

Bangkok, March 21, 2019 — Vietnamese authorities must immediately and unconditionally release detained blogger Truong Duy Nhat and allow him to travel freely outside of the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Fathimath Shehenaz holds a sign outside the Malé parliament in February, calling for justice for her brother, the blogger Ahmed Rilwan, who was abducted in 2014. (CPJ)

Maldives commission renews hope of justice for Rilwan and Rasheed

Mission Journal: With a new presidential commission investigating the abduction of Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla and the murder of Yameen Rasheed, CPJ’s Asia program research associate Aliya Iftikhar travels to Malé in late February to speak with the bloggers’ families about their pursuit of justice, and with authorities about the progress and challenges in the cases.

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An Afghan police officer inspects vehicles at a checkpoint in Kabul on August 6, 2017. An Afghan journalist was recently killed when he was shot by two unidentified men in Khost. (Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Afghan journalist killed; Islamic State affiliate claims responsibility

New York, March 18, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the killing of Afghan journalist Sultan Mahmoud Khairkhwah and calls on authorities to investigate his killing and improve the safety of journalists in the country.

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Afghan policemen search passengers at a checkpoint in Helmand province on December 17, 2017. A journalist in Helmand was recently injured by a car bomb in an assassination attempt. (Noor Mohammad/AFP)

Afghan journalist wounded in assassination attempt

New York, March 12, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Afghan authorities to swiftly investigate the attempted assassination of journalist Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi in Helmand province today and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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