Attacks on the Press 2010: Thailand
Top Developments • Using emergency decree, government blocks access to thousands of websites. • CPJ faults government, protesters for lethal violence against media. Key Statistic 2: Journalists killed during violent clashes between security forces and protesters in Bangkok. Armed clashes between anti-government protesters and state security forces resulted in 91 deaths and more than 1,800…
Attacks on the Press 2010: Vietnam
Top Developments • In run-up to Communist Party Congress, authorities clamp down on Internet. • Critical blogs targeted in hacking attacks; government complicity seen. Key Statistic 5: Online journalists imprisoned on December 1, reflecting crackdown on Internet commentary. Vietnam targeted online journalists in a clampdown on dissent ahead of a 2011 Communist Party Congress at…
Attacks on the Press 2010: Asia Developments
ATTACKS ON THE PRESS: 2010 • Main Index ASIA Regional Analysis: • Partisan Journalism And the Cycle of Repression Country Summaries • Afghanistan • Burma • China • Indonesia • Nepal • Pakistan • Philippines • Sri Lanka • Thailand • Vietnam • Other nations BANGLADESH An unidentified man threatened photojournalist Shahidul Alam on March…
Burmese video journalist given 13 years in jail
New York, February 11, 2011–Burma’s new government under Prime Minister Thein Sein must put an end to the former military junta’s despicable policy of imprisoning independent journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The most recent case to come to light is the 13-year sentencing of Maung Maung Zeya in a trial held within…
Nepal’s leadership vacuum threatens press freedom
Nepal’s new Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal should be setting a new tone. Law and order–and with it, journalists’ security–have suffered in the seven months since Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned and has been filling in as interim leader. Khanal could be making public commitments to reversing the atmosphere of impunity that is promoting media attacks. Instead,…
Press freedom has its limitations in Bangladesh
In the last decade, the growth of print and electronic media and a new generation of journalists have changed the face of the media in Bangladesh. But there is a long way to go until there is true press freedom. Politicians, criminals, and businessman exert undue influence, and the industry itself lacks the professionalism to…
Police in India must drop charges against Tehelka reporter
New York, February 7, 2011–Authorities in Karnataka state should drop charges against Tehelka magazine correspondent K.K. Shahina that appear intended to discredit her reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police visited her residence in Kerala state twice in January and left notices for her to appear for questioning, leading her to fear she…
Internet freedom on trial in Thailand
Hearings commenced today in the trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, executive director of the Thailand-based independent news website Prachatai. She stands accused of 10 different violations of the country’s draconian 2007 Computer Crime Act (CCA), each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
In Kashmir, Tehelka takes on press freedom abuses
The latest issue of India’s Tehelka weekly magazine carries some great reporting on press freedom issues, an effort supported by CPJ and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The article, by Pragya Tiwari, includes many examples of journalists being harassed and assaulted while reporting on clashes between security and separatist groups in Jammu…