Chinese writer held on vague subversion charge
New York, October 2, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the recent arrest of freelance writer Lü Gengsong on subversion charges and calls for his immediate release. Lü’s wife, Wang Xue’e, received notice on Sunday of her husband’s arrest on charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” according to Chinese human rights groups and news…
One journalist detained, three missing in government crackdown
New York, October 1, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about reports that one journalist has been detained and another three have gone missing in the wake of the ongoing crackdown on anti-government protests in Burma. On Friday, Min Zaw, a reporter with the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper, was arrested at his home in…
Police attack journalists in Islamabad
September 29, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 More than 20 journalists ATTACKED Police used tear gas and batons against a group of more than 20 journalists outside the Election Commission in the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. Police said they were trying to clear a path for officials leaving the building. The journalists were covering…
Evidence emerges of intentional shooting of Japanese cameraman in Burma
New York, September 28, 2007 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is outraged by the apparently deliberate fatal shooting of Japanese cameraman Kenji Nagai by a Burmese soldier on Thursday. Video footage shown on Japan’s Fuji News Network reveals that Nagai, who was filming near a group of demonstrators in Yangon, was pushed to the…
Japanese photographer killed as Burmese troops crack down on protests
New York, September 27, 2007— A Japanese photographer, Kenji Nagai, 50, who was working for Tokyo-based video and photo agency APF News, was one of at least nine people killed today by Burmese troops cracking down on anti-government demonstrations in Rangoon, according to official Japanese state-run television. Another 11 demonstrators were injured, as were 31…
Appeals for release of ailing Chinese writer ignored
New York, September 25, 2007 —The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports that imprisoned writer Zhang Jianhong has been transferred to Qiaosi prison in the eastern province of Zhejiang, despite numerous appeals for his release on medical parole. Zhang has been diagnosed with a rare nerve disorder that could lead to permanent paralysis…
Two radio stations attacked
SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 Reported September 27, 2007 Milli Paygham (National Message) radio station Radio Istiqlal (Independence) radio station ATTACKED The two stations, both affiliates of Internews, a U.S.-based media training and advocacy group, were attacked at roughly the same time. Shortly after 12 a.m. September 24, a group of unknown gunmen attacked the Milli Paygham…
CPJ dismayed by contempt of court ruling in India
New York, September 24, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by the New Delhi High Court’s decision last week to sentence four journalists to four months in prison apiece on contempt of court charges stemming from a series of articles and a political cartoon accusing a former chief justice of official misconduct. The journalists…
Pakistani journalist alleges government abduction
New York, September 18, 2007— An abducted Pakistani journalist alleged that he was kidnapped by government agents a few days ago and released after questioning. Babar Hussain, a reporter for Dawn TV, was grabbed near his home in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad, by three men in a two-door cream-colored Pajero—a vehicle favored by government…
Authorities crack down on business news Web site
New York, September 17, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the ongoing Vietnamese government harassment of Peter Leech, the owner and publisher of the popular business news Web site Intellasia. On September 12 Vietnam’s political police unit, known as PA25, and the Culture Ministry ordered the Australia-registered and Hanoi-based news service…