Asia

  

In Vietnam, a jailed journalist’s health seriously deteriorates

New York, February 20, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the severe deterioration in the health of independent journalist Nguyen Vu Binh, 39, who has been imprisoned since 2002. When Binh’s family visited him in Nam Ha prison on February 15, he was so thin and weak that he could not hold a…

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In the Philippines, sedition charges against three journalists

New York, February 16, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the government of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to drop sedition charges against critical The Daily Tribune publisher and two columnists. In its February 14 case against publisher Ninez Cacho-Olivares and columnists Ramon Señeres and Herman Tiu-Laurel, the government said their writing could “lead…

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In Sri Lanka, Tamil freelance journalist missing in Jaffna

New York, February 16, 2007—A correspondent for two Jaffna-based dailies, Yarl Thinakkural and Valampuri, has been missing since Thursday evening after he failed to return to his home in the region of Vadamaradchi during a curfew. His father filed a report with police, who said they are investigating the disappearance, according to local media advocates…

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Prominent editor released early after three years in jail

FEBRUARY 12, 2007 Li Minying, Nanfang Dushi Bao LEGAL ACTION Li, the former editor of Guangzhou-based newspaper Nanfang Dushi Bao, was released after spending more than three years in jail, half of his sentence. His colleague, former deputy editor-in-chief and General Manager Yu Huafeng, remained jailed on an eight-year sentence.

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CPJ urges continued support for Radio Television Hong Kong

Dear Chief Executive Tsang: The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the future role and editorial integrity of government broadcasting in Hong Kong. Recommendations made in the Report on Review of Public Service Broadcasting in Hong Kong, written by a seven-person committee and made public on March 28, suggest that Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) might be replaced or its role diminished as Hong Kong considers establishing a public service broadcaster.

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Three staffers of a trade union newspaper abducted

New York, February 6, 2007—Three staff members of Akuna, a bimonthly trade union newspaper, were seized on Monday from the suburbs of Colombo, according to news reports. The men, who are also trade union activists, may be in government custody. “We fear for the safety of the three missing newspaper staff members, and we call…

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2006 prison census: 134 journalists jailed

ALGERIA: 2 Djamel Eddine Fahassi, Alger Chaîne III IMPRISONED: May 6, 1995 Fahassi, a reporter for the state-run radio station Alger Chaîne III and a contributor to several Algerian newspapers, including the now-banned weekly of the Islamic Salvation Front, Al-Forqane, was abducted near his home in the al-Harrache suburb of the capital, Algiers, by four…

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Attacks on the Press in 2006: Preface

By Anderson CooperSilence. When a journalist is killed, more often than not, there is silence. In Russia, someone followed Anna Politkovskaya home and quietly shot her to death in her apartment building. The killer muffled the sound of the gun with a silencer. Her murder made headlines around the world in October, but from the…

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Attacks on the Press in 2006: Introduction

By Joel SimonAs Venezuelan elections approached in November, President Hugo Chávez accused news broadcasters of engaging in a “psychological war to divide, weaken, and destroy the nation.” Their broadcast licenses, he said, could be pulled–no idle threat in a country where a vague 2004 media law allows the government to shut down stations for work…

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Attacks on the Press 2006: Countries That Have Jailed Journalists

ALGERIA: 2 Djamel Eddine Fahassi, Alger Chaîne III IMPRISONED: May 6, 1995 Fahassi, a reporter for the state-run radio station Alger Chaîne III and a contributor to several Algerian newspapers, including the now-banned weekly of the Islamic Salvation Front, Al-Forqane, was abducted near his home in the al-Harrache suburb of the capital, Algiers, by four…

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