Sri Lanka: Tamil newspaper editor killed in Jaffna
New York, August 21, 2006—A Tamil newspaper editor and former member of parliament was killed outside his home on the besieged Jaffna Peninsula late Sunday, international and local media reported. Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, managing director of the Tamil-language Namathu Eelanadu newspaper was shot dead in Vellippalai. Police are investigating the murder, according to news reports. The…
CPJ Update
CPJ Update Committee to Protect JournalistsAugust 16, 2006 CPJ Calls for Release of Kidnapped Fox News JournalistsAfter gunmen ambushed a Fox News Channel crew in the center of Gaza City on August 14, and abducted correspondent Steve Centanni, a U.S. citizen, and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig of New Zealand, CPJ called for their immediate and…
In China, a Hong Kong journalist tried in closed-door proceeding
New York, August 15, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the release of Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong, who was tried today in a closed-door proceeding in Beijing. His trial on espionage charges began this morning and ended late this afternoon without an immediate verdict, according to Ching’s employer.
Radio station firebombed
AUGUST 11, 2006 Posted: August 25, 2006 Radio Istiqlal ATTACKED Although the station in the province of Loghar south of Kabul did not receive any threats before the attack, police confirmed that a “night letter”—an anonymous warning posted on walls and distributed by hand—appeared in the town a few days before.
China: Journalist detained afterwriting about police clashes with Christians
New York, August 11, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the detention today of Hangzhou journalist Zan Aizong. Authorities placed Zan under a seven-day administrative detention this evening after warning him to stop writing about arrests and injuries involving Christians protesting the July 29 demolition of a church, according to the Independent Chinese…
China: CPJ condemns closure of popular Web sites
New York, August 2, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled by Beijing authorities’ recent order to shut two popular online forums that featured commentary on social and political issues. The Century China Web sites have been closed since last week, according to international and local news reports. The Communications Administration in Beijing ordered…
Philippines: Tabloid photojournalist shot dead
New York, July 31, 2006—Three gunmen killed a photographer for the tabloid Tanod, outside his Manila home early this morning, according to local and international news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating to determine whether Vic Melendrez was killed in relation to his work. The unidentified assailants shot Melendrez multiple times as he…
Sri Lanka: Tamil newspapers curtail distribution after threats
New York, July 31, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by threats to distributors of two Tamil-language dailies, Sudar Oli and Thinakkural, in Batticaloa and Amparai districts of eastern Sri Lanka. Both newspapers stopped distributing in the area last week after they received threatening phone calls, their managing editors told CPJ. On July…
Tolo TV crew beaten
July 29, 2006 Posted: August 30, 2006 Noorullah Rahmani, Tolo TV Qais Ahmad, Tolo TV ATTACKED A news crew from the privately owned Tolo TV was beaten by unidentified gunmen while filing a report on a demonstration against Member of Parliament Abdorrab Rasul Sayyaf in Paghman district of Kabul Province, according to the director of…