Thailand: Guilty verdict against broadcaster threatens community radio
New York, February 8, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the criminal conviction and sentencing on Tuesday of community radio operator Satien Chanthorn on charges of violating the terms of a 1955 broadcasting act by illegally possessing broadcast equipment and operating a radio station without permission. The decision by an Ang Thong provincial court to…
400 prominent journalists sign CPJ’s appeal for release of Shi Tao
Your Excellency: I am writing to you as the highest representative of China in the United States to ask that you make known to the authorities in Beijing, including President Hu Jintao, our deep concern about the imprisonment of Internet journalist Shi Tao.
Rebuffed by Chinese Embassy, Cpj Publicizes Appeals Seeking Journalist’s Release Read Cpj’s Letter to the Chinese AmbassadorRebuffed by Chinese embassy, CPJ publicizes appeals seeking journalist’s release
New York, February 6, 2006—Officials at the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., have refused to accept delivery of 443 signed appeals calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Shi Tao, a journalist unjustly imprisoned for “leaking state secrets.” The Committee to Protect Journalists, which organized the appeal campaign, today posted on its Web site…
China: Newspaper editor dies after police beating
New York, February 6, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourns the death of colleague Wu Xianghu, deputy editor of Taizhou Wanbao. Wu died on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries in October 2005 when traffic police in the eastern coastal city of Taizhou, Zhejiang province, attacked him for an expose that embarrassed them, according to international…
Police break up media protests on first anniversary of Nepal royal coup
New York, February 1, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the beating and arrest of journalists Wednesday in demonstrations to mark one year since King Gyanendra seized absolute power and restricted media freedoms in Nepal. Local journalists told CPJ police used water cannon and batons to break up a protest in the capital Kathmandu. At…
Nepal pursues media crackdown one year after royal coup
New York, January 31, 2006— The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the ongoing harassment of journalists and assault on freedom of expression in Nepal one year after King Gyanendra seized absolute power. “In the past 12 months the authorities in Nepal have detained more than 275 journalists and stripped the independent press of many of…
China: Dissident Internet writer formally arrested
New York. January 30, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the January 20 arrest of Internet writer Yang Tongyan (known by his pen name Yang Tianshui) on suspicion of “subversion of state authority.” Relatives received formal notice of the arrest from the Zhenjiang city public security bureau last week, according to CPJ sources. Authorities have…
Renewing a battle, Thai government lashes out at media owner
Bangkok, Thailand, January 27, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Thai government’s recent moves to disrupt the signal of the satellite-based television news station Asian Satellite TV (ASTV) and to block access to a popular news Web site. Both actions appeared to be aimed in part at veteran journalist and media owner Sondhi Limthongkul,…
Vietnam: One Internet journalist freed; two others still jailed
New York, January 26, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of freelance Internet journalist Nguyen Khac Toan but deplores the continued imprisonment of two other online reporters in Vietnam. Authorities in Hanoi freed Toan on Tuesday, according to Doan Viet Hoat, a prominent U.S.-based dissident, and international news reports. Toan had been sentenced…