Media law called “unconstitutional” in Supreme Court hearing
New York, November 7, 2005—Nepal’s beleaguered independent media are urging the Supreme Court to strike down a government law curbing press freedom as unconstitutional. In a landmark case, the Court is expected to rule by the end of the week on the petition by nine media groups to block an ordinance issued in October that…
SOUTH KOREA
NOVEMBER 15, 2005 Posted: December 2, 2005 New Tang Dynasty TV HARASSED Chang Sik Lee and Choi Seon Hee, reporters for New Tang Dynasty TV station, a New York-based independent Chinese television station, were banned from the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) meeting in Busan, South Korea, according to news reports. Organizers said the reporters had…
On Journalists’ Day in China, Shi Tao will be in a high-security prison
New York, November 4, 2005–Journalist Shi Tao has been transferred to a high-security prison in Hunan Province that is commonly used to hold political prisoners and hard-core criminals serving lengthy sentences, according to new details emerging about his imprisonment. Shi, who is serving a 10-year sentence for distributing information online, may read only officially approved…
Newspaper publisher found murdered in Thailand
New York, November 3, 2005—Newspaper publisher and freelance reporter Santi Lamaneenil was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds to the head in the back of his car outside the beach resort of Pattaya on Wednesday, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating to determine whether the murder was related to his…
CPJ calls for lifting of restrictions on prominent writer
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the ongoing harassment of prominent writer and medical doctor Nguyen Dan Que. Although he was released from prison in February, Que continues to face harsh restrictions on his movements and communication with others. He is barred from sending material online and seeking employment.
Internet writer missing after reporting on steel worker protests
New York, October 26, 2005 —A businessman who reported online about steel worker protests in the central Chinese town of Chongqing has disappeared, and is thought to be in police custody, according to the advocacy group Chinese Rights Defenders (CRD). Police seized Shi Xiaoyu from his home in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province on October 20, CRD…
CPJ condemns Afghan editor’s conviction, two-year jail sentence
New York, October 24, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is outraged by the conviction of Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, editor of the monthly Haqooq-i-Zan (Women’s Rights), on blasphemy charges and the two-year jail sentence handed down by Kabul’s Primary Court on October 22. Judge Ansarullah Malawizada said that his ruling in Nasab’s case was based on…
Police raid on leading radio station called outrageous’
New York, October 24, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the brazen late-night raid on Kantipur FM’s Kathmandu headquarters on Friday when dozens of armed police officers forcibly entered the radio station, seized control of the studio, and confiscated modems, recorders, and equipment used by the station to transmit programming to the country’s eastern districts.…
Journalist Ching Cheong imprisoned without lawyer for six months
New York, October 21, 2005 — The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the continuing imprisonment of veteran Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong, who will mark six months in detention on Saturday. Ching, a China correspondent for the Singapore daily The Straits Times, has been held in Beijing without charge or access to a lawyer. “It…