Supreme Court provisionally allows radio news back on the air
New York, November 30, 2005— The Committee to Protect Journalists applauds a decision today by Nepal’s Supreme Court to provisionally lift a government ban on the broadcasting of FM radio news. Independent radio stations such as Kantipur FM and Radio Sagarmatha resumed news bulletins after the interim ruling, local reporters said. “This is an important…
Supreme Court stays suspension of independent radio station
New York, November 29, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed an interim ruling by Nepal’s Supreme Court today preventing the government from suspending Radio Sagarmatha. Police raided the independent Kathmandu-based station on Sunday to stop it from broadcasting a BBC interview with Maoist rebel leader Prachanda. The Court summoned government officials to a hearing on…
In Philippines, ex-police officer convicted in Damalerio murder
New York, November 29, 2005— The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes today’s conviction of former police officer Guillermo Wapile in the 2002 murder of journalist Edgar Damalerio in Pagadian City. Judge Ramon Codilla of the Cebu Regional Trial Court sentenced Wapile to life imprisonment.
CPJ condemns raid on Radio Sagarmatha
New York, November 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a police raid on Radio Sagarmatha moments before the independent station was to relay a rare BBC interview with the head of Nepal’s Maoist rebels. Police stormed the community FM station in the capital Kathmandu on Sunday evening, shut it down, confiscated equipment, and…
Two Philippine journalists shot and killed in three days
New York, November 21, 2005—Unknown assailants shot and killed two journalists in separate incidents over a three-day period. Newspaper reporter Robert Ramos died Sunday night after being shot twice in the head outside a market in Cabuyao, Laguna province, 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of the capital, Manila. Radio announcer Ricardo “Ding” Uy, known for…
PHILIPPINES
NOVEMBER 20, 2005 Posted: December 2, 2005 Robert Ramos, Katapat KILLED—UNCONFIRMED Ramos, 39, a reporter for the weekly tabloid, was shot twice in the head outside a market in Cabuyao, Laguna province, 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of the capital, Manila. Ramos was waiting for a ride home from work when two motorcycle-riding assailants shot…
CPJ condemns detention of radio journalist in letter to Hun Sen
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the October 11 arrest and imprisonment on criminal defamation charges of Mam Sonando, a prominent radio journalist and founder of Sambok Khmum Radio FM 105, one of Cambodia’s few independent news outlets.
Thai prime minister intensifies threats against television commentator
Bangkok, November 18, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed grave concern today about the Thai government’s escalating harassment of journalist and television commentator Sondhi Limthongkul. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra filed a defamation lawsuit against Sondhi on Thursday, the third such suit against the journalist, this one seeking 1 billion baht (US$25 million) in damages.
BANGLADESH
NOVEMBER 17. 2005 Updated: November 29, 2005 Gautam Das, Samakal KILLED—CONFIRMED Das, a reporter for the Dhaka-based daily Samakal was found strangled to death in his bureau office in the town of Faridpur, 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of the Bangladeshi capital, according to news reports.