Thousands of Chinese journalists appeal for release of colleagues
New York, June 28, 2005–More than 2,000 journalists have signed an open letter to the Guangdong High People’s Court appealing for the release of imprisoned Nanfang Dushi Bao employees Yu Huafeng and Li Minying. The letter describes Yu and Li as innocent victims of an unjust prosecution. It was signed by 2,356 journalists who work…
CPJ condemns censorship of two Web sites
New York, June 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Thai government’s censorship of two political news Web sites and the harassment of outspoken radio journalist Anchalee Paireerak, who quit as host of the program “Thailand Review” and intends to go into exile in response to the intimidation. “Shutting down two Web sites that…
Philippine journalist murders far from solved, mission finds
Manila, Philippines, June 26, 2005—Despite Philippine government claims that it has solved more than half of journalist murders since 1986, a joint mission by the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance has found that the official definition of “solved cases” is misleading, that justice has not been served in the vast…
Nepalese authorities harass journalists for reporting on the military
New York, June 23, 2005—Nepalese authorities continue to harass and intimidate journalists who independently cover military activities. Local newspapers report that two editors were interrogated this week and urged to disclose their sources for stories involving the Royal Nepalese Army. Police today questioned Kishor Karki, editor of Blast Time, a daily newspaper based in the…
NEPAL
JUNE 22-23, 2005 Posted: June 30, 2005 Kishor Karki, Blast TimeKishor Shrestha, Jana Aastha HARASSED Police questioned Kishor Karki, editor of Blast Time, a daily newspaper based in the town of Dharan, about his reporting on a clash between the government and Maoist rebels, according to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ).
NEPAL
JUNE 22, 2005 Posted: June 24, 2005 Ten journalists HARASSED Police arrested 10 journalists who were protesting media restrictions in Banepa, in the central district of Kavre, according to nepalnews.com and local sources. Journalists had gathered to read poetry and sing in support of press freedom and democracy. They were arrested after entering an area…
Internet journalist tried on subversion charges
New York, June 21, 2005—Freelance Internet journalist and dissident Zhang Lin pleaded not guilty to charges of inciting subversion of state authority at his trial today at the Intermediate People’s Court of Bengbu in central China’s Anhui Province. Today’s trial concluded within five hours, defense lawyer Mo Shaoping told the Committee to Protect Journalists. The…
CPJ urges Bush to press for release of Vietnamese journalists
In advance of your June 21 meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, the Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to call your attention to the imprisonment of Vietnamese writers Pham Hong Son, Nguyen Khac Toan, and Nguyen Vu Binh for their journalistic work.
THAILAND
JUNE 18, 2005 Posted: June 30, 2005 thai-insider.com and fm9225.comCENSORED The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MICT) issued an order to shut down www.thai-insider.com and www.fm9225.com for allegedly threatening national security and disturbing public order, and for allegedly failing to register the owners’ names properly, according to local and international news reports.
Television journalists threatened
New York, June 16, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about a series of threats being made against Afghan journalists at the popular private television station Tolo TV in the capital, Kabul. Sayed Sulaiman Ashna, a senior journalist with Tolo TV and Radio Arman and the host of the evening news program “Tawdi Kharabari”…