Web log shuts down after government threat of legal action
New York, May 5, 2005—The threat of legal action has prompted Singaporean blogger Jiahao Chen to shut down his site and post an apology for comments criticizing a government agency and its chairman. The Committee to Protect Journalists said today it is alarmed that the threat of defamation lawsuits is being used to inhibit criticism…
INDONESIA
MAY 4, 2005 Posted: May 17, 2005 Darwin Ruslinur, KoridorBudiono Saputro, Koridor LEGAL ACTION Using antiquated criminal laws dating back to Indonesia’s colonial era, a district court in the city of Lampung on the island of Sumatra found the two journalists guilty of criminal defamation and sentenced them to nine months in prison. Darwin Ruslinur,…
PHILIPPINES
MAY 4, 2005 Posted: May 5, 2005 Klein Cantoneros, DXAA-FM KILLED—UNCONFIRMED Cantoneros, a radio broadcaster known for denouncing corruption, died after being shot as many as seven times by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Dipolog City on the southern island of Mindanao. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating the circumstances of the case to determine whether…
Philippine radio journalist slain
New York, May 4, 2005—A radio broadcaster known for denouncing corruption died today after being shot as many as seven times by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Dipolog City on the southern island of Mindanao. Klein Cantoneros succumbed to his injuries at around 11 p.m., according to the ABS-CBN news Web site. The Committee to Protect Journalists…
CHINA
MAY 3, 2005 Posted: May 3, 2005 Cheng Yizhong, Nanfang Dushi Bao and Nanfang Tiyu HARASSED Chinese authorities refused to allow Cheng to receive a United Nations press freedom award on May 3. Cheng, who was imprisoned for five months in 2004 after his aggressive investigative journalism angered local officials, was ordered not to attend…
PAKISTAN
MAY 3, 2005 Posted: May 4, 2005 Many Journalists HARASSED, ATTACKED The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the attacks by police on journalists in the cities of Lahore and Islamabad. During peaceful demonstrations in honor of World Press Freedom Day, approximately 50 journalists were injured when police baton-charged demonstrators marching in the center of Lahore,…
CPJ protests harassment of exiled journalist
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled by the ongoing harassment of acclaimed poet and freelance radio journalist Liu Hongbin. Liu, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, has been banned from returning to China to visit his mother, who has fallen seriously ill.
Police attack journalists on World Press Freedom Day
New York, May 3, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s attacks by police on journalists in the cities of Lahore and Islamabad. During peaceful demonstrations in honor of World Press Freedom Day, approximately 50 journalists were injured when police baton-charged demonstrators marching in the center of Lahore, and as many as 60 journalists were…
Journalist released on bail after 17 months behind bars
New York, May 2, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release on bail Saturday of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, editor and publisher of the now-defunct weekly tabloid Blitz. Choudhury spent 17 months behind bars awaiting trial on sedition and antistate charges, despite repeated requests for bail. “While we are relieved that our colleague Salah…
Journalist ordered not to receive UNESCO press freedom award
New York, May 2, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned Chinese authorities’ refusal to allow journalist Cheng Yizhong to receive a United Nations press freedom award on Tuesday. Cheng, who was imprisoned for five months in 2004 after his aggressive investigative journalism angered local officials, was ordered not to attend a ceremony honoring him…