New York, NY, May 11, 2005- Last night the editor and publisher of a local community newspaper was shot and killed—the second murder of a journalist in the Philippines in less than one week. Philip Agustin, editor and publisher of the local weekly Starline Times Recorder, was killed by a single shot to the back…
MAY 10, 2005 Posted: May 17, 2005 Victor Ivan, Ravaya and Free Media Movement Sunanda Deshaprita, Free Media Movement THREATENED Two journalists with the Sri Lankan press freedom organization Free Media Movement (FMM) received death threats at the group’s headquarters in the capital, Colombo.
May 10, 2005 The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the police investigation of independent documentary filmmaker Martyn See who is being questioned under Singapore’s stringent Films Act. On May 6, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chan Peng Khuang called See to inform him that police had received a copy of his film…
Your Majesty: Nearly 100 days after Your Majesty dismissed the government and curtailed civil liberties, press freedom has not been restored. Your Majesty has not lifted a ban on reporting that goes “against the letter and spirit” of your February 1 proclamation. A ban on FM radio news broadcasting remains in place, depriving rural citizens of their only source of independent news. And your government continues to harass and intimidate journalists.
MAY 7, 2005 Posted: May 17, 2005 All Journalists CENSORED Burma’s military rulers restricted coverage of casualties from bomb blasts at two shopping malls and a trade center in the capital Rangoon. Exiled Burmese news sources reported that the government censored blast-related stories in the local media, while medical workers told international reporters that authorities…
MAY 6, 2005 Posted: May 17, 2005 Martyn See, freelance HARASSED Police were investigating See, an independent documentary filmmaker, under Singapore’s stringent Films Act. On May 6, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chan Peng Khuang called See to inform him that police had received a copy of his film “Singapore Rebel” and had initiated an investigation,…
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harsh 10-year prison sentence handed to journalist Shi Tao on charges of “illegally providing state secrets to foreigners” after an unfair trial last week. Shi plans to submit an appeal in advance of a May 10 deadline. We call on authorities to drop the state secrets charge against him, which your government has used with disturbing frequency to imprison journalists, and to ensure Shi’s immediate and unconditional release.
New York, May 6, 2005—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 two journalists guilty of criminal defamation and sentenced them to nine months in prison on Wednesday. The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the ruling and the…