Nepalese journalist abducted by Maoists
New York, March 10, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Maoist rebels for abducting JB Pun Magar, an investigative reporter for the biweekly magazine Himal Khabarpatrika. Rebels abducted Magar while he was on assignment to cover anti-rebel uprisings in the midwestern district of Kapilbastu. The kidnappers allowed the reporter to call the magazine offices in…
Nepalese editor Kanak Dixit released
New York, March 8, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release early this morning of prominent Nepalese editor Kanak Mani Dixit, who was detained and questioned for roughly five hours last night. At least four journalists jailed since the royal coup on February 1 remain imprisoned.
NEPAL
MARCH 7, 2005 Posted: March 9, 2005 Kanak Mani Dixit, Himal Khabarpatrika HARASSED Prominent Nepalese journalist and political analyst Dixit, editor and publisher of the Nepalese-language Himal Khabarpatrika magazine, was detained and questioned. Dixit, who has criticized the king’s February 1 takeover of the government, was taken into custody shortly after returning from India, where…
CPJ condemns detention of prominent Nepalese editor
New York, March 7, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention today of prominent Nepalese journalist and political analyst Kanak Mani Dixit, editor and publisher of the Nepalese-language Himal Khabarpatrika magazine. Dixit, who has criticized the king’s February 1 takeover of the government, was taken into custody shortly after returning from India, where he…
BANGLADESH
MARCH 4, 2005 Posted: April 1, 2005 Andoloner BazarTHREATENED The entire 25-member staff of the Kushtia-based daily Andoloner Bazar filed a memorandum with the district deputy commissioner of police seeking protection on March 15. The editor, Manjur Ehsan Chowdhury, signed the memo in which the journalists claimed that they have been harassed and under constant…
Government maintains chokehold on independent press
New York, March 2, 2005—The Nepalese government yesterday directed editors of four weeklies to replace the word “Maoist” with “terrorist” or face punishment. The weeklies, including Jana Astha, were forced to change large portions of their text to comply with the order. The Ministry of Information and Communication also issued a new notice banning media…
olumnist found shot dead
New York, March 2, 2005—A local newspaper columnist was found shot dead on a road in the town of Naic, Cavite Province, just south of Manila. A local village official found the body of Arnulfo Villanueva, 43, a columnist for the community paper Asian Star Express Balita, on the night of February 28, according to…
Authorities suspend license of jailed journalists’ lawyer
New York, March 1, 2005—Authorities in Shanghai have suspended the law license of Guo Guoting, defense attorney for three jailed journalists as well as a number of other dissidents and members of the Falun Gong religious sect. The suspension throws into question the defense of imprisoned writers Shi Tao, Zhang Lin and Huang Jinqiu.
MALAYSIA
FEBRUARY 28, 2005 Posted: March 30, 2005 Jeff Ooi, Jeffooi.com HARASSED Police questioned Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi for two hours in connection with a contributor’s September 30, 2004 posting to his Web log, according to the Centre for Independent Journalism in the capital of Kuala Lumpur. Local and international news sources reported that Ooi is…
PHILIPPINES
FEBRUARY 28, 2005 Posted: March 28, 2005 Arnulfo Villanueva, Asian Star Express Balita KILLED—UNCONFIRMED Villanueva, 43, a columnist for the community newspaper, was found shot dead on a road in the town of Naic, Cavite Province, just south of Manila. A local village official found his body on the night of February 28, according to…