At least 6 journalists detained in Myanmar as coup government cracks down on press
Bangkok, February 16, 2021 – Myanmar’s military government must stop detaining, harassing, and threatening journalists, and allow the media to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since February 11, security forces have detained at least six journalists in the country, and the military leadership, which took power in a coup in early February, sparking…
Irrawaddy editor Aung Zaw speaks to fears of a post-coup media crackdown in Myanmar
On February 1, Myanmar military overthrew the country’s democratically elected government and imposed a year of emergency rule until new elections are held and democracy restored. News reports have shown the coup has been met with spirited and widespread anti-military street protests, reportage the now-ruling military has tried to blackout through heavy handed measures including…
Indian finance authorities raid Newsclick office, homes of editors and managers
New Delhi, February 10, 2021 — Indian authorities must immediately stop occupying the offices of the news website Newsclick and cease harassing its editors and managers, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since yesterday morning, officers with the Indian Finance Ministry’s Enforcement Directorate have raided Newsclick’s New Delhi office, as well as the homes…
CPJ condemns Myanmar police shooting of journalist with rubber bullet at anti-coup protest
Bangkok, February 10, 2021 – Myanmar authorities must ensure journalists can safely cover events of public interest, and should refrain from targeting members of the press at protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, in the capital city of Naypyidaw, police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators, hitting Than Htike Aung, a reporter with…
CPJ joins call for accountability in attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka
The Committee to Protect Journalists joins the Center for Justice and Accountability in calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council to take action against impunity in attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka. In a report released today, the Center for Justice and Accountability, with support from CPJ, outlined the Sri Lankan government’s systematic and…
Bangladesh charges 3 journalists under Digital Security Act
New York, February 8, 2021 – In response to Bangladesh authorities’ recent filing of charges under the Digital Security Act against photographer Shafiqul Islam Kajol, writer Mushtaq Ahmed, and cartoonist Kabir Kishore, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We are extremely alarmed by Bangladeshi authorities’ continuous and blatant abuse of the Digital…
Hong Kong police arrest internet radio host Wan Yiu-sing on sedition charges
Taipei, February 8, 2021 — Hong Kong authorities should release journalist Wan Yiu-sing immediately, drop all charges against him, and allow members of the press to work freely and without fear of retaliatory legal actions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, national security officers of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested Wan on…
Myanmar’s military should lift Facebook, WhatsApp censorship, enable news broadcasts following coup
Bangkok, February 4, 2021 – Myanmar’s military should rescind an order to block social media platforms being used to share information about this week’s coup and lift ongoing restrictions on broadcasters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The military obstructed news stations and temporarily shuttered phone and internet access when it seized power from…
Indian police arrest, investigate journalists covering farmers’ protests
New Delhi, February 1, 2021 – Indian authorities must immediately release journalist Mandeep Punia and refrain from detaining and investigating members of the press covering protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the evening of January 30, Delhi police detained Mandeep Punia, a contributor to The Caravan magazine and Junputh news website, and…
How Vietnam-based hacking operation OceanLotus targets journalists
In early 2020, Vietnamese writer Bui Thanh Hieu told Marina Mai, a freelancer based in Berlin, that he was closing his blog to protect his family. In 2009, Hieu was detained for a week for his critical writing on Vietnam’s territorial disputes with China, as CPJ documented. In 2013, he fled to Germany, but continued writing…