Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns today’s arrest of Tikaram Rai, editor of the Nepali-language daily Aparanha. Rai was arrested in Kathmandu following the complaint of a senior police officer accused of bribery in a recent Aparanha article.
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns today’s sentencing of Internet essayist Le Chi Quang to four years in prison. We are also concerned for the safety of former soldier Tran Dung Tien, who was detained after protesting Quang’s trial. Earlier today, following a three-hour trial on national security charges, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Le Chi Quang, 32, to four years in prison followed by three years of house arrest. Quang was charged under articles 88 and 92 of the Criminal Code, which ban the distribution of information that opposes the government. Quang’s parents were the only observers allowed into the courtroom, while his lawyer was not allowed to present a defense before the court, according to CPJ sources.
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the brutal murder of Shahid Soomro, a correspondent for the Sindhi-language newspaper Kawish. Pakistani journalists fear that Soomro, who was based in the town of Kandhkot, Sindh Province, was killed in reprisal for his reporting on abuses committed during recent general elections held on October 10.
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) continues to be alarmed by the serious irregularities in the investigation into the murder of journalist Carlos Cardoso, and we are particularly concerned for the safety of journalists whose recent reporting on the possible involvement of your family has been met by apparent intimidation.
Dear Secretary Rumsfeld: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to express concern about the reported detention without charge of Sami Muhieddine Muhammad al-Haj, a 33-year-old assistant cameraman for the Qatar-based satellite television network Al-Jazeera.
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the detention of writer Nguyen Vu Binh. At about 8 p.m. on September 25, security officials searched Binh’s home in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, before arresting him, said CPJ sources. It is not known where Binh is being held.
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled by a wave of violent attacks against journalists near the southern city of Penza. Most recently, Igor Salikov, director of information security at Propaganda publishing house, was killed soon after a newspaper printed by his employer published a series of articles alleging that local authorities were involved in corruption.
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed about legislation currently before the Argentine Senate. The bill proposes adding three articles to the Penal Code that would criminalize operating a radio station without a license, putting at risk the thousands of stations currently broadcasting without permission.