Letters

Our plan for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan’s media is rooted in the vision of a social and political future that our people deserve and aspire to, and has been promised by our government – a free, independent and united Afghanistan, where government is the servant of the people and accountable to them; where there is peace, justice and the rule of law; and where people can build a modern society in accordance with the principles of Islam, democracy and human rights.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply disturbed by the prison sentences handed down to Raymond Kabala and Delly Bonsange, publication director and publisher, respectively, of the independent Kinshasa daily Alerte Plus. On September 6, a Kinshasa court convicted Kabala and Bonsange of “harmful accusations” and “falsification of a public document.” Kabala was sentenced to 12 months in prison and a fine of US$200,000. Bonsange was sentenced to six months and fine of US$100,000.

Dear Prime Minister: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to reiterate its deep concern about the ongoing detention of at least three journalists in Israel and the West Bank. Hossam Abu Alan, a veteran photographer for Agence France-Presse; Youssry al-Jamal, a soundman for Reuters news agency; and Kamel Jbeil, a reporter for the Palestinian daily Al-Quds, were detained by Israeli troops in April and remain under administrative detention without charge.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply alarmed by a landmark broadcast regulation bill in Indonesia that will impose severe restrictions on the news content available to Indonesian broadcasters.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is very concerned by the Chinese government’s apparent blocking of domestic access to the Google Internet search engine. Such censorship directly affects China-based journalists’ ability to conduct research and impedes citizens’ access to news that is unavailable in China’s tightly controlled domestic media.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the climate for independent journalism in Niger, following the recent arrests of two journalists and a presidential decree restricting the media.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to protest the detention of Sudanese journalist Osman Merghani, a columnist for the Khartoum-based daily Al-Rai Al-Aam newspaper.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to draw your attention to recent harassment of the well-known journalist Shaheen Sehbai, who is living in the United States, and his family members who are living in Pakistan.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is gravely concerned that Togo continues its slide toward becoming West Africa’s worst press freedom abuser. We are particularly alarmed at recently proposed legislation to amend Togo’s already repressive press laws.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to protest the eight-month prison sentence handed down today against Tunisian journalist Abdullah Zouari, formerly with the banned Islamist weekly Al-Fajr.