Letters

Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to condemn the continued imprisonment of independent journalists in Cuba, in clear violation of international law. CPJ is also deeply troubled by reports that these unjustly jailed prisoners are being denied medical care and other basic services. We urge Your Excellency to order the immediate release of the following three Cuban journalists:

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is gravely disturbed by the killing of journalist Igor Domnikov, a reporter and special-projects editor at the twice-weekly Moscow paper Novaya Gazeta, who died after suffering a violent assault in Moscow on the evening of May 12. We reiterate our demand for a thorough investigation of this case, as requested in our May 22 letter to Your Excellency.

Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned about the lack of progress in the reform of Panama’s “gag laws.” Two recent cases in which Panamanian journalists were sentenced to prison for allegedly defaming public officials highlight the urgency of abolishing these unjust statutes without delay.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is disturbed by the Information Ministry’s decision to once again suspend publication of the Cambodia News Bulletin (Pritbat Pordamean Kampuchea), a bilingual fortnightly published in English and Khmer from the capital city, Phnom Penh.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is gravely concerned that despite last year’s landmark democratic elections, the right of journalists to freely and independently report the news continues to be routinely violated in Nigeria.

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns yesterday’s assassination of veteran journalist Shamsur Rahman, special correspondent of the Bengali-language national daily Janakantha, and urges your government to ensure that the perpetrators of this terrible crime are brought to justice.

Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to express its concern over the criminal defamation charges being brought against the weekly La Razón for reporting on alleged irregularities in bidding on government contracts and at state auctions. We strongly object to the weekly’s being prohibited from publishing information related to this case. We view this harassment through legal channels as a violation of international law. We urge Your Excellency to use the power of your office to see to it that La Razón’s right to inform the public is respected.

Your Excellency: On the occasion of your recent confirmation as President, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that your government upholds international press freedom standards and guarantees the rights of journalists to practice their profession freely.