Letters

  

DRC journalists remain in ‘illegal’ detention

Dear Mr. Nsenda, We are deeply alarmed by the ongoing imprisonment of newspaper editor Nsimba Ponte and his assistant Davin Tondo. A government prosecutor said this week that their months-long pre-trial detention was illegal, and yet the two have been denied bail and were not charged until June 6, according to local press freedom group Journaliste en Danger (JED). In addition, Ponte is in poor health.

Read More ›

Thai prime minister urged to halt harassment

Dear Prime Minister Samak, The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by recent government moves that represent a clear and present danger to press freedom and media reform in Thailand.

Read More ›

Press freedom in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate

Dear President Rajapaksa, The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by your government’s policies toward journalists who write critically about the conflict between Sri Lanka’s military forces and Tamil secessionists. We have seen an increase in harassment, intimidation, and detention of reporters, many of whom are columnists in senior positions with well-established careers. Police have failed to investigate threats to journalists who cover elections or expose alleged corruption or misdeeds. They have also never investigated the death of a television journalist.

Read More ›

As Karzai seeks aid, a call for press freedom

Dear President Karzai, News reports have described your plan to present a $50 billion, long-term development strategy to international donors in Paris on Thursday. Those reports have also noted the concerns of international donors about allegations of widespread corruption in Afghanistan.

Read More ›

As Karzai seeks aid, a call for press freedom

Dear President Karzai, News reports have described your plan to present a $50 billion, long-term development strategy to international donors in Paris on Thursday. Those reports have also noted the concerns of international donors about allegations of widespread corruption in Afghanistan.

Read More ›

CPJ urges Chad to repeal repressive media law

Dear Mr. Prime Minister, We are heartened by your recent statements in support of a private, independent press, and we now urge you to further your commitment by pushing for the repeal of Presidential Decree 5.

Read More ›

CPJ calls on Burma to allow in foreign journalists

Prime Minister Thein Sein: The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes your government’s recent decision to allow foreign aid and relief workers into Burma. We now urgently call on you to extend this openness to foreign journalists so that they may report on the relief efforts to deal with the disastrous aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

Read More ›

CPJ urges Egypt to free jailed interpreter

Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly protests the continued detention without charge of Mohammed Salah Ahmed Maree, an Egyptian media worker seized by Egyptian authorities while covering riots last month in the northern industrial city of Mahalla al-Kubra.

Read More ›

Philippine Supreme Court should intervene in murder case

Dear Chief Justice Puno, The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the recent ruling of a Cebu Court of Appeals to indefinitely suspend the murder trial of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat. The two suspects, Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, face allegations of plotting the March 24, 2005, murder.

Read More ›

Several journalists arrested in Vietnam

Dear President Nguyen, The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned by the recent spate of arrests, detentions, and trials of journalists in Vietnam. Even though Article 69 of your country’s constitution broadly protects press freedom and freedom of expression, your government has continued to use criminal and national security laws to arbitrarily stifle these essential freedoms.

Read More ›