Alerts
2005
American journalist murdered in Basra
New York, August 3, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is shocked and alarmed by the murder of U.S. freelance journalist and author Steven Vincent, whose bullet-riddled body was found today in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Vincent, who had written for a number of U.S. publications and was working on a book, was abducted…
Radio journalist arrested in Jowhar
New York, August 3, 2005—A journalist for the Mogadishu-based independent radio station HornAfrik was arrested in Jowhar last night following a critical report about transitional federal authorities, according to the Somali Journalists Network (SOJON) and other local sources. Abdullahi Kulmiye Adow was still in police detention late today, they said. It was not clear whether…
CPJ alarmed by Sri Lankan president’s comments against senior journalist
New York, August 3, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by intimidating remarks made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga against senior defense correspondent Iqbal Athas last week. Speaking to a closed meeting of 1,000 top military and police officials in Colombo on July 26, the president accused Athas of publishing sensitive information harmful to Sri…
Internet essayist Zhang Lin sentenced to five years in prison
New York, August 2, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the five-year prison sentence, followed by four years of deprivation of political rights, handed to freelance Internet journalist Zhang Lin on charges of inciting subversion. Zhang Lin’s family and lawyer Mo Shaoping received notice this morning that the Intermediate People’s Court of Bengbu in central…
Kremlin moves to bar ABC from reporting in Russia
New York, August 2, 2005—The Kremlin escalated its campaign of intimidation against foreign news media covering the war in Chechnya as authorities began moving today to bar the U.S. television network ABC from reporting in Russia. The Committee to Protect Journalists denounced the decision and called for its reversal.
Prosecutor says Gongadze probe moves to new phase
New York, August 2, 2005—The Ukrainian Prosecutor-General’s Office announced last night that it has completed the first part of its investigation into the 2000 murder of Georgy Gongadze, editor of the independent news Web site Ukrainska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth). Yuri Boychenko, a spokesman for the prosecutor, said yesterday that authorities have identified the suspects who…
CPJ condemns harassment of journalists by Royal Nepalese Army
New York, August 1, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harassment and intimidation of three journalists by security forces in Nepal’s mid-western Dailekh district in retaliation for their reports alleging that the Royal Nepalese Army is recruiting children to work as informants. Harihar Singh Rathour, a reporter for Kantipur daily and Kathmandu Post; Pushkar…
Journalist detained by judicial police
New York, July 29, 2005—The managing director of the small private newspaper La Tolérance was arrested yesterday by judicial police, who have accused him of “discrediting” a state prosecutor in an article published in his newspaper. Jean Pierre Phambu Lutette has been jailed in a cell at the public prosecutor’s department in the capital, Kinshasa,…
Journalists injured in Kashmir gun battle
New York, July 29, 2005—As many as eight journalists were injured today in Srinagar, the major city of Indian Kashmir, after a grenade attack triggered gunfire between militants and security forces in the area, according to international news reports and local reporters. At least one journalist, Muzzafar Ahmad Bhat, a cameraman for the Indian news…
Foreign Ministry summons U.S. diplomat after ABC report
New York, July 29, 2005—The Russian Foreign Ministry today issued a formal complaint to a U.S. diplomat, a day after the ABC News program “Nightline” aired an interview with Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev, according to international news reports. Already this year, Russian authorities have pressured both Britain and Sweden after independent media in those…