Alerts
2005
Two Puntland journalists freed but harassment continues
New York, July 13, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of two radio journalists who were jailed for nearly two weeks in Bossasso, a city in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland. But CPJ remains deeply concerned by the continued imprisonment of Abdi Farah Nur, editor of the weekly Shacab, and by reported…
CPJ welcomes the release of two radio reporters
New York, July 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes yesterday’s release of two radio journalists from Afghan government custody in Kabul. Intelligence officers did not clarify the reasons behind the detention for more than a week of Rohullah Anwari and Shershah Hamdard, both reporters for the U.S.-government funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Intelligence…
CPJ releases Spanish version of security guide
Lima, Peru, July 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today released a Spanish-language version of its journalist security handbook, “On Assignment: A Guide to Reporting in Dangerous Situations.” Frank Smyth, CPJ’s journalist security coordinator and author of the handbook, officially launched the new edition at a press conference here.
Journalist imprisoned for reporting on corruption
New York, July 11, 2005—The editor-in-chief of the private weekly Le Front has been imprisoned since July 6. CPJ sources said a prosecutor ordered Joseph Bessala Ahanda jailed indefinitely, pending the results of a judicial investigation into defamation allegations against him. The case stems from a series of reports in Le Front alleging that the…
Health of jailed Cuban journalists deteriorates, CPJ finds
New York, July11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is very concerned about the deteriorating health of several imprisoned Cuban journalists who have been jailed for more than two years, and it renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the 23 writers and editors unjustly jailed for reporting and commenting on the news.
Journalist freed two months after abduction by Maoists
New York, July 11, 2005—Maoist rebels on Saturday released Som Sharma, a reporter in eastern Nepal’s Ilam district who was abducted from his home nearly two months ago. Maoist leaders also called off the house arrest of Ilam-based reporter Umesh Gurung, calling their actions against him a “mistake,” according to local news reports Sharma, a…
Authorities target journalists reporting on post-elections unrest
New York, July 8, 2005—Ethiopia’s Supreme Court yesterday ordered three newspaper executives to reveal the name of a lawyer their newspapers cited anonymously as criticizing a recent court decision. One of the three, Tamrat Serbesa, editor-in-chief of the private Amharic-language weekly Satanaw, was jailed overnight and released after posting bail. He and the other newspaper…
The Moscow Declaration
e, the relatives and colleagues of journalists murdered in Russia, along with Russian and international press freedom advocates, who convened for a conference in Moscow on July 7, 2005, declare the following: The lack of progress in investigating journalist murders undermines freedom and democracy in Russia, and demonstrates the lawlessness and impunity with which Russian…
CPJ urges Putin to end era of impunity’ in journalist murders
Moscow, July 8, 2005—A delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists today called on President Vladimir Putin to end a deplorable era of impunity for the murder of journalists during his five-year tenure. “We are calling on President Putin to ensure that the Prosecutor-General’s Office makes greater progress in solving these brutal murders,” said CPJ…
Ex-police chief detained in photographer’s murder
New York, July 7, 2005—An ex-police chief in Mexico is being held for alleged involvement in the November 2004 gangland-style slaying of Gregorio Rodríguez Hernández, a photographer with the Mazatlán edition of the newspaper El Debate, in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, according to press reports. Abel Enríquez Zavala was detained on Sunday after investigators…