Alerts
2006
Security services arrest television presenter
New York, June 15, 2006—State security agents arrested a presenter for Nigeria’s leading private television channel after he hosted a panel discussion about next year’s presidential election, a station manager said today. State Security Service (SSS) detained Mike Gbenga Aruleba of African Independent Television (AIT) in the capital, Abuja, on Wednesday. Mac Amarere, general manager…
China: Ailing journalist sentenced to jail after reporting on corruption
New York, June 15, 2006—A county court in central China today sentenced reporter Yang Xiaoqing to one year in prison on charges of extortion after he wrote about corruption involving local officials. Yang, a reporter for China Industrial Economy News, was arrested in January and charged with extortion and blackmail. His wife, Gong Jie, said…
India: Reporter stoned to death
New York, June 15, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for a full investigation into the death of Arun Narayan Dekate, a reporter with the Marathi-language daily Tarun Bharat in Nagpur, central India. Up to four unidentified men attacked Dekate on June 8 as he was riding with a friend on a motorcycle, according…
THAILAND: Acting prime minister files more criminal and civil defamation suits
New York, June 15, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Thailand’s caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s continuing use of criminal defamation charges to silence critical media outlets. The most recent charges, filed on Wednesday, targeted three Thai-language dailies, Matichon, Khao Sod and Daily News.
CPJ alarmed by threats against journalists and press freedom group
New York, June 14 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a spate of threats of violence this month against Colombian journalists and nongovernmental organizations, including the press freedom group Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP). An unknown group calling itself Frente Democrático Colombia Libre (Free Colombia Democratic Front) sent e-mails on June…
Publisher released after two years in prison
New York, June 14, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release today of Mohamed Benchicou, publisher of a newspaper critical of the Algerian government, who was jailed two years ago for allegedly violating currency regulations. “We are relieved that our colleague Mohamed Benchicou is once again a free man, but his release doesn’t alter…
Journalist freed on bail, another remains in prison
New York, June 14, 2006—A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo today freed radio journalist Pierre-Sosthène Kambidi on bail pending appeal of a defamation conviction, according to his lawyer and the Kinshasa-based press freedom group Journaliste en Danger (JED). Kambidi was arrested June 8 in the town of Tshikapa, and sentenced to three months…
French radio correspondent expelled
New York, June 14, 2006—Radio France Internationale’s correspondent in Rwanda was forced to leave the country on Saturday after the authorities refused to renew her visa, according to an RFI statement released yesterday. The government gave no explanation for the expulsion of Sonia Rolley, according to RFI Africa Director Henri Perilhou. RFI condemned the decision…
Journalist given three months’ jail for defamation
New York, June 12, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a three-month prison sentence given to a radio journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo for defaming a local police chief. Pierre-Sosthène Kambidi, of private radio station Concorde FM in the central town of Tshikapa, was sentenced on June 10, his lawyer said. Kambidi was…
Independent reporter released on bail
New York, June 12, 2006—A court in the Gambia freed a reporter on bail today, more than two months after he was detained by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), local sources told the Committee to Protect Journalists. Lamin Fatty of the Banjul-based The Independent will go on trial June 22 on charges of publishing “false…