Prominent TV journalist assaulted in Moscow
New York, November 30, 2001—A well-known Russian television journalist was assaulted and robbed by three unknown attackers in the early morning hours of Friday, November 30, CPJ has confirmed. Ildar Zhandaryov co-hosts “Bez Protokola” (Without Protocol), one of Russia’s top-rated talk shows, and the movie review program “Interesnoye Kino” (Interesting Movie). Both shows appear on…
CPJ concerned about Canadian journalist believed kidnapped
New York, November 28, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is extremely concerned about the safety of Ken Hechtman, a Canadian free-lance journalist who is believed to be held captive in the border town of Spin Boldak. Hechtman, 33, was writing for the weekly Montreal Mirror. On November 27, a man who identified himself as…
New security bill may restrict independent press, state paper reports
New York, November 28, 2001—In a November 21 article, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported that the Zimbabwean government had drafted a Public Order and Security Bill intended to replace the harsh Law and Order Maintenance Act of 1960. The bill is expected to reach Parliament by the end of the year. Ostensibly meant to cover…
Swedish journalist killed by armed robbers in Taloqan
New York, November 27, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Ulf Strömberg, a cameraman for the Swedish channel TV4. He was murdered early this morning during a robbery at the house in Taloqan where he and several other journalists were staying. At around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning,…
Another TV channel threatened with closure
The TV-6 case is strikingly similar to the recent hostile takeover of the independent television network NTV. New York, November 26, 2001—CPJ expressed grave concern over today’s ruling by a Moscow appellate court upholding the liquidation of the private Russian channel TV-6. The appeal was lodged following a September 27 ruling to liquidate TV-6’s parent…
CPJ welcomes release of Japanese journalist
New York, November 20, 2001—CPJ welcomes the release of Japanese free-lance journalist Daigen Yanagida, who was imprisoned for nearly a month by Taliban authorities in Jalalabad. Yanagida was detained on October 22 in Asadabad after entering Afghanistan without a visa. He was later brought to Jalalabad for questioning. On November 16, the Taliban released Yanagida…
Journalists threatened by paramilitaries
Bogotá, November 20, 2001—Four journalists have fled their homes in the southern Colombian department of Nariño after receiving death threats from a right-wing paramilitary faction that accused them of collaborating with rival leftist guerrillas. The letter, signed by the Southern Liberators Front of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), accused three reporters and a…
Four journalists believed killed
November 19, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is outraged by the apparent murder of four journalists who were seized yesterday while traveling between Jalalabad and Kabul. The journalists have been identified by their news organizations as Azizullah Haidari, an Afghan-born photographer for the Reuters news agency; Harry Burton, an Australian television cameraman for Reuters;…