POPULAR EDITOR AND THREE COLLEAGUES ARRESTED
New York, August 15, 2001—Police arrested Daily News editor Geoff Nyarota at 12:15 a.m. this morning at his home in Harare, according to international news reports confirmed by CPJ sources in Zimbabwe. Police later detained Daily News reporter Sam Munyavi, editor John Gambanga, and Gambanga’s assistant, Bill Saidi. All four journalists remain in police custody…
Soldier assaults Egyptian TV crew at West Bank checkpoint
New York, August 14, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is gravely concerned about yesterday’s attack on an Egyptian television crew by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank, although we are pleased that the soldier involved has been disciplined. On the morning of August 13, Tarek Abdel Jaber and Abdel Nasser Abdoun, a reporter…
Government issues new list of banned media topics
New York, August 10, 2001—CPJ is disturbed by the Chinese government’s recent announcement that publications can be summarily closed down for reporting on any one of seven proscribed topics. The so-called Seven No’s policy was announced August 8 on national television. The banned topics include any criticism of government policies and any reporting that “harms…
Vineet Narain contempt trial postponed
New York, August 10, 2001—Yesterday’s scheduled contempt of court case against journalist Vineet Narain has been postponed due to violence in Jammu and Kashmir State, the trial venue. It is not known when the next hearing will be held. Narain is the founding editor of the New Delhibased investigative journal Kalchakra. He faces contempt charges…
IN MEXICO, TWO SUSPECTS ACQUITTED IN MURDER OF U.S. REPORTER
New York, August 9, 2001—On August 3, a Mexican judge acquitted the two men accused in the 1998 murder of American journalist Philip True. Juan Chivarra de la Cruz and his brother-in-law Miguel Hernández de la Cruz were charged with True’s murder in December 1998. Municipal Judge José Luis Reyes Contreras ordered their release despite…
CPJ monitor denied entry
In addition to state control, CPJ has documented intimidation and direct attacks against the independent media. London, August 8, 2001—The Belarusian embassy in London has denied a visa request by Emma Gray, a UK-based consultant with the Committee to Protect Journalists who intended to monitor press conditions in Belarus in advance of the September 9…
Vineet Narain’s contempt trial starts tomorrow
New York, August 8, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the safety of journalist Vineet Narain, whose contempt of court trial has been abruptly moved up to August 9. It was originally scheduled for September 3. Narain is the founding editor of the New Delhibased investigative journal Kalchakra. He faces contempt…
CPJ sends letter of inquiry to attorney general
New York, August 7, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday sent a letter of inquiry to Adolfo González Rodas, attorney general of Guatemala, expressing concern about the August 1 attack by police officers against four Guatemalan journalists who were covering demonstrations protesting a recent tax raise. According to local sources, when police moved to arrest…
U.S. REPORTER JAILED FOR CONTEMPT
New York, August 7, 2001—In a letter sent today to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, CPJ called for the release of free-lance writer Vanessa Leggett, who has spent the last two weeks in a Texas jail after refusing to turn over research materials about a high-profile murder case to federal prosecutors. CPJ believes that no…
Court refuses to consider lifting ban on controversial Chilean book
New York, August 6, 2001—The Santiago Appeals Court refused to consider journalist Alejandra Matus’ petition to authorize the circulation of The Black Book of Chilean Justice, her muckraking exposé of the Chilean judiciary that was banned more than two years ago. The Chilean judiciary seems unwilling to lift the ban even though a new press…