U.S. documentary filmmakers face prison for filming protest
New York, October 20, 2016–Prosecutors in the U.S. states of North Dakota and Washington should drop all charges against three independent documentary filmmakers arrested while filming environmental activists interfering with oil pipelines, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Award-winning Malaysian cartoonist banned from travel
Bangkok, October 18, 2016–Malaysian authorities should immediately lift all restrictions on cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque’s freedom of movement, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. An officer at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday prevented the cartoonist, better known as Zunar, from leaving the country, according to news reports.
Somalia closes newspaper, arrests editor
Nairobi, October 17, 2016 — Somali authorities should immediately release the editor of Xog Ogaal newspaper and allow the newspaper to resume publishing, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Officers from Somalia’s National Intelligence Agency raided the newspaper’s office and arrested its editor on October 15, according to press freedom advocates and press reports.
Pro-government group harasses journalists in Malaysia
Bangkok, October 17, 2016 – Malaysian authorities should swiftly bring to justice those responsible for harassing three journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Members of a pro-government group threatened journalists covering a confrontation between a group associated with the ruling party and a rival group on October 15, according to press reports.
CPJ calls on Thailand to not censor news during royal transition
New York, October 14, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Thailand’s military government to lift a blanket censorship order on television news broadcasters imposed in the wake of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death yesterday.
CPJ calls on Burundi to release Radio Maria reporter
Nairobi, October 13, 2016–Burundi’s national intelligence service should immediately release radio journalist Salvador Nahimana, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police detained Nahimana, a reporter for the Burundian branch of Radio Maria, a global station that broadcasts news and missionary statements, on October 2, and transferred him to the custody of the intelligence service,…
Prominent blogger ‘Mother Mushroom’ detained in Vietnam
Bangkok, October 11, 2016–Vietnamese authorities should immediately release and drop all charges against prominent independent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Quynh, popularly known by her pen name Me Nam (Mother Mushroom), was arrested yesterday while trying to visit an imprisoned political activist in the central coastal town of…
Blogger’s prison sentence reduced, news site shuttered in Vietnam
Bangkok, October 5, 2016 – A Vietnamese appeals court yesterday reduced from four to three years a prison sentence given earlier this year to independent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Gia on anti-state charges related to his critical journalism, according to news reports.