Rwandan officials threaten to force press to reveal sources
New York, September 11, 2007— Top officials accused Rwanda’s independent press on Sunday of undermining the government and threatened to force journalists to reveal their sources, according to local journalists. During a four-hour state television broadcast in the capital, Kigali, featuring a panel of government ministers and representatives from the security forces, Interior Minister Sheikh…
In Mexico, three reporters die covering truck explosion
New York, September 10, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourns the death of three Mexican reporters killed during a blast on Sunday night while covering a collision between a truck carrying dynamite and a vehicle in the northern Coahuila state. At least 34 people were killed and 150 injured in the explosion, The Associated Press…
Azerbaijani reporter given one-year sentence
New York, December 10, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about a one-year suspended sentence given today to Ilgar Nasibov, Nakhchivan correspondent for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Nasibov was released today after being held on a separate defamation charge since last week.
Supreme Court ruling limits manipulation of state ads
New York, September 7, 2007—An Argentine Supreme Court ruling condemning the province of Neuquén for the withdrawal of state advertising from a critical daily will help protect the media from government manipulation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On Wednesday, Argentina’s highest tribunal ruled the government cannot suppress or substantially reduce official advertising to…
Egyptian editor questioned over reports about Mubarak’s health
New York, September 6, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the case of a leading independent Egyptian editor who is being investigated by a state security prosecutor for reporting about the allegedly declining health of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Ibrahim Eissa, editor of the independent daily Al-Dustour, was questioned for several hours…
DRC: Rebels loot radio station’s broadcast equipment
New York, September 6, 2007—Community radio station Radio Colombe was raided by rebel soldiers on Saturday night in Rutshuru, north of Goma in the DRC, according to the station’s director, Hubert Furugupa. A group of armed men aligned with rebel general Laurent Nkunda kidnapped two reporters and stole radio equipment and a generator from the…
In Azerbaijan, persecution of editor continues; CPJ seeks a halt
New York, September 6, 2007—Azerbaijani authorities must stop the persecution of Eynulla Fatullayev, an imprisoned editor who has been hit with a series of politically inspired criminal charges since he began investigating alleged government wrongdoing, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Colombian journalist stabbed to death in Cartago
New York, September 5, 2007–Colombian journalist Javier Darío Arroyave was stabbed to death this morning in Cartago, a city in the western Valle del Cauca Province. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating possible links between Arroyave’s murder and his journalism. Arroyave, news director for the Cartago-based radio station Ondas del Valle and host of…
Argentine radio journalist convicted on criminal slander charge
New York, September 4, 2007—The criminal slander conviction of an Argentine radio journalist is alarming and should be overturned on appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Monday’s ruling, by a judge in northwestern Salta province, also bars commentator Sergio Poma from working for one year. Judge Héctor Martínez handed Poma, owner of local…
In Somalia, death threats force prominent press freedom activist into hiding
New York, September 4, 2007—A prominent press freedom activist and freelance journalist was forced into hiding on Monday after gunmen went looking for him at his office in the war-torn capital Mogadishu, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists. Ali Moallim Isak, Organizing Secretary of the union and a correspondent of Baidoa-based private Radio…