Pakistani journalist killed in mosque clashes; three others wounded
New York, July 5, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourns the death of Javed Khan, a photographer for the Islamabad-based daily Markaz and a cameraman for U.K.-based DM Digital TV. Khan was shot in the chest and neck on Tuesday while caught in crossfire between government forces and the students of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque)…
Radio commentator slain in Cebu
New York, July 5, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges justice in the killing of journalist Geruncio “Oscar” Mondejar, who was shot by unidentified gunmen in the city of Mandaue, in the central Philippine province of Cebu early Sunday. Two unidentified gunmen aboard a motorcycle shot Mondejar, a commentator and technician at the local radio…
Government moves to re-enact criminal defamation law
New York, July 5, 2007—Amid an accelerating government attack on media in Sri Lanka, the Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about a proposal to reintroduce a criminal defamation law that, if implemented, could include two-year prison penalties. Justice Minister Dilan Perera introduced the resolution at a June 27 Cabinet meeting. According to media reports,…
Security ministry hits opposition editor with new charges
New York, July 5, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the continued persecution of Eynulla Fatullayev, imprisoned editor of the Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language daily Gündalik Azarbaycan, and that of his staff. The Ministry of National Security (MNB) brought a new criminal charge of incitement to ethnic and religious hatred against Fatullayev…
BBC correspondent Alan Johnston Freed
New York, July 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed the release early Wednesday morning local time of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, who had been held captive for nearly four months in the Gaza Strip. CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said: “We are relieved that Alan Johnston has finally been freed after this cruel ordeal.…
Editorial critical of Gabonese president lands publisher in prison
New York, July 3, 2007 —An editorial critical of Gabonese President Omar Bongo, Africa’s longest-serving head of state, has led authorities in the capital, Libreville, to arrest a publisher and suspend his newspaper, according to news reports and local journalists. Guy-Christian Mavioga, director of the private periodical L’Espoir, has been in police custody since Thursday…
Harsh bail set for Standard Times editor
New York, July 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the criminal prosecution and unreasonable bail conditions facing Sierra Leonean journalist Philip Neville, the editor of The Standard Times who is being held at the Central Prison in Freetown on libel charges. Defense lawyer J.B. Jenkins Johnston told CPJ that a Freetown court set bail…
CPJ concerned about health of jailed editor
New York, July 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern today about the health and well-being of Boris Stomakhin, editor of the small Moscow monthly Radikalnaya Politika (Radical Politics), who has been imprisoned for the past 15 months. On June 25, Stomakhin was transferred from a Moscow prison to a prison in the city…
Puntland newspaper damaged in arson attack
New York, June 29, 2007—Three rooms in the headquartersof Shacab, an independent newspaper in northeast Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland, were damaged Wednesday night after assailants threw gasoline-fueled bombs, according to local news reports and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSJ). One man was arrested after being identified by a security guard and other…
Russian officers assault journalist in Georgia
New York, June 29, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalist is concerned about an attack reported by Nukri Kacharava, a camera operator for the independent Georgian television station Mze, who said Russian military officers assaulted him and confiscated his equipment as he was filming their move out of a Russian military base in Batumi, capital of…