Letter critical of prime minister prompts treason charge
New York, June 25, 2007— Thabo Thakalekoala, a prominent reporter and presenter for Lesotho’s private radio station Harvest FM faces a charge of high treason for airing a controversial letter, according to news reports and a local press freedom group. Thakalekoala read on the air on Friday a letter allegedly written by members of the…
In the Philippines, one journalist killed, another wounded in a shooting spree
New York, June 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Philippine government to quickly investigate and bring to justice the killer of Vicente Sumalpong, an announcer for the government-owned Radyo ng Bayan (People’s Radio) network. Sumalpong was with two companions when a gunman attacked them this morning in the town of Bongao in…
Investigative journalist severely beaten in Hungarian capital
New York, June 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Friday’s brutal attack on Iren Karman, an investigative journalist who had published a book and made a documentary film on illegal oil sales in 1990s Hungary. Unknown assailants assaulted Karman in the outskirts of the capital, Budapest, on Friday evening, pushed her into a car,…
Independent journalist beaten in southern Russia
New York, June 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalist is concerned about a recent assault against Mikhail Afanasyev, editor of the online magazine Novy Focus, in the southern city of Abakan, capital of the Russian republic of Khakasiya. Afanasyev was attacked on June 16 by at least two men who identified themselves as police officers…
In Nigerian capital, government demolishes broadcaster’s offices
New York, June 22, 2007—Nigeria’s leading independent broadcast network says it will take the government to court next week after authorities demolished three new station facilities in the capital, Abuja. African Independent Television (AIT) plans to sue for damages after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a local government entity, last week bulldozed without warning three…
Journalist flees country after receiving death threat
New York, June 22, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about an anonymous death threat made Saturday against Radio Free Asia (RFA) reporter Lem Pichpisey. Fearing for his safety, Lem fled across the Thai-Cambodian border the next day and is now in exile in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Lem told CPJ that…
More Malian journalists jailed in high school essay crackdown
New York, June 21, 2007—Authorities in the capital Bamako have jailed five journalists in a week—the first arrests in the country since 2003—in the aftermath of an article about a high school essay assignment concerning an imaginary presidential sex scandal. Director Hameye Cissé of the private weekly Le Scorpion, and directors Birama Fall of Le…
Nepal: Two newspapers are forced to suspend publication
New York, June 21, 2007—Two newspapers in Kathmandu have suspended publication this week in response to pressure, including death threats, from a Maoist party-affiliated trade union, the All-Nepal Communication, Press and Publications Trade Union. Nepalese journalists told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the trade union action appeared to be aimed at influencing coverage of…
Russian editor released after months in detention; case still pending
New York, June 21, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the recent release of Vladimir Chugunov, founder and editor of the independent weekly Chugunka inthe town ofSolnechnogorsk, who had been held incommunicado since January 21 on a charge of “threatening to murder or cause serious health damage.” The criminal case is still pending, however, and…
In Cuba, health of jailed journalists deteriorates
New York, June 20, 2007—Families and friends of eight independent Cuban journalists who have been unjustly imprisoned since 2003 say that the health of their loved ones has seriously deteriorated in recent months amid poor prison conditions and insufficient health care. In a series of interviews with the Committee to Protect Journalists, relatives and friends…