In Guatemala, local reporters attacked while covering mob attack
New York, April 26, 2007—Guatemalan television journalist Rudy Toledo was shot and wounded, and three other local reporters were attacked Wednesday while covering a mob’s fatal attack on a purported gang member in the northeastern province of Quiché. A group of about 100 people shot and burned an individual believed to be a member of…
The Threatening E-Mail as Published in L’observateur Paalga In Burkina Faso, an e-mail warns, ’You will be gunned down’
New York, April 26, 2007—Authorities in Burkina Faso must fully investigate a death threat against outspoken journalist and free speech activist Karim Sama, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Sama received an anonymous e-mail last week warning that he “will be gunned down” over commentary that is critical of the government. Sama, host of…
In Pakistan, another TV station said to be shuttered
New York, April 26, 2007— Government regulators have ordered Royal TV off the air after its coverage of recent demonstrations concerning the dismissal of the chief judge of the country’s top court, the station said in a statement Wednesday. The largely Urdu-language station ordinarily broadcasts by satellite to the capital, Islamabad, and to nearby Rawalpindi,…
Palestinian leaders confirm BBC correspondent is alive
New York, April 25, 2007—Despite encouraging statements from Palestinian leaders, the Committee to Protect Journalists remains deeply concerned about the safety of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza six weeks ago. Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Azzam al-Ahmad said in a statement that Johnston was alive and “in good health,” the BBC reported Tuesday. “The…
Prominent Internet writer detained in Vietnam
New York, April 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists journalist is gravely concerned about the recent arrest of Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, an award-winning journalist and writer. Thuy was taken into custody Saturday at her residence, where she was already being held under house arrest, according to news reports. She was charged with violating Article…
In Mexico, a missing reporter is found dead
New York, April 24, 2007—Saúl Noé Martínez Ortega, a Mexican crime reporter who had been abducted a week ago, was found dead yesterday morning in the northern state of Chihuahua. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating possible links between Martínez’s murder and his professional work.
China issues decree on government transparencyNew rules contain significant limitations and do not ease state’s control of the press
New York, April 24, 2007—China’s State Council today publicized a decree signed by Premier Wen Jiabao to boost the transparency of government offices. But the new rules make broad exceptions for information deemed by authorities to threaten national security, social stability, public safety, and economic security.
Editor brutally beaten after colleague’s trial
New York, April 24, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the brutal attack on Uzeyir Jafarov, an editor and reporter for the Azeri-language daily Gündalik Azarbaycan, in the capital, Baku. Two unidentified men beat Jafarov as he was leaving the newspaper’s office Friday night, according to the journalist and international press reports. Earlier that day,…
In Jordan, security agents seize interview with former crown prince
New York, April 23, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists protests the Jordanian government’s seizure of a taped Al-Jazeera interview with former crown prince Hassan bin Talal last week. Ghassan Benjeddou, Al-Jazeera’s bureau chief in Beirut, told CPJ that Jordanian intelligence officers stopped his producer at Amman’s Queen Alia Airport on Wednesday, shortly after the interview.…
In Somalia, shelling destroys broadcast stations, injures journalists
New York, April 23, 2007—Two private broadcast stations were destroyed and several journalists were injured last week as Ethiopian troops backing Somalia’s transitional government attacked suspected strongholds of Islamist fighters and militiamen from the Hawiye clan, according to news reports and local journalists. HornAfrik television and radio—the first independent broadcaster in Somalia’s history— has been…