CPJ condemns bomb attack on newspaper
New York, November 7, 2005 —The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a bomb attack today on the offices of the Hong Kong daily Ming Pao, which injured two people. A gift box, which was hand delivered to the office of Chief Editor Cheung Kin-bao, exploded when Cheung’s secretary opened it, The Standard reported. She was…
Media law called “unconstitutional” in Supreme Court hearing
New York, November 7, 2005—Nepal’s beleaguered independent media are urging the Supreme Court to strike down a government law curbing press freedom as unconstitutional. In a landmark case, the Court is expected to rule by the end of the week on the petition by nine media groups to block an ordinance issued in October that…
On Journalists’ Day in China, Shi Tao will be in a high-security prison
New York, November 4, 2005–Journalist Shi Tao has been transferred to a high-security prison in Hunan Province that is commonly used to hold political prisoners and hard-core criminals serving lengthy sentences, according to new details emerging about his imprisonment. Shi, who is serving a 10-year sentence for distributing information online, may read only officially approved…
Two journalists held as anti-government protests spread
New York, November 4, 2005—Ethiopian authorities have jailed at least two journalists and increased censorship of media coverage of anti-government protests, which today spread north of the capital Addis Ababa. Local sources told the Committee to Protect Journalists that police arrested two editors and a reporter from the independent Amharic-language weekly Hadar on Wednesday. Many…
Yemeni government fails to seriously investigate cameraman’s beating
New York, November 4, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the failure of the Yemeni government to investigate the severe beating of cameraman Mujeeb Suwailih by Yemeni police officers on October 29. Attacks on the press have intensified throughout 2005, but the Yemeni government has not prevented or seriously investigated them, CPJ…
Press conditions worsen nationwide
New York, November 3, 2005—Franck Kangundu, a veteran political affairs journalist at the independent daily La Référence Plus, was shot dead shortly after midnight by unidentified assassins who accosted him at his home in the capital, Kinshasa. The attackers also killed Kangundu’s wife, Hélène Mpaka. The Kinshasa-based press freedom organization Journaliste en Danger (JED) reported…
Newspaper publisher found murdered in Thailand
New York, November 3, 2005—Newspaper publisher and freelance reporter Santi Lamaneenil was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds to the head in the back of his car outside the beach resort of Pattaya on Wednesday, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating to determine whether the murder was related to his…
CPJ condemns government threats against independent media
New York, November 2, 2005—Ethiopian authorities have threatened to arrest journalists and made statements that could endanger independent reporters in the capital Addis Ababa, where opposition protesters and police have clashed for the past two days. The government also appears to be using state media to smear foreign and independent media. The government threatened to…
Editor abducted after publishing corruption allegations
New York, October 31, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled by a report that editor Jean-Marie Kanku has been abducted and held for three days by the national intelligence agency (ANR) in Kinshasa. Kanku’s disappearance follows articles in his newspaper L’Alerte that accused ANR boss Lando Lurhakumbirwa of corruption, Journaliste en Danger (JED),…
Murder story may have sparked interrogation
New York, October 27, 2005—The editor of The Independent newspaper was detained today and interrogated for several hours by Gambian state intelligence agents, who instructed him to return for more questioning on Friday. Local journalists said they believe Musa Saidykhan is being harassed in connection with a recent article on the unsolved December 2004 murder…