Government lifts ban on private radio station
New York, July 14, 2005—Government officials unsealed the studios of Freedom FM on Tuesday, more than two years after the Communications Ministry shuttered the private radio station just as it was about to broadcast for the first time. Based in the southwestern port city of Douala, the station was founded by Pius Njawé, a veteran…
CPJ mourns the death of Jacques Roche
New York, July 14, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourns the death of Haitian journalist Jacques Roche, whose body was found today in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Roche, cultural editor with the daily Le Matin, was kidnapped on Sunday, according to international press reports. Roche, who also hosted a local television station show, was taken from…
CPJ seeks investigation into cameraman’s death at drag-race site
New York, July 14, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for a thorough and aggressive investigation into the death of Pavel Makeev, 21, a cameraman for Puls television in the southern Russian town of Azov. Makeev’s body was found alongside a road on the outskirts of the Rostov Region town on May 21, shortly…
Puntland editor freed, newspaper remains suspended
New York, July 14, 2005—Editor Abdi Farah Nur has been released after more than two weeks of imprisonment in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, but his newspaper remains under government suspension and Farah fears for his safety, sources told the Committee to Protect Journalists today. Farah was freed on July 5, but word of…
Two Puntland journalists freed but harassment continues
New York, July 13, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of two radio journalists who were jailed for nearly two weeks in Bossasso, a city in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland. But CPJ remains deeply concerned by the continued imprisonment of Abdi Farah Nur, editor of the weekly Shacab, and by reported…
CPJ welcomes the release of two radio reporters
New York, July 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes yesterday’s release of two radio journalists from Afghan government custody in Kabul. Intelligence officers did not clarify the reasons behind the detention for more than a week of Rohullah Anwari and Shershah Hamdard, both reporters for the U.S.-government funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Intelligence…
CPJ releases Spanish version of security guide
Lima, Peru, July 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today released a Spanish-language version of its journalist security handbook, “On Assignment: A Guide to Reporting in Dangerous Situations.” Frank Smyth, CPJ’s journalist security coordinator and author of the handbook, officially launched the new edition at a press conference here.
Journalist imprisoned for reporting on corruption
New York, July 11, 2005—The editor-in-chief of the private weekly Le Front has been imprisoned since July 6. CPJ sources said a prosecutor ordered Joseph Bessala Ahanda jailed indefinitely, pending the results of a judicial investigation into defamation allegations against him. The case stems from a series of reports in Le Front alleging that the…
Health of jailed Cuban journalists deteriorates, CPJ finds
New York, July11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is very concerned about the deteriorating health of several imprisoned Cuban journalists who have been jailed for more than two years, and it renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the 23 writers and editors unjustly jailed for reporting and commenting on the news.
Journalist freed two months after abduction by Maoists
New York, July 11, 2005—Maoist rebels on Saturday released Som Sharma, a reporter in eastern Nepal’s Ilam district who was abducted from his home nearly two months ago. Maoist leaders also called off the house arrest of Ilam-based reporter Umesh Gurung, calling their actions against him a “mistake,” according to local news reports Sharma, a…