correspondent abducted in Baghdad
New York, October 19, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by today’s abduction in Baghdad of a veteran reporter for London’s Guardian newspaper. The Guardian said it believes a group of armed men seized Rory Carroll, the paper’s Baghdad correspondent, as he left a house in the Sadr City, a stronghold of radical cleric…
Journalist still behind bars despite Supreme Court release order
New York, October 19, 2005—The Prosecutor General’s Office in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, is blocking the release of independent journalist Jumaboy Tolibov despite a Supreme Court ruling on October 11 setting him free, a local press freedom group said. The National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), a Dushanbe-based press freedom group which has…
CPJ mourns journalists killed in earthquake
New York, October 18, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply saddened by the tremendous loss of life in Pakistan, and sends its condolences to the families and colleagues of journalists killed in the earthquake. At least three journalists were killed in the October 8 tragedy and five are unaccounted for. Some 50 journalists have…
International Organisations Condemn Further Restrictions on Press Freedoms and Freedom of Expression in Nepal
This statement is issued by members of the ‘International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal’. We, as members of the ‘International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal’, express our serious concern that HM King Gyanendra, together with the government and security forces, is seeking to further undermine Nepal’s vibrant…
Police shut radio station, harass staff over interview with separatist
New York, October 17, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the closure today of private radio station Sud FM and the detention of staff following the broadcast of an interview with a rebel leader. Police halted broadcasting at the station’s studios in the capital Dakar and around the country. They also took away staff for…
In Sri Lanka, arsonists strike printing press as attacks escalate
New York, October 17, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns recent violent attacks on the Sri Lankan media and the apparent escalation of the assaults ahead of November’s presidential election. In the most recent incident on Sunday, unidentified men set fire to the printing press of a newspaper group that was critical of the government.…
Journalist released from prison; pleads not guilty at UN tribunal
New York, October 14, 2005—Croatian authorities released Josip Jovic from prison on Thursday after he agreed to respond to contempt charges at the Hague-based United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, according to local and international press reports. Jovic, former editor-in-chief of the Split daily Slobodna Dalmacija, traveled to Holland today and pleaded…
CPJ alarmed by contempt charges against two journalists
New York, October 13, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by contempt of court charges filed against two reporters for the Melbourne-based Herald Sun who refused to divulge the source for a report on government plans to cut war veteran benefits. Gerard McManus and Michael Harvey could face jail if convicted.…
Authorities harass, intimidate leaders of local journalists’ association
New York, October 13, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned police harassment of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA), which criticized a government crackdown on the press after the opposition disputed the outcome of this year’s elections. Four EFJA leaders reported this week to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the capital, Addis…
Publisher jailed over money laundering story
New York, October 13, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the arrest of a newspaper publisher by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS). Owei Kobina Sikpi, publisher of the tabloid Weekly Star in the southern city of Port Harcourt, has been held without charge since Tuesday, the paper’s editor, Obinna Ahiaidu told CPJ. He…