Russian journalist assassinated in Dagestan
New York, June 30, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder late Tuesday of Magomedzagid Varisov, a prominent journalist and political analyst, who was gunned down in a contract-style assassination in Makhachkala, capital of the Russian republic of Dagestan.
CPJ alarmed by journalist deaths, detentions at hands of U.S., Iraqi forces
New York, June 29, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed alarm at reports that three Iraqi journalists were killed this week by U.S. forces’ fire in Iraq. CPJ is investigating the circumstances, and it called on U.S. military authorities to provide further information about each case. Ahmed Wael Bakri, a director and news producer…
Thousands of Chinese journalists appeal for release of colleagues
New York, June 28, 2005–More than 2,000 journalists have signed an open letter to the Guangdong High People’s Court appealing for the release of imprisoned Nanfang Dushi Bao employees Yu Huafeng and Li Minying. The letter describes Yu and Li as innocent victims of an unjust prosecution. It was signed by 2,356 journalists who work…
CPJ protests wave of attacks on the press
New York, June 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed at a recent wave of attacks on the press in Tshikapa, a town in southern Democratic Republic of Congo where authorities have detained two journalists and harassed several more. One journalist has gone into hiding after the provincial governor called publicly for his arrest,…
Four editors arrested, released on bail
New York, June 28, 2005—Police arrested four editors of private Amharic-language newspapers today in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, CPJ sources said. The arrests stem from reports in the weeklies about Ethiopian air force pilots who allegedly defected during a training program in Belarus last week, one source said. That source said the Defense Ministry ordered…
Russian reports say Maksimov murdered
New York, June 28, 2005–Police in the northwestern Russian city of St. Petersburg consider three senior police investigators to be suspects in the June 2004 disappearance of local reporter Maksim Maksimov, according to local press reports. Police now believe the journalist was murdered for his work, those reports said. Maksimov, 41, an investigative reporter for…
CPJ joins five groups demanding editor’s release
New York, June 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists joined five local and international press freedom and human rights groups today in writing to Somali leaders to demand the immediate release of Abdi Farah Nur, editor of Puntland’s leading independent newspaper Shacab (Voice of the People). Farah was arrested on June 19 and later transferred…
CPJ condemns censorship of two Web sites
New York, June 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Thai government’s censorship of two political news Web sites and the harassment of outspoken radio journalist Anchalee Paireerak, who quit as host of the program “Thailand Review” and intends to go into exile in response to the intimidation. “Shutting down two Web sites that…
Time and New York Times
New York, June 27, 2005—The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed by two journalists who refused to reveal their sources concerning the leak of a CIA officer’s identity. The journalists, Matthew Cooper of Time Magazine and Judith Miller of The New York Times, each face up to 18 months in jail for refusing…
CPJ concerned over harassment of radio host
New York, June 27, 2005—Police in Zambia have threatened to charge radio host and commentator Anthony Mukwita with sedition after a June 10 broadcast on privately owned Radio Phoenix in which he read an anonymous fax criticizing the government. The fax, signed “Annoyed Zambians,” criticized President Levy Mwanawasa’s administration for allegedly failing to crack down…