Mexico’s Fox to seek special prosecutor to fight crimes against free expression
New York, September 15, 2005—Mexican President Vicente Fox said today he will ask his nation’s attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate crimes against free expression, a commitment made after a series of deadly attacks against journalists in Mexico’s northern states. Meeting with a delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists at the…
Journalist held after criticizing traditional court judges
New York, September 15, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the arrest of Jean Léonard Rugambage, a reporter for the twice-monthly newspaper Umuco who accused judges of a traditional court in Rwanda of corruption. Rugambage has been held without charge since his arrest on September 7 in the central town of Gitarama. He has…
In Nepal, police beat journalists covering protests
New York, September 14, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns police brutality against journalists covering pro-democracy protests in Nepal. Radio journalist Tilak Mahat received four stitches on his head yesterday after police beat him at a protest at Bagh Bazar in the capital, Kathmandu. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) said yesterday that police appeared…
CPJ study: U.S. military consistently fails to probe journalist killings in Iraq
New York, September 14, 2005—The U.S. military has failed to fully investigate the killing of journalists by its forces in Iraq and to implement its own recommendations to improve media safety, an analysis published today by the Committee to Protect Journalists shows. U.S. troops have killed 13 journalists since the U.S.-led war began in March…
Arson attack on newspaper and two radio stations
New York, September 12, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns yesterday’s arson attack on the offices of daily Diário de Marília and sister radio stations Diário FM and Dirceu AM in the city of Marilia, in the state of São Paulo. José Ursílio, Diário de Marília’s editor in chief, declined to speculate who…
Two journalists detained
Editor’s note: The original text of this alert has been changed to clarify Pina’s relationship with Lavalas. New York, September 12, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern at the arrest on Friday of a U.S. filmmaker and a Haitian reporter who were covering a police search in the capital Port-au-Prince. Kevin Pina, a filmmaker…
CPJ condemns closure of Internews
New York, September 12, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a civil court ruling ordering the closure of the Tashkent office of Internews Network, a U.S.-based media training and advocacy organization. Internews said the court made its ruling on Friday on the basis of the August 4, 2005 criminal conviction of two…
Reporters face police violence and restrictions in Katrina aftermath
New York, September 9, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by police violence against reporters in New Orleans and attempts by the authorities to restrict coverage of the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. U.S. and international media outlets have complained of attacks on staff and the confiscation of film of shoot-outs between police and looters…
Islamic militants threaten Bangladeshi journalists
New York, September 8, 2005— Islamic militants have threatened to kill nine journalists in southern Bangladesh unless they stop reporting on the activities of three groups calling for the establishment of an Islamic state through “armed revolution.” Pieces of white cloth symbolizing a funeral shroud were mailed to the journalists in the city of Satkhira…
Journalist granted provisional release; three others remain jailed
New York, September 8, 2005—Ngaradoumbé Samory, one of four Chadian journalists jailed since July in connection with their work, was granted a provisional release from prison today pending a decision on his appeal. As editor of the private weekly L’Observateur, Samory was sentenced to three months in prison on July 18 for allegedly defaming the…