Journalist and human rights activist jailed after London TV appearance
New York, June 28, 2001 — CPJ is gravely concerned about the recent arrest of Tunisian human rights activist and journalist Sihem Bensendrine, apparently for criticizing the regime of President Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali during a London television appearance. Bensendrine is the spokeswoman for the non-governmental National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT) and the…
CPJ concerned about Belgian journalists missing in Papua
New York, June 27, 2001 — CPJ is gravely concerned about the apparent abduction of two Belgian documentary filmmakers in the Indonesian province of Papua. Philippe Simon and Johan van Den Eynde were reported missing on June 7, when they left for the jungle east of Nabire, a coastal city about 500 kilometers (310 miles)…
CPJ’S PETER ARNETT MEETS RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO DISCUSS PASKO TRIAL
New York, June 27, 2001 — A CPJ delegation led by board member Peter Arnett met today with Russian ambassador Yuri Ushakov in Washington, DC, to express its deep concern about the forthcoming trial of military journalist Grigory Pasko in Vladivostok. Russian military authorities have been pursuing Pasko for nearly four years on charges of…
JAILED CHINESE WEB PUBLISHER’S TRIAL POSTPONED
New York, June 26, 2001 — The Chengdu Intermediate Court in Sichuan Province announced today that the trial of Internet publisher Huang Qi had been postponed indefinitely. Huang was scheduled to face trial tomorrow on charges of subversion. No reason was given for the postponement, according to a U.S.-based source who had spoken with Huang’s…
Body of Corsican journalist found in river
New York, June 21, 2001 — The body of 52-year old journalist Nicolas Giudici was found in a river in northern Corsica on June 17, according to local and international press reports. Giudici had been shot twice, once in the head. His torched car was found 50 kilometers away in the town of Cervione. Guidici…
CPJ Alarmed by Venezuelan High Court “Truthful Information” Ruling
New York, June 21, 2001 — In a letter sent today to President Hugo Chávez Frías, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed alarm about the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s recent decision that issues criteria for “timely, truthful, and impartial information” and specifies how this right may be exercised. “We are deeply concerned that Venezuelan officials…
CPJ Releases Latest Research on Shootings of Journalists in Israel and the Occupied Territories
June 20, 2001 — CPJ today released its latest research into the cases of journalists wounded by Israeli gunfire while covering unrest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since last September. The research, which was presented last week to Israeli ambassador to the U.S. David Ivry by a six-person CPJ delegation, lists the cases…
TWO JOURNALISTS KILLED IN ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS
New York, June 19, 2001 — Two Algerian journalists were killed last Thursday, June 14, while covering mass anti-government protests organized by Berber community leaders in the capital Algiers, CPJ has learned. Fadila Nejma, a reporter for the Arabic weekly Echourouk, died after being struck by a speeding bus during the protests. Nejma suffered severe…
CPJ denounces third postponement in Pasko trial
New York, June 19, 2001 — The espionage trial of Russian military journalist Grigory Pasko has been postponed yet again, according to the Itar-Tass news agency and CPJ sources in Vladivostok. CPJ denounces these delays, which are clearly intended to exhaust Pasko’s legal defense. Military authorities have been pursuing the investigative reporter for nearly four…
CPJ welcomes journalists’ release, but says sedition charges should be dropped
New York, June 18, 2001 — Three journalists with the Nepali-language daily Kantipur, Yubaraj Ghimire, Kailash Shirohiya, and Binod Raj Gyawali, were released from jail on June 15. They face a trial next month on sedition charges stemming from an opinion piece that suggested a conspiracy behind the assassination of Nepal’s royal family. “We are…