New York, July 23, 2003—Two of three journalists who have been imprisoned in Togo for more than a month were released early this morning from custody. Philip Evégnon, publication director of the private weekly L’Evenement, and Jean de Dieu Kpakpabia, journalist at the private weekly Nouvel Echo, were acquitted of “attempting to publish false information…
New York, July 21, 2003—Zahra Kazemi, the Canadian-Iranian photojournalist who died in Iranian government custody two weeks ago, died as a result of a skull fracture, according to an Iranian government inquiry into her death. The official Iranian new agency IRNA reported yesterday that the inquiry, commissioned earlier this month by Iranian president Mohamed Khatami,…
New York, July 18, 2003—Renowned Peruvian journalist Gustavo Gorriti traveled to Cuba last week on behalf of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and confirmed the dire situation for independent Cuban journalists and their families, who are suffering from harassment, humiliating prison conditions, and psychological pressures.
Nova York, 18 de julho de 2003 O renomado jornalista peruano Gustavo Gorriti viajou a Cuba na semana passada, representando o Comitê para Proteção dos Jornalistas (CPJ), e comprovou a grave situação dos jornalistas independentes cubanos e suas famílias, que sofrem perseguições, pressões psicológicas e humilhantes condições penitenciárias. A missão se originou à raiz…
New York, July 18, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the decision by Indonesian authorities to prosecute free-lance journalist William Nessen, a U.S. citizen who was arrested on June 24 after spending weeks reporting from rebel-held territory in war-torn Aceh Province. Aceh state prosecutor Tengku Lutfi told journalists today that Nessen has been charged…
New York, July 17, 2003—A top Iranian official said yesterday that the death of Canadian-Iranian free-lance photojournalist Zahra Kazemi might have be en caused by a fall or another accident, contradicting an announcement the same day by Iranian vice president Mohammad Ali Abtahi that Kazemi died from a “brain hemorrhage resulting from beatings” Iranian foreign…
New York, July 16, 2003—A top Vietnamese government official has said that imprisoned writer and publisher Nguyen Dan Que would be released only if he agrees to leave Vietnam permanently and live in exile, according to a Sunday, July 13, report from the U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) confirmed by CPJ. RFA reported that Deputy…
New York, July 15, 2003—Three imprisoned Togolese journalists announced yesterday morning that they would begin a 48-hour hunger strike to protest their continued detention on charges of “publishing false information and disturbing public order.” Dimas Dzikodo and Philip Evégnon, editor-in-chief and publication director, respectively, of the private weekly L’Evenement, and Jean de Dieu Kpakpabia, journalist…
New York, July 14, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the arrest of Eritrean journalist Aklilu Solomon, Asmara-based stringer for the U.S. governmentfunded Voice of America (VOA) news service. Eritrean security officers arrested Solomon at his home on Tuesday, July 8, and took him to an undisclosed location. Ten days earlier, authorities had stripped…
New York, July 11, 2003—A Georgian court sentenced former police officer Grigol Khurtsilava on Wednesday, July 9, to a 13-year prison term for the July 2001 murder of popular television journalist Georgy Sanaya. Sanaya anchored “Night Courier,” a nightly political talk show on the independent television station Rustavi 2 in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. The journalist…