New York, Feb. 24, 1999 — With Nigeria on the threshold of a national presidential election and a possible return to democratic rule, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a special report today depicting the horrors Nigerian journalists have endured under oppressive military rule. Despite his promises of a democratic election and a transition…
New York, N.Y., Feb. 16, 1999 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomed the release of Chinese journalist Gao Yu on Monday after five years’ imprisonment in Beijing, while cautioning that China’s press freedom climate has worsened in recent months. At least 11 people remain in prison there on journalism-related charges. CPJ called on…
Washington, April 2, 1999 — A high-level delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) met today with Kuwait’s Ambassador Dr. Muhammad al-Sabah to urge the release of imprisoned journalists Fawwaz Muhammad al-Awadi Bessisso and Ibtisam Berto Sulaiman al-Dakhil, who have been held since 1991. They are the last remaining journalists in prison in Kuwait,…
April 2,1999 — The Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-partisan organizations dedicated to protecting its colleagues throughout the world, has documented several alarming new developments in Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic’s assault on independent journalists. On April 2, at 9:00 a.m. (Belgrade time), police officers arrived at Radio B92’s office and ordered the staff to immediately…
February 10,1999 His Excellency Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces State House, Abuja Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria VIA FAX: 011-234-95232 Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is greatly disturbed by news of the police raid on the Satellite Press in Ogba, Lagos,…
February 9, 1999 His Excellency Joaquim Alberto Chissano President Avenida Julius Nyerere 2000 Caixa Postal 285 Maputo, Mozambique Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) writes to express its deep alarm over the 23-day detention of Fernando Quinova, Cabo Delgado province correspondent for the Mass Communications Institute, in retaliation for the journalist’s critical reporting.
February 3, 1999 His Excellency Fidel Castro Ruz President of Cuba c/o United Nations Mission New York, NY Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to condemn the recent crackdown on the independent press in Cuba. The harassment, arrest, detention, and imprisonment of journalists who have committed no crime other than to…
February 3, 1999 Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda Republic of Slovakia Dear Mr. Dzurinda, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is seeking clarification of the reasons behind the recent dismissal of 26 employees (see list below) of the Slovak Television Station (STV). After you came to power following the September elections, Milan Materak was chosen to…
January 23, 1999 His Excellency President Robert Mugabe Office of the President Causeway, Harare Zimbabwe Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is outraged over the acts of torture reportedly committed by military police and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) agents against Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto, editor and reporter respectively, for the weekly independent…
January 23, 1999 His Excellency Boris Yeltsin President of the Russian Federation Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by the criminal prosecution of Altaf Galeyev for practicing his profession of journalism. His trial is scheduled to begin on February 4, 1999. Galeyev was formerly the news director of Radio Titan,…