In lawsuit, Chinese writers allege Cisco aids government
Three Chinese writers who have spent time in prison for articles published online are suing California-based Cisco Systems Inc., according to international news reports. The suit accuses the company of providing information and technology to Chinese authorities that facilitated the writers’ detentions–allegations that Cisco flatly denies. Chinese security officials have already interrogated one of the…
Venezuelan newspaper shut, executives charged
New York, August 24, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the closure of the Venezuelan newspaper 6to Poder after a judge ruled on Monday that the weekly cease distribution. The newspaper’s owner and a top executive were charged with incitement to hatred, insulting a public official, and publicly denigrating women after the paper published a…
In Russia, new suspect detained in Politkovskaya’s slaying
New York, August 24, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the detention of a new suspect in the murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, left, who was shot in her apartment building in 2006. The suspect, retired Lt. Col. Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, is said to have formed a criminal group tasked with killing her, and the journalist’s…
Philippine radio commentator fatally shot
New York, August 24, 2011–Police in Negros Occidental province must thoroughly investigate Monday’s murder of radio commentator Niel Jimena, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. CPJ is investigating the killing to determine whether it was work-related.
Uribe labels journalists “terrorism sympathizers”
New York, August 24, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about comments made by former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez that could endanger journalists Juan Forero and Claudia Julieta Duque and jeopardize press freedom in the country. Forero is the Washington Post’s Andean region correspondent and Duque is a journalist who works in Colombia.
Video: Journalists holed up in Rixos Hotel
About 35 international journalists remained holed up in Tripoli’s Rixos Hotel today, unable to leave the location, according to news reports. New video from The Guardian, above, shows reporters and photojournalists inside the hotel. BBC correspondent Matthew Price said conditions “deteriorated massively” overnight as forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi patrolled the corridors. UPDATE: Journalists in…
Sudanese government continues to target press freedom
New York, August 23, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed by the continued violations of press freedom in Sudan. In August, Sudanese security services confiscated two newspapers, and on Monday, local journalists reported that the Sudanese National Assembly was considering introducing more restrictive press and publication laws that would further suffocate freedom of expression.
Indian forces assault, detain photojournalists in Kashmir
Two photojournalists said they were beaten by police and detained for several hours while they were covering a protest that escalated into a violent clash between youth and government forces in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on August 19, 2011, international news reports said.