Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy
What to make of Singapore’s first and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died Monday morning in the city-state? Under the banner of the People’s Action Party, Lee held government power for three decades. After stepping away from the prime minister’s office in 1990, he held positions of senior minister and later “minister mentor”…
South African police repeatedly force journalists to delete photos
South Africa is synonymous with crime in the eyes of many–as evidenced by the recent mugging of a TV crew live on camera–but for the press, a more sinister threat to freedom lies in the growing number of cases where it is the police, in flagrant denial of their orders, who intimidate and threaten journalists,…
Nigerian journalist threatened, rebuffed by police
Lagos, Nigeria, March 20, 2015–A Nigerian journalist told the Committee to Protect Journalists he received threats on Sunday and reported them to the police but had been rebuffed. CPJ condemns the threats and calls on Nigerian authorities to ensure the journalist’s safety.
Russian media regulator denies registration to Crimean news outlets
New York, March 19, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the deteriorating media climate in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that was annexed by Russia last year. On April 1, a news agency and a media company face being shut down after being denied registration by the Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor, according to news…
Investigative journalist Carmen Aristegui fired from Mexican radio station
She exposed government corruption with investigative reporting that made international headlines, helped launch the Mexicoleaks whistleblower website, and was voted second most powerful woman in the country last year by Forbes Mexico, but Carmen Aristegui, one of the country’s most popular radio journalists, has been fired from MVS Radio after demanding that the privately owned…
Algerian minister threatens to revoke accreditation of foreign press
On March 12, 2015, Algerian Communications Minister Hamid Grine said in a press conference that authorities had the right to revoke the accreditation of foreign correspondents if the journalists engaged in insult or defamation, according to news reports.
Ethiopia denies Temesghen Desalegn access to medical care in jail
Nairobi, March 16, 2015–Authorities in Ethiopia have denied medical attention to Ethiopian journalist Temesghen Desalegn, who has been imprisoned since October, according to sources close to the journalist. Temesghen Desalegn, owner of the now-defunct newsmagazine Feteh (Justice), is serving a three-year term in Ziway Prison, outside Addis Ababa, on charges of defamation, incitement, and false…
Journalists assaulted, detained in Myanmar crackdown
Bangkok, March 12, 2015–Journalists covering a security force clampdown on a student protest in central Myanmar on Tuesday were harassed, attacked, and detained by police, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the assault on and detention of journalists and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all reporters in police…