Globovisión journalists attacked in Venezuela
New York, March 6, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Sunday’s attack in Venezuela on Globovisión journalists covering an opposition political rally that came under gunfire. The station reported that assailants, who wore the red shirts associated with supporters of President Hugo Chávez, threatened the journalists and stole their equipment.
Puntland radio station closed, director held
New York, March 5, 2012–Authorities in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia shut down an independent radio broadcaster and arrested the station’s director over coverage of fighting between the government and Al-Shabaab militants, local journalists said.Around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, armed police arriving in two vehicles raided Codka Nabadda (Voice of Peace) in the port city of…
Kuwaiti daily suspended for ‘creating sectarian strife’
New York, March 5, 2012–Kuwaiti authorities must lift their suspension of the privately owned newspaper Al-Dar and drop antistate charges lodged in connection with articles that sought to defend the country’s Shiite minority, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Ahead of elections, Russian media are duly warned
Russia’s leading independent media head into Sunday’s elections–in which Vladimir Putin is expected to be handed his third presidential term–burdened by a series of warnings. Over the past few months, beginning with the parliamentary elections held December 4, Kremlin allies have taken several steps designed to put news outlets on alert for uncensored coverage of…
Sudan attempts to silence opposition news coverage
New York, March 1, 2012–Sudanese authorities must halt their efforts to silence news coverage of opposition leadership, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Authorities have already closed three newspapers in 2012 and confiscated thousands of copies, CPJ research shows.
‘Invisible Tibet’ blogger elicits China’s extra-judicial ire
Beijing-based blogger Woeser reported on her website Invisible Tibet today that she has been confined to her residence by Beijing public security officers who are stationed outside her home. Woeser, an outspoken critic of Chinese government policies in Tibet, has written about a series of recent self-immolations among monks and arrests of writers in western…
Was letter to Haiti website just part of Martelly’s theatrics?
As a former entertainer better known as “Sweet Micky,” it is perhaps unsurprising that Haitian President Michel Martelly has been theatrical at times in his dealings with the press. At one media event in October, the President answered a critical question posed by a journalist by telling him, “I curse your mother,” according to press…