News Wrap for 7/28/08
The International Herald Tribune takes a looks at the recent murder of Cambodian journalist Khim Sambor, who worked for one of only two opposition papers operating in the Southeast Asian country. The article also examines the overall press freedom climate in Cambodia as the nation held presidential elections over the weekend. The burning of a…
In Rio de Janeiro, armed men threaten photographers covering political campaign
New York, July 28, 2008–Armed and hooded men threatened three Brazilian photographers covering a weekend visit by Sen. Marcelo Crivella, a Rio de Janeiro mayoral candidate, to a poor city neighborhood. The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Brazilian authorities to ensure that journalists covering sensitive issues such as drug trafficking and organized crime…
Panama: Columnist barred from leaving the country
New York, July 28, 2008–A Panamanian judge barred sports columnist Bienvenido Brown from leaving the country and ordered him to stand trial on criminal defamation charges filed in 2005. Eleventh Criminal Court Judge Josefina Sclopis issued the ruling on Friday against Brown, a columnist with the daily La Estrella de Panamá, the newspaper reported. The…
Palestinian cameraman arrested by Hamas
New York, July 28, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the July 26 arrest of a Palestinian cameraman in Gaza by Hamas security services. Hamas security agents arrested Sawah Abu Seif, a cameraman with German broadcaster ARD TV in his home in Tel al-Hawa in southwest Gaza following an explosion that Hamas blamed…
Lesotho: CPJ condemns suspension of private radio station
New York, July 28, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the decision by the Lesotho Communications Authority last week to suspend private radio broadcaster Harvest FM for three months. The decision to suspend the award-winning station on July 21 follows defamation complaints lodged separately by the principal secretary in the Ministry of Communications and the…
RUSSIA: Web site editor kidnapped, beaten, threatened in Ingushetia
New York, July 28, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Friday’s vicious attack on Zurab Tsechoyev, editor of Mashr, a human rights Web site based in the volatile North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia. At least 50 armed, masked men in camouflage gear raided Tsechoyev’s home, shoved him into an armored personnel carrier, drove him to…
Gunshots fired at home of radio reporter
JULY 27, 2008 Posted August 6, 2008 Edín Rodelmiro Maas Bol, Radio Punto ATTACKED Unidentified individuals fired gunshots at the home of journalist Edín Rodelmiro Maas Bol moments after he had entered the house in Cobán, Alta Verapaz province, the reporter told CPJ.
At NABJ, questions arise about Senegalese president
Last week, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) invited Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade to speak about global climate change at its annual Unity Convention in Chicago, dubbed “the world’s largest gathering of journalists of color.” NABJ’s description of Wade as “a leading spokesperson for democracy and development” hardly conceals his poor press freedom record…
Welcome to the CPJ Blog
We hope to keep you informed here about the latest news affecting journalists and press freedom. We’ll continue to issue our press releases, letters, and carefully researched reports, but this blog should be your first step for up-to-the-minute information. We’ll have firsthand accounts from our staff as they travel the world and brief reports from…
Critical journalist’s home set on fire in the northern Amazon region
New York, July 24, 2008–Unidentified individuals set fire to the home of critical journalist Jeso Carneiro on Sunday night in the northern city of Santarém. No one was injured but the house suffered considerable damage. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Brazilian authorities to investigate the attack and provide the necessary protection to allow…