Brazil: CPJ appalled by reported torture of journalists, driver
New York, June 2, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists is shocked by allegations that a paramilitary group with links to local police kidnapped and tortured two journalists and a driver working undercover in a Rio de Janeiro slum. CPJ called on Brazilian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. “We are appalled by O Dia’s allegations…
CPJ seeks probe into report that soccer star assaulted journalist
New York, June 2, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for a thorough and transparent investigation into a scuffle Friday between members of Cameroon’s soccer team and journalists following a pre-game press conference. Cameroon’s star striker Samuel Eto’o allegedly assaulted a reporter during the incident, according to local journalists and news reports. Philippe Boney,…
Afghan journalist’s appeal delayed over torture investigation
New York, June 2, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned today about a further delay in the appeal of Afghan journalist Parwez Kambakhsh. Kambakhsh is appealing a death sentence for blasphemy in a Kabul court. The appeal was delayed on Sunday pending medical corroboration of Kambakhsh’s allegation that he was tortured in prison, according…
CPJ calls on Burma to allow in foreign journalists
Prime Minister Thein Sein: The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes your government’s recent decision to allow foreign aid and relief workers into Burma. We now urgently call on you to extend this openness to foreign journalists so that they may report on the relief efforts to deal with the disastrous aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
CPJ mourns death of photographer in Kenya
New York, May 29, 2008—CPJ is deeply troubled by the death of award-winning photojournalist Trent Keegan, whose body was found on Wednesday in a ditch in Nairobi, Kenya. Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told Agence France-Presse that Keegan was found with head injuries in a drainage trench along a central highway. Police have opened an inquest,…
TV reporter slain in northern Sri Lanka
New York, May 29, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the brutal murder of a television journalist in the conflict-ridden Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Paranirupasingham Devakumar, Jaffna correspondent for the Maharaja Television news channel News 1st, was stabbed to death by a group of unidentified people on Wednesday evening, according to…
CPJ condemns ban of Guinean paper over editorial
New York, May 28, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a two-month ban summarily handed to a Guinean independent newspaper last week over an editorial that raised critical questions about the health of President Lansana Conté’s second wife. The state-run National Communications Council decided on the ban, which is the third suspension of a newspaper…
Tibetan blog hacked
May 27, 2008 POSTED June 11, 2008 Woeser, www.woeser.middle-way.net HARASSED The Web site of a leading Beijing-based Tibetan commentator with the single name Woeser was hacked and her Skype identity stolen, according to Robbie Barnett, who runs Columbia University’s Tibetan Studies program.
Newspaper’s distributors beaten in Zimbabwe, papers burned
New York, May 27, 2008–CPJ condemns the beating of distributors for private weekly The Zimbabwean on Sunday last week. Unknown assailants hijacked and burned down the distributors’ truck, which was carrying 60,000 copies of the paper. “Attacking these media workers and burning newspapers is nothing but brutal censorship of one of the country’s last remaining…