Tolo TV crew beaten
July 29, 2006 Posted: August 30, 2006 Noorullah Rahmani, Tolo TV Qais Ahmad, Tolo TV ATTACKED A news crew from the privately owned Tolo TV was beaten by unidentified gunmen while filing a report on a demonstration against Member of Parliament Abdorrab Rasul Sayyaf in Paghman district of Kabul Province, according to the director of…
Peruvian court tosses convictions in journalist’s murder
New York, July 28, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the Peruvian Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the murder convictions of three men, one a local mayor, in the 2004 slaying of journalist Antonio de la Torre Echeandía. The court, in a July 21 decision, freed the three defendants without immediate explanation.…
Mob threatens photographer covering pre-election riot
New York, July 28, 2006—Journalist Emmanuel Makila was surrounded by rioters and threatened with death after an election rally by presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba yesterday in Kinshasa. Makila, who works for private weeklies The Post and Révélateur, told the Committee to Protect Journalists he was saved by a few bystanders who pleaded with the mob…
President signs law labeling criticism of state officials “extremism”
New York, July 28, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a new law broadening the definition of extremism to include media criticism of state officials. Despite local and international criticism, President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the Law on Fighting Extremist Activity today, according to Russian press reports. The new legislation will allow…
U.S. Senate issues condemnation in Klebnikov killing
New York, July 28, 2006—The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a resolution condemning the July 2004 murder of Forbes Russia Editor Paul Klebnikov, U.S. Sens. Sam Brownback and Hillary Clinton announced this week. The resolution calls on Russia’s government to aggressively pursue the murder investigation and accept a U.S. offer for assistance, Clinton and Brownback…
Three journalists convicted of criminal defamation
JULY 27, 2006 Posted August 8, 2006 Anaylis Cañizales, “Los dueños del circo” Enrique Crespo, “Los dueños del circo” Alí David Demey, “Los dueños del circo” LEGAL ACTION A Santo Domingo judge found Cañizales, Crespo, and Demey guilty of criminal defamation, after charges were brought in June by the Association of Art Reporters (Acroarte). The…
TV crews allege targeting by Israeli warplanes in the south
New York, July 27, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern today over allegations by several television crews that Israeli warplanes had attacked them, effectively shutting down live television coverage from southeast Lebanon. Crews from four Arab television stations told CPJ that Israeli aircraft fired missiles within 80 yards (75 meters) of them on July…
Ex-officer says he plotted editor’s murder; some are skeptical
New York, July 27, 2006—A former Interior Ministry officer facing trial on a series of charges including murder and kidnapping said in court on Tuesday that he took part in another, unrelated killing—the March 2005 murder of Elmar Huseynov, founder and editor of the Baku-based opposition weekly news magazine Monitor, according to local and international…
Palestine TV alleges cameraman was targeted by Israeli tank
New York, July 27, 2006–The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by the wounding of Palestine Television cameraman Ibrahim al-Atla by an Israeli tank shell while covering fighting in Gaza. Palestine Television head Mohammed al-Dahoudi alleged that the tank fired deliberately at al-Atla and other journalists with him. Al-Atla was hit by shrapnel during…