The Independent allowed to reopen; reporter still held
New York, April 24, 2006—Officials at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) today told staff of the private newspaper The Independent that authorities were lifting a month-long occupation of the newspaper’s offices in the capital, Banjul. General Manager Madi Ceesay, who is also secretary-general of the Gambia Press Union, told the Committee to Protect Journalists that…
Nepal: Journalists must be free to report on their country’s turmoil
New York, April 21, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on King Gyanendra, all political parties, and other groups to respect press freedom and ensure the safety of Nepalese journalists, more than 20 of whom remain in detention. “While Nepal is in political turmoil, we must remember the important role that journalists play at such…
Journalist detained, harrassed by security forces
APRIL 20, 2006 Antoine Bationo, Le Pays Boureïma Jeremie Sigue, Le Pays HARASSED Security forces detained and questioned Antoine Bationo, a sports journalist for the private daily Le Pays, after he interviewed former soldiers accused of mounting a coup attempt, local sources told CPJ.
Another journalist faces antistate charge
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the imprisonment of Goshu Moges, a veteran journalist arrested in February in what police described as a crackdown on terrorists linked to opposition parties. We are seeking further information about the evidence against him.
In Mexico, two bills would protect journalists
New York, April 20, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists lauds the Mexican Chamber of Deputies’ passage on Tuesday of a bill that would eliminate criminal defamation, libel, and slander laws from federal statute books. CPJ also welcomes the chamber’s approval of a second measure that allows journalists to withhold from authorities information about sources.
Saudi journalist, accused of un-Islamic writings, is freed
New York, April 20, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of Saudi journalist Rabah al-Quwai’, who was held for 13 days in retaliation for his writings about religious extremism. Al-Quwai’, a writer for the daily Shams, said he was compelled to sign a statement saying that he had denigrated Islamic beliefs in his…
Two Gambian journalists released; third still in custody
New York, April 20, 2006—Two senior journalists from a leading Gambian newspaper were released without charge today after three weeks in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Editor Musa Saidykhan and General Manager Madi Ceesay of the Banjul-based Independent were told to report to the NIA Friday morning, Ceesay told CPJ. A third…
Maldivian reporter gets life in prison; CPJ seeks thorough review
New York, April 20, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed by the Maldivian government’s prosecution of journalists working for Minivan News, a media group affiliated with the opposition Maldivian Democracy Party. Minivan Daily reporter Abdullah Saeed, known as Fahala, was sentenced on Wednesday to life imprisonment on a drug charge, which colleagues believe was…
Vietnam: Government harasses two journalists
New York, April 20, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harassment of Vietnamese journalists Duong Phu Cuong and Nguyen Huy Cuong, who were detained and interrogated on the morning of April 17 at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport. They were released later the same day, and it’s unclear if Vietnamese authorities…
China’s jailed e-journalists
Hu Jintao and Bill Gates will have had a lot to talk about Tuesday, when the Chinese president visited Microsoft’s Redmond campus. With the mainstream Chinese media heavily censored, the Internet has become a vital outlet for independent journalism, critical writing and information. The authorities are ruthless in their suppression of criticism of their rule in any medium. China has jailed more writers and journalists than any other country, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.