Police occupy journalists’ union in Kogi State
New York, June 24, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the actions of police in Nigeria’s central Kogi State, where officers have occupied the local chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, harassed local journalists, and detained the local union chairman, according to local journalists and the Lagos-based press freedom group Media Rights…
Russian court imposes prison term in defamation case
New York, June 24, 2005—An arbitration court in the southern Russian city of Saratov convicted Eduard Abrosimov, a journalist and adviser to former regional governor Dmitry Ayatskov, of criminal defamation on Wednesday and sentenced him to seven months in a prison colony for defaming public officials in two articles published last year in national and…
CPJ gravely concerned about threat against editor
Dear Prime Minister Kostunica: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply dismayed by the Serbian Interior Ministry’s failure to promptly respond to a credible death threat made against Grujica Spasovic, editor-in-chief of the Belgrade-based independent daily Danas (Today). An anonymous telephone threat was made to the newspaper on June 11 after Danas reported that your government has identified the town where indicted war criminal Ratko Mladic is hiding. We call on you to ensure that the threat is thoroughly investigated and that appropriate protection is provided to Spasovic.
In Burundi, journalist who said president depressed is freed on bail
New York, June 23, 2005—Radio and online journalist Etienne Ndikuriyo was released on bail today after spending more than a week in jail for writing a story about the health of President Domitien Ndayizeye. Criminal charges are pending, and he has been ordered to report to a judge once a week, according to his lawyer,…
Nepalese authorities harass journalists for reporting on the military
New York, June 23, 2005—Nepalese authorities continue to harass and intimidate journalists who independently cover military activities. Local newspapers report that two editors were interrogated this week and urged to disclose their sources for stories involving the Royal Nepalese Army. Police today questioned Kishor Karki, editor of Blast Time, a daily newspaper based in the…
NEPAL
JUNE 22-23, 2005 Posted: June 30, 2005 Kishor Karki, Blast TimeKishor Shrestha, Jana Aastha HARASSED Police questioned Kishor Karki, editor of Blast Time, a daily newspaper based in the town of Dharan, about his reporting on a clash between the government and Maoist rebels, according to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ).
NEPAL
JUNE 22, 2005 Posted: June 24, 2005 Ten journalists HARASSED Police arrested 10 journalists who were protesting media restrictions in Banepa, in the central district of Kavre, according to nepalnews.com and local sources. Journalists had gathered to read poetry and sing in support of press freedom and democracy. They were arrested after entering an area…
CPJ disturbed that jailed editor denied due process
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned that imprisoned journalist Paul Kamara has been denied due process of law. Administrative obstacles have prevented his appeal from being heard, according to his lawyer, and Kamara has now served more than eight months of a two-year prison sentence. His family and friends say he was transferred to solitary confinement four months ago.
Opposition photojournalist dies six months after dispute
New York, June 22, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply saddened by the death on Sunday of Alim Kazimli, photo correspondent for the Baku-based opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat (New Equality). Despite a lengthy hospital stay and home medical treatment for a December 2004 stroke that left him partially paralyzed, the 51-year-old Kazimli died several…