May 10, 2005 The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the police investigation of independent documentary filmmaker Martyn See who is being questioned under Singapore’s stringent Films Act. On May 6, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chan Peng Khuang called See to inform him that police had received a copy of his film…
MAY 9, 2005 Posted: May 10, 2005 Honoré Sepe, Le Front HARASSED Three armed gendarmes came to Honoré Sepe’s house at 4 a.m. and demanded to be let in, although they admitted they had no warrant, according to the journalist. Sepe refused to let them in and instead called his lawyer. As he was on…
Your Majesty: Nearly 100 days after Your Majesty dismissed the government and curtailed civil liberties, press freedom has not been restored. Your Majesty has not lifted a ban on reporting that goes “against the letter and spirit” of your February 1 proclamation. A ban on FM radio news broadcasting remains in place, depriving rural citizens of their only source of independent news. And your government continues to harass and intimidate journalists.
MAY 8, 2005 Posted: June 10, 2005 Zéphirin Kaya, Radio Ndeke Luka Patrick Akibata, Radio Ndeke Luka Maka Gbossokotto, Le Citoyen THREATENED Kaya, Akibata and Gbossokotto received death threats following critical coverage of the second round of presidential and parliamentary elections on May 8. Reinhard Moser, head of independent station Radio Ndeke Luka, and Le…
MAY 8, 2005 Posted: June 15, 2005 Al-Majd CENSORED Fahd al-Rimawi, editor of the weekly newspaper Al-Majd, told CPJ that publication of his May 8 edition was delayed by the printer under pressure from security officials. Authorities objected to Al-Majd’s planned interview with a member of parliament who said he supported the Iraqi insurgency and…
MAY 7, 2005 Posted: May 17, 2005 All Journalists CENSORED Burma’s military rulers restricted coverage of casualties from bomb blasts at two shopping malls and a trade center in the capital Rangoon. Exiled Burmese news sources reported that the government censored blast-related stories in the local media, while medical workers told international reporters that authorities…
MAY 6, 2005 Posted: May 17, 2005 Martyn See, freelance HARASSED Police were investigating See, an independent documentary filmmaker, under Singapore’s stringent Films Act. On May 6, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chan Peng Khuang called See to inform him that police had received a copy of his film “Singapore Rebel” and had initiated an investigation,…
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harsh 10-year prison sentence handed to journalist Shi Tao on charges of “illegally providing state secrets to foreigners” after an unfair trial last week. Shi plans to submit an appeal in advance of a May 10 deadline. We call on authorities to drop the state secrets charge against him, which your government has used with disturbing frequency to imprison journalists, and to ensure Shi’s immediate and unconditional release.
New York, May 6, 2005—Using antiquated criminal laws dating back to Indonesia’s colonial era, a district court in the city of Lampung on the island of Sumatra found two journalists guilty of criminal defamation and sentenced them to nine months in prison on Wednesday. The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the ruling and the…