Imprisoned journalist freed
New York, July 26, 2004—Journalist Tha Ban, a former editor at Kyemon newspaper and a prominent pro-democracy activist, was released from Insein Prison in the capital, Rangoon, on July 12 after serving more than six years of his seven-year prison sentence. According to the BBC, he was released from prison after signing a pledge not…
Hong Kong newspaper offices raided
New York, July 26, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today condemned an anti-corruption agency’s weekend raids against at least six newspapers, calling the tactic “unnecessary and heavy-handed.” Officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) launched the raids after the six newspapers reported the name of a witness in a fraud investigation. The ICAC,…
Government agent acquitted in photographer’s death
New York, July 26, 2004—An intelligence agent charged with killing Canadian-Iranian freelance photographer Zahra Kazemi in July 2003 was acquitted on Saturday, July 24. Citing insufficient evidence, an Iranian court acquitted Agent Mohamed Reza Aqdam Ahmadi of the “semi-intentional murder” of Kazemi, who died while in official custody last year after she was detained for…
CPJ concerned by new draft of press law
New York, July 23, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and five other press freedom groups (Article 19, Media Institute of Southern Africa, Media Foundation of West Africa, Media Rights Agenda, and the International Federation of Journalists) have written to Ethiopian Information Minister Bereket Simon expressing concern about the government’s latest draft of a proposed…
After journalists deported, bill would alter visa waiver program
Washington, July 23, 2004—A bill introduced this week in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow journalists from 27 “friendly” countries to enter the United States without a visa for up to 90 days—just as any other citizen of a “friendly” country may enter. Proposed by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the bill, known as HR…
CPJ urges repeal of desacato laws, welcomes initial step
Dear Mr. Salas: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide, welcomes the Legislative Assembly’s initial approval of constitutional reforms that repeal the constitutional basis for desacato (disrespect) laws. We urge Panamanian legislators to ratify these reforms.
Palestinian journalists threatened over coverage of political infighting
New York, July 22, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed by new threats against Palestinian journalists covering political unrest in the Gaza Strip, the most recent in a months-long series of actions by Palestinian militants and forces intended to stifle independent reporting there. Journalists working for the Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera and the…
Journalist found dead outside Moscow
New York, July 21, 2004—The body of Armenian journalist Pail Peloian was found on the side of a highway outside Russia’s capital, Moscow, on July 17, according to local and international press reports. Peloian had been severely beaten and stabbed multiple times and had a cracked skull and bruised face. The police found money, documents,…
Police raid independent newspaper
New York, July 20, 2004 – Financial police in the capital of Tbilisi raided the office of The Georgian Times after the independent weekly newspaper published a series of articles questioning how a prosecutor had acquired certain assets. On July 14, financial police “confiscated a year’s worth of accounting documents without a proper search warrant,”…