Rory Peck Trust and Committee to Protect Journalists release Syria Media Safety Resource
London, August 5, 2015-A new safety resource for Syrian journalists seeks to help those working in or near the country to better protect themselves amid unprecedented threats and a lack of security information in Arabic. The Rory Peck Trust, in collaboration with the Committee to Protect Journalists and a coalition of international journalist assistance organisations,…
Militia in central Somalia detains six journalists for four days
Ahlu Sunna Waljama, a formerly government-aligned religious militia based in central Somalia, detained six journalists from July 31, 2015, to August 3, 2015, in the central town of Dhusamareb, according to news reports and local journalists.
Mexican photojournalist who fled violent Veracruz state murdered in capital
Mexico City, August 3, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of Mexican photojournalist Rubén Espinosa and calls on authorities to investigative all motives in the killing and ensure the perpetrators are held to account. Espinosa, who had fled to the capital from Veracruz state after receiving threats, was found murdered in a Mexico…
West Bengal journalist who covered corruption reported missing in India
New York, August 3, 2015–A correspondent who wrote about corruption for a Bengali-language daily has been reported missing in the Indian state of West Bengal, according to news reports. Chayan Sarkar’s disappearance comes as a number of journalists have been attacked after reporting on corruption around India.
Burundi security agents attack journalist covering murder of top general
Nairobi, August 3, 2015–Burundi security forces detained and beat a journalist on Sunday while he was covering the assassination of a top general in the capital, Bujumbura, according to news reports and the journalist. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attack and calls on Burundian authorities to launch a full and efficient investigation.
Justice delayed is justice denied in Philippines’ Maguindanao massacre
During his final State of the Nation Address this week, President Benigno Aquino III made only a passing mention of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre that killed 57 people, including 32 journalists and media workers. He did not detail any plans for action on the case, despite his vow to deliver justice before his term ends…
Five Myanmar journalists freed from prison as part of mass amnesty
Bangkok, July 31, 2015–Five journalists jailed on anti-state charges in Myanmar were released on Thursday in a presidential amnesty of nearly 7,000 prisoners, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the journalists’ release but calls on Myanmar authorities to release all other journalists imprisoned in the country.
CPJ calls on IOC to ensure press freedom at 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing
New York, July 31, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the decision to award the 2022 Winter Olympic Games to Beijing and calls on the International Olympic Committee to ensure that journalists are able to freely cover all aspects of the Games, including sensitive issues such as construction of the venues, possible protests,…