Archives 2005-1014: News
Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has caleld for a swift and thorough probe into the July 31 arson attack on the home of Oleksiy Matsuka, a well-known investigative journalist based in the eastern city of Donetsk. Matsuka edits the regional news website Novosti Donbassa. “The authorities must react with firmness and, as this journalist’s life is clearly in serious danger, they must guarantee his safety by providing him with bodyguards until those responsible for... MORE
There has been an increase in threats and acts of intimidation against journalists in the southwestern port city of Karachi. Two TV reporters, Syed Shahryar Asim of Aaj TV and Malik Munawar of Channel 5, have been attacked in connection with their work in the past 10 days alone. “We urge the authorities to break the cycle of violence and impunity by investigating both of these cases thoroughly, and we remind them that the safety of journalists must be guaranteed if any democracy is to be able... MORE
A savage attack was carried out July 29 on Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan, 59, the editor of the Tamil-language daily Uthayan , who was beaten by unidentified men with iron bars in the northern city of Jaffna. He was rushed to hospital, where he was in a critical condition with serious head injuries and still unconscious. “We demand a rapid and thorough investigation into this appalling crime,” Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) said. “The violence used by his attackers... MORE
Ahamad Omid Khpalwak, a reporter for the BBC and the Afghan news agency Pajhwok, was killed July 28 during Taliban attacks on several buildings in Tarin Kot, the capital of the southern province of Oruzgan. Khpalwak was in one of the targeted buildings, the provincial headquarters of the national radio and TV station. “We offer our condolences to Khpalwak’s family and friends,” Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) said. “A talented young journalist, he had the courage... MORE
There has been a series of attacks, threats and demonstrations since mid-June targeting the Agence France-Presse bureau in Amman and its chief, Randa Habib, according to Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). “The protests against AFP in Amman have taken a disturbing turn, with the demonstrators using threats and violence,” RSF said. “Intimidation attempts of this kind, which hamper the work of journalists, are unacceptable. We call on Yehya Saud, the parliamentarian... MORE
Riven by conflicts between influential groups, Afghanistan is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. The Taliban, politicians and religious leaders are all guilty of press freedom violations and attacks on journalists. The violations take many forms including threats, physical attacks, arbitrary detentions, abusive trials and convictions, and kidnapping. The violence against Radio Paiman, an independent radio station in the northern province of Baghlan which has received... MORE
The discovery of the body of Yolanda Ordaz de la Cruz, a crime reporter and columnist for the regional daily Notiver on July 26 in the east-coast port city of Veracruz, adds her name to the long list of journalists who have been murdered or have disappeared in Mexico. A total of 77 have been killed since 2000 and 23 have gone missing since 2003. According to a Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) tally, seven Mexican journalists have been murdered since the start of... MORE
Two close associates of Syed Saleem Shahzad, an Islamabad-based investigative reporter for the Asia Times online newspaper whose dead body was found in Punjab province on 31 May, have given interviews to Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) in which they accuse the authorities of showing little interest in investigating his murder. “We voice our support for Shahzad’s relatives and colleagues and we urge the authorities to guarantee their safety,” RSF said. “Several of... MORE
Haileyesus Worku, the editor of the state-owned Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA), and one of his reporters, Abdulsemed Mohammed, were finally released on bail of 5,000 birr (205 euros) on July 22 after being held for 15 months on charges of illegally selling state-owned news content for personal gain, according to Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). The court has scheduled a hearing for 12 November to hear defence arguments. The two journalists are... MORE
An Istanbul court for minors on July 25 passed a sentence of 22 years and 10 months in prison on Ogün Samast after convicting him of being the trigger-man in the January 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor Hrant Dink. Aged 17 at the time of the shooting, Samast was also ordered to pay to a fine of 600 Turkish lira (300 euros), Paris-based press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) reported. “By imposing almost the maximum sentence on the leading suspect in Dink’s murder,... MORE
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