UNITED NATIONS, May 2 (IPS) - As the world reflects on the best and worst places to practice journalism on Press Freedom Day Wednesday, independent writers' groups and civil liberties advocates warn that Washington's "war on terror" is putting a growing chill on the basic democratic right of free expression. "Thanks in large part to the Patriot Act, our government is once again excluding foreign...
A top international group defending the rights of journalists says that 2005 was the deadliest year for the profession in a decade. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, in its annual report, says 63 journalists and five media assistants were killed worldwide last year. It says 120 journalists are currently in prison for exercising their profession. In the report, issued on the eve of World Press...
New York, May 1, 2006 - The publisher of Cameroon's English-language tabloid The Chronicle was beaten unconscious by the bodyguard and the driver of an opposition leader, local journalists told the Committee to Protect Journalists today. Eric Motomu, who also edits the paper, told CPJ he was attacked on Friday at a rally in the opposition stronghold of Northwest Province by the two men, who work...
In the month after the lifting of Proclamation 1017, journalists in the Philippines have reason to worry. Especially, those journalists inclined to take a more critical look at the government, probing and investigating issues and events, which some politicians would rather keep hidden and private. Last April 21, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez reportedly ordered the National Bureau of...
(FMM/IFEX) - Free Media Movement (FMM) is shocked to report that "Uthyan", the Tamil-language daily newspaper with the largest circulation in the capital of Jaffna, was attacked by unknown gunmen, resulting in the death of two media workers on the eve of World Press Freedom Day. According to reports coming from Jaffna, five gunmen entered the main office of "Uthyan" at around 7:45 p.m. (local time...
PRAGUE, May 2, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Vahid Pourostad, a media lawyer and member of the editorial board of the reformist "Etemad Melli" ("National Trust") newspaper, was attacked by an unknown assailant on the night of April 8. The man reportedly placed a knife on his throat and threatened to kill him. Pourostad was not hurt but his files were stolen. He revealed the details of the attack in his online...
PRAGUE, May 2, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Jamila Mujahed couldn't work under the Taliban. She had to stay home, like the majority of Afghan women. But soon after the U.S.-led military intervention there in 2001, Mujahed became the first female presenter to appear on television. In fact, she announced the fall of the Taliban regime. She is no longer alone. Activists estimate that there are about 1,000 women...
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Bernama) -- Media practitioners from Arab countries welcomed the proposal to set up an international Islamic journalism centre, which they say can change the perception of the world toward Muslims and Islamic countries. The idea to establish the centre was mooted by the Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin when opening a workshop for 23 journalists from 15 Arabic...
New York, April 28, 2006 - The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned that Yemeni journalists continue to be assaulted and harassed, while authorities have shown no sign that they are bringing the perpetrators to justice. Jamal Amer, editor of the weekly newspaper Al-Wasat, has been subjected to ongoing intimidation and harassment. On April 10, a known political security officer and...
New York, April 28, 2006 - The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the approval of two measures by the Mexico City Legislative Assembly - one decriminalizing defamation, libel and slander, and the other enabling journalists to withhold the identity of confidential sources. "We're gratified that the Mexico City assembly has adopted these measures, which represent important milestones in the...
