CPJ sends letter of inquiry to attorney general
New York, August 7, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday sent a letter of inquiry to Adolfo González Rodas, attorney general of Guatemala, expressing concern about the August 1 attack by police officers against four Guatemalan journalists who were covering demonstrations protesting a recent tax raise. According to local sources, when police moved to arrest…
U.S. REPORTER JAILED FOR CONTEMPT
New York, August 7, 2001—In a letter sent today to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, CPJ called for the release of free-lance writer Vanessa Leggett, who has spent the last two weeks in a Texas jail after refusing to turn over research materials about a high-profile murder case to federal prosecutors. CPJ believes that no…
Court refuses to consider lifting ban on controversial Chilean book
New York, August 6, 2001—The Santiago Appeals Court refused to consider journalist Alejandra Matus’ petition to authorize the circulation of The Black Book of Chilean Justice, her muckraking exposé of the Chilean judiciary that was banned more than two years ago. The Chilean judiciary seems unwilling to lift the ban even though a new press…
Parliament may repeal controversial information law
New York, July 25, 2001–After a firestorm of criticism from the Paraguayan press, Parliament has announced plans to repeal a controversial new access to information law that severely restricts the ability of journalists to obtain public records. President Luis González Macchi signed Law 1728 on Administrative Transparency and Free Access to Information on July 16.…
Horacio Verbitsky: Awardee 2001
HORACIO VERBITSKY is one of Argentina’s leading investigative journalists, and a columnist and press freedom activist. He has built his distinguished career by fearlessly exposing government corruption and battling restrictive press laws. A working journalist since 1960, Verbitsky’s relentless pursuit of a story has earned him his nickname el perro, or the dog. In January 1991, Verbitsky…
Journalist jailed for distributing “false information”
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is writing to condemn the unjust prosecution of José Orlando González Bridón, a Cuban journalist and labor activist who was recently sentenced to two years in jail for distributing “false information.”
CPJ Alarmed by Venezuelan High Court “Truthful Information” Ruling
New York, June 21, 2001 — In a letter sent today to President Hugo Chávez Frías, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed alarm about the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s recent decision that issues criteria for “timely, truthful, and impartial information” and specifies how this right may be exercised. “We are deeply concerned that Venezuelan officials…
Radio journalist threatened for comments about ruling party
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is profoundly concerned about recent threats against Roosevelt Benjamin, director of information of the radio station Signal FM, based in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Pétion-Ville. We urge Your Excellency to guarantee the safety of our colleague.
Local press freedom group launches emergency network
New York, June 5, 2001 — At a recent seminar in Guatemala City, the local press freedom organization Centro para la Defensa de la Libertad de Expresión (CEDEX) encouraged journalists from all over Guatemala to report attacks on the press in their areas. Journalists in Guatemala often face violent threats in response to their work,…