Social media still blocked in Sri Lanka following terror attack
Several social media sites remained blocked in Sri Lanka today, according to NetBlocks, an independent, international civil society group that monitors internet censorship. Sri Lankan authorities blocked the sites, along with several messaging apps, throughout the country on April 21, following a terrorist attack that left more than 253 people dead, according to international news…
Myanmar military sues The Irrawaddy for criminal defamation over conflict coverage
Bangkok, April 25, 2019 — Myanmar’s military should drop its criminal defamation case against independent news outlet The Irrawaddy over its coverage of the conflict in the country’s Rakhine state, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Philippine news and human rights organizations accused of ‘plot’ against Duterte
Washington, D.C., April 24, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern over Philippines President Roderigo Duterte providing information to The Manila Times, a local daily, alleging that media and legal groups orchestrated a “plot” to discredit and oust him.
Myanmar court rejects appeal by Reuters’ Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
New York, April 22, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed deep disappointment today after the Myanmar Supreme Court upheld Reuters’ journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo’s convictions. Reuters reported that the Supreme Court justice said the appeal was rejected and did not elaborate further.
Two sentenced to death for 2018 killing of Afghan journalist Abdul Manan Arghand
New York, April 17, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Afghan government to deliver justice through a fair and transparent process after two suspects were sentenced to death for the killing of Kabul News journalist Abdul Manan Arghand.
CPJ mission finds increased intimidation, shrinking space for free press in the Philippines
Manila, April 16, 2019–A Committee to Protect Journalists mission to the Philippines, led by Board Chair Kathleen Carroll, found increasing levels of intimidation and a shrinking space for the free press in the country. The mission–joined by Peter Greste, director of the Australia-based Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom (AJF), and CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler–is…
Tandav News editor Giri investigated under Nepal’s cybercrime act
New York, April 15, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on authorities in Nepal to not pursue charges under the country’s cybercrime act against Arjun Giri, the editor of the weekly Tandav News, who was briefly detained today.
Civil case filed in US over murder of Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga
Washington, D.C., April 15, 2019 — Today, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, in Los Angeles, unsealed a civil lawsuit against former Sri Lankan Defense Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a dual U.S.-Sri Lankan citizen, seeking damages for his alleged involvement in the 2009 killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga,…
Australian journalists could be jailed for allegedly violating court’s gag order
Washington, D.C., April 11, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about summons issued by the Victoria state supreme court in Australia to 23 journalists and 13 news organizations to appear on April 15 and face possible prison sentences or fines. The journalists and outlets allegedly breached a court order to suppress…
Indian court gags news outlets from reporting ‘derogatory’ information about candidate
A Bengaluru court on March 30, 2019, issued a gag order to 44 Indian news outlets as well as Google, WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Yahoo, barring the outlets and platforms from publishing “defamatory and derogatory” content about Tejasvi Surya, a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, according to independent Indian news website The News Minute.