In Vietnam, arrests dash hopes that crackdown on bloggers will end
What one hand gives, the other takes in Vietnam. Last October’s early release of jailed blogger Nguyen Van Hai, more commonly known as Dieu Cay, has proven to be an anomaly as authorities have subsequently ramped up their repression of other independent bloggers.
In Mauritania, blogger sentenced to death for apostasy
New York, December 26, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the death sentence handed down Wednesday to Mauritanian blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed on apostasy charges in connection to an article he published a year ago.
Critical Brazilian blogger shot to death
New York, December 26, 2014–Brazilian authorities must thoroughly investigate Tuesday’s murder of a Brazilian blogger and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Marcos de Barros Leopoldo Guerra, who wrote a critical blog in Ubatuba, a city on the northern coast of Sao Paulo state, was shot to death at…
In China, mainstream media as well as dissidents under increasing pressure
In 2014, a record number of journalists imprisoned in China was documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The 44 in prison this year is an increase from 32 in 2013, and is the largest figure for China since CPJ began tracking imprisoned journalists in 1990. In recent years, the generally rising numbers for China…
Blogger detained in Vietnam amid clampdown on dissent
Bangkok, December 8, 2014–Nguyen Quang Lap was detained on Saturday by police in Ho Chi Minh City, the second blogger to be arrested in as many weeks in Vietnam, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the mounting crackdown on dissent and calls for the immediate release of all journalists held behind…
Vietnamese blogger ‘Mother Mushroom’ fears arrest for Facebook activity
New York, November 7, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned about the safety of Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, who has been repeatedly questioned by local police in Nha Trang about her activity on Facebook, and says that she fears arrest. Vietnam currently imprisons 17 journalists, most of them bloggers, according to…
Undercover in Vietnam: Room for debate frees up but bloggers remain imprisoned
In the final part of CPJ’s “Undercover in Vietnam” series on press freedom in Vietnam, Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin reveals how prominent blogger Nguyen Van Hai remains behind bars for his critical writing despite the margin for debate opening. The series concludes with recommendations for the Vietnamese government and international bodies. Incarcerated for the…
Undercover in Vietnam: Exile is high price reporters pay for press freedom
In the third of CPJ’s four-part “Undercover in Vietnam” series on press freedom in Vietnam, CPJ Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin interviews a reporter living in exile after challenging the censorship imposed in newsrooms. The final part, to be published Tuesday, reveals how prominent bloggers remain behind bars despite the margin for critical debate opening.…
Undercover in Vietnam: Bloggers play risky game of cat-and-mouse to report
In the first of a four-part “Undercover in Vietnam” series on press freedom in Vietnam, CPJ Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin explores the risks bloggers take so they can cover news events and protests. Under near-constant surveillance and with the threat of arbitrary detention hanging over them, the desire for an independent press drives Vietnam’s…
Uighur blogger Ilham Tohti sentenced to life in prison on separatism charges
New York, September 23, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces the life term handed down by a Chinese court today to Ilham Tohti, a prominent Uighur blogger and academic, and calls for his unconditional release. Tohti was found guilty of separatism by a court in the western Xinjiang region, according to news reports.