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…
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,…
CPJ welcomes convictions in murder of Serbian journalist Slavko Ćuruvija
New York, April 5, 2019–A Belgrade court today convicted four former Serbian state security officers of the 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija, owner of the mass-circulation Dnevni Telegraf, Serbia’s first private daily, and the weekly magazine Evropljanin, independent regional news website Balkan Insight reported. Ćuruvija, 51, was shot and killed on April 11, 1999,…
CPJ calls on Maldives to empower commission on enforced disappearances and murders
CPJ writes to the speaker of the People’s Majlis, asking him to strengthen press freedom in the Maldives and commit to pursuing justice and ending impunity by calling for a vote on a bill to grant investigative powers to the presidential commission on enforced disappearances and murders.
Radio reporter Santiago Barroso shot dead in Mexico’s Sonora state
Mexico City, March 19, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today urged Mexican authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder of radio journalist Santiago Barroso and bring the perpetrators to justice. The reporter was shot dead at his home in San Luis Río Colorado, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, on March 15, according to news…
Maldives commission renews hope of justice for Rilwan and Rasheed
Mission Journal: With a new presidential commission investigating the abduction of Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla and the murder of Yameen Rasheed, CPJ’s Asia program research associate Aliya Iftikhar travels to Malé in late February to speak with the bloggers’ families about their pursuit of justice, and with authorities about the progress and challenges in the cases.
Committee to Protect Journalists Releases ‘The Last Column’ to Highlight the Human Cost of Journalism
The book features the final articles and photographs of fallen journalists New York, NY, March 13, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, today announced the launch of “The Last Column,” a book and digital campaign that highlight the human cost of reporting the news.
CPJ and IPI urge Slovak officials to expedite Kuciak case
Bratislava, February 19, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Press Institute (IPI) called on Slovak authorities to expedite charges against all parties allegedly involved in the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak. A delegation from the two groups today met with Ministry of Interior officials and representatives of the special prosecutor’s office tasked…
Ghana won’t have press freedom without accountability
Three bullets, fired at close range by two assassins on a black and blue Boxer motorbike on January 16, 2019, killed investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela, according to Sammy Darko, a lawyer working on Divela’s case. Darko told CPJ over the phone that bystanders saw it happen. Ghana’s media community, international rights groups (including CPJ),…