Articles by Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
American journalist Michael Kirsch assaulted
On 11 October 1996, Bosnian Serb security forces assaulted Michael Kirsch, a freelance journalist and cameraman working for Insight News Television Limited (INTV) of Great Britain. Kirsch was videotaping a destroyed house in Jusici, a Muslim village now under the control of the Bosnian Serb Republic, when, according to Kirsch’s own account of the incident, […]
Journalist and political activist Valeriya Novodvorskaya charged for writings
Closing arguments were expected to be heard on 14 October 1996 in the Moscow Municipal Court trial of journalist and political activist Valeriya Novodvorskaya. She is charged under Article 74 of the Russian Criminal Code with allegedly inciting inter-ethnic discord and belittling the dignity of the Russian nation. The charges against Novodvorskaya stem from writings […]
CPJ urges reopening of case of 1988 murder of journalist Hector Felix Miranda, as colleague awarded CPJ International Press Freedom Award
The CPJ announced on 7 October 1996 that it will be presenting an International Press Freedom Award to J. Jesus Blancornelas in New York on 26 November in recognition of his more than two decades of dedicated perseverance in the defense of press freedom in Mexico. Blancornelas’ distinguished career is marked by his refusal to […]
Cameraman Osama Ghandi and technician Hassan Saleh being prosecuted in military court
Television cameraman Osama Ghandi and technician Hassan Saleh are currently among ten civilians being prosecuted in an in camera military court trial of mostly military officers, which began in late August 1996. Ghandi, an employee of the state-owned Sudanese Television, reportedly stated to the court on 18 September that his confession, regarding involvement in an […]
Attempted arrest of journalist Abdel Rahman Khobara
On 28 September 1996, plainclothes police officers entered the main offices of the opposition newspaper “Al-Ayyam” in Aden in an attempt to arrest journalist Abdel Rahman Khobara without a warrant. Colleagues who were present quarrelled with the officers, noting that Khobara could not be lawfully taken into custody without official court orders. The officers eventually […]
Independent radio station refused long-term broadcasting licence
On 15 July 1996, the Croatian Telecommunications Council for the second time failed to pass a decision on allotting the frequency of 94.3 FM to the independent radio station Radio 101. Furthermore, for its second application to obtain a long-term broadcasting licence, Radio 101 was able to provide documentation said to be missing in its […]
Reported kidnapping of editor Natalya Vasenina in Grozny; three Ukrainian journalists still missing; concern at use of journalists in prisoner of war exchanges
**For background to reports of missing Ukrainian journalists, see alert of 13 September 1996** CPJ is concerned at the reported kidnapping in Grozny of Natalya Vasenina, editor-in-chief of a local newspaper, “Nezavisimost” (“Independence”). According to the Russian wire services RIA/Novosti and ITAR/TASS, a well-informed source close to the Moscow-backed Chechen government reported that Vasenina was […]
Newspapers suspended
(CPJ/IFEX) – Between 24 and 25 September 1997, the Ministry of Information ordered at least twelve weekly newspapers — “Al Majd”, “Al-Mithaq”, “Al-Hadath”, “Al-Bilad”, “Sawt al-Maraa”, “Al Sayad”, “Hawadeth al-Sa’a”, “Al-Hadif”, “Al-Faris”, “Tareeq al Mustaqbal”, “Al-Umma” and “Al-Urdun” — to suspend publication because they had reportedly failed to meet requirements of the amendments to the […]