Statements

New York, August 24, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about comments made by former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez that could endanger journalists Juan Forero and Claudia Julieta Duque and jeopardize press freedom in the country. Forero is the Washington Post's Andean region correspondent and Duque is a journalist who works in Colombia.

New York, August 22, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on all forces fighting in Tripoli to ensure the safety of journalists and respect their status as civilians.

New York, August 19, 2011--The deaths of correspondent Paul Lockyer, cameraman John Bean, and pilot Gary Ticehurst of the Australian public broadcaster ABC are a tragic loss, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The three died in a helicopter crash on Thursday while filming in southern Australia.

New York, August 11, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron's statement calling for broadcasters to immediately provide unedited footage and for measures restricting social networking as a means to stem ongoing riots in the country.

New York, August 10, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Libyan government to immediately extend all recognized legal rights to imprisoned American journalist Matthew VanDyke, who was identified as missing in Libya and is now confirmed to be in state custody, according to a recent news report.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is aggrieved by reports that journalists covering the riots in London and other cities are being attacked.

New York, July 29, 2011-- Authorities in Sri Lanka should immediately investigate a reported brutal assault on Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan, news editor of the Tamil-language daily Uthayan, said the Committee to Protect Journalists.

New York, July 26, 2011-- Recent news reports that Iranian authorities have added a year to the politicized five-year sentence currently being served by journalist Mohammad Davari is the latest example of vindictive government policies against critical journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

New York, July 21, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns a sentence issued Wednesday in a libel case brought by Ecuador's president which sets an alarming precedent for suppressing free expression. The sentence, which is being appealed, calls for three years imprisonment each for three executives and an editor, in addition to $40 million in fines.

New York, July 18, 2011--Five distinguished leaders of new and traditional media worldwide have joined the board of directors of the Committee to Protect Journalists. The new members--John Carroll, Arianna Huffington, Jonathan Klein, Mhamed Krichen, and Jacob Weisberg--join a roster of remarkable journalists and news executives playing a vital role in CPJ's fight for press freedom.