China, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia the top jailers of journalists

By AMY WESTFELDT
Associated Press Writer

December 13, 2005, 11:58 AM EST

NEW YORK -- China, Cuba, Eritrea and Ethiopia put the most journalists in jail this year, together accounting for two-thirds of the 125 editors, writers and photojournalists imprisoned around the world, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.

The four countries combined imprison two-thirds of the 125 editors, writers and photographers in jail worldwide, the committee said.

The United States, which is detaining four journalists in Iraq and one in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, rose to sixth among countries jailing journalists. Twenty-four countries in all have journalists in jail, according to the Dec. 1 tally, the committee said.

Subversion, divulging state secrets and acting against the interests of the state were the most common charges lodged against the media worldwide, the organization said. The number of jailed journalists around the world rose from 122 in 2004.

"We're disturbed to see the number of jailed journalists rise, and we're particularly troubled that the list of worst abusers now includes Ethiopia and the United States," Ann Cooper, the committee's executive director, said in a statement. "Journalists covering conflict, unrest, corruption and human rights abuses face a growing risk of incarceration in many countries, where governments seek to disguise their repressive acts as legitimate legal processes."

China jailed more journalists than any other country for the seventh straight year, with 32, the committee said. Nearly half the cases involve online journalists.

Cuba ranked second with 24 reporters in jail, many charged in a 2003 crackdown on independent media and dissidents, the committee said. Eritrea has 15 journalists in prison, many for reasons the government has not explained, the committee said.

Ethiopia has jailed 13 journalists, all arrested amid civil unrest in November, the committee said. Ethiopian police raided newspaper offices, confiscated computers and other materials and put out a "wanted" list of editors, writers and dissidents at that time, the committee said.

The journalists longest held in jail were Chen Renjie and Lin Youping, held since July 1983 for publishing a pamphlet on freedom, the committee said.

On the Net:

Committee to Protect Journalists list: http://www.cpj.org/attacks05/pages05/imprison_05.html


Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.