INDIA Activists storm exhibition in India (1994) A communal group in Pune, India stormed an exhibition called "Punchline - Cartoons Against Communalism" displayed by Sahmat, an artists' coalition. About 30 Bajrang Dal activists pulled down the banners and dismantled the exhibition boards. Editor arrested over a cartoon in India (1987) The Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu in southern India, on April 4, 1987, sentenced S. Balasubramaniam, the editor of a popular weekly, to three months' rigorous imprisonment. His "crime" was the publication of a cartoon depicting members of the Legislative Assembly in an unflattering light. The cartoon appeared on March 29, 1987, drawn by a cartoonist who stayed anonymous. The imprisonment sent shockwaves throughout the nation, and ultimately, under pressure from New Delhi, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu ordered the immediate release of the editor, just 48 hours after his arrest. The cartoon that started it all. It says "Of the two persons on the stage, who is the MLA and who the Minister?" "The person who looks like a pickpocket is the MLA and the one who looks like a dacoit (robber) is the Minister."

SUPPRESSION INCIDENTS BY COUNTRY ALGERIA Flag mockery (1996) - Artist forced to go underground (1995-96) - Cartoonist murdered (1995) ARGENTINA Cartoonist abducted, beaten, intimidated (1996) - Cartoonist murdered (1970s) BOSNIA Cartoon show blown up along with spectators (1992) CAMBODIA Prohibition of animal depiction in symbolizing politicians (1994) CHINA Cartoonist fired over his strip (1995) - Comic book sparks riots (1992) CROATIA Repressive law is basis for trial of satirical newsweekly (1996) CYPRUS Cartoonist sued and prevented from receiving awards (1989-96) EGYPT Law curtails freedom of expression (1995) ENGLAND Veteran Palestinian political cartoonist assassinated in exile (1987) INDIA Activists storm exhibition (1994) - Editor arrested over a cartoon (1987) IRAN Cartoonist gets ten years for a cartoon resembling the late Ayatollah Khomeini (1992-93) ISRAEL Palestinaian cartoonist gets it from both sides (1996) - Clinton cartoon censored (1994) - Israeli arrested (1993) - "Shoe in the mouth" cartoon causes Palestinian publisher to disappear (1973) JAPAN Politician takes own life over a missing stroke in a cartoon that changed the name of his party (1992) KUWAIT Cartoon ignites riot against a major newspaper (1996) LIBERIA First political cartoonist threatened into leaving his country (1984) MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur newspaper pressured into apology (1995) MONGOLIA Cartoonists punished for Western connection (1988-93) RUSSIA Outrage, threats, and investigation by the Russian Parliament over a Zlatkovsky drawing (1992) SAUDI ARABIA Saudi anger sends Indian editors to jail over American comic strip (1993) SERBIA Criminal proceedings for picturing statesmen in a "degrading position" (1993) SOUTH AFRICA Stronger controls over the press (1987) SINGAPORE A threat by the prime minister (1995) TURKEY Two cartoonists arrested (1996) - One burned alive (1993) - Editor sentenced to jail term for cartoon (1990-93) - Leading political cartoonist tortured (1970) USA Oliphant censored (1993) - Szabo on a Russian spy's list (1987) - Racial sensitivity in Philadelphia (1985)